West Highland Railway
Encyclopedia
The West Highland Railway was one of the last main lines to be built in Scotland. It is one of the most scenic railway lines in Britain, linking Fort William
on the west coast to Glasgow
. It was originally operated by the North British Railway
.
being passed on 12 August and construction starting 23 October. The following year the branch line to Banavie Pier was authorised. The line was publicly opened to Fort William on 7 August 1894.
The line was extended to Mallaig
by the Mallaig Extension Railway
. Authorisation was obtained on 31 July 1894 and the Mallaig Extension Railway opened on 1 April 1901.
The West Highland Railway was absorbed by the North British Railway
on 21 December 1908. The North British Railway was then absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway
at the Grouping in 1923.
heading towards Garelochhead and emerging alongside the northwesterly shores of Loch Lomond
. Significant points on the journey include Crianlarich
, an important Highland junction of both road and rail where the line crosses - and is linked to - the Callander and Oban Railway
and Tyndrum
, the smallest place in Scotland to boast two railway stations. After Tyndrum, the line climbs onto Rannoch Moor
. The station at Corrour
on the moor is one of the most remote stations in Britain. Carrying on northwards, the final stop before Fort William is Spean Bridge
. A branch line was constructed from Fort William to Banavie Pier at the southern end of the Caledonian Canal
.
as part of the West Highland Line
services (which also encompasses services to Oban and Mallaig).
Fort William, Scotland
Fort William is the second largest settlement in the highlands of Scotland and the largest town: only the city of Inverness is larger.Fort William is a major tourist centre with Glen Coe just to the south, Aonach Mòr to the north and Glenfinnan to the west, on the Road to the Isles...
on the west coast to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. It was originally operated by the North British Railway
North British Railway
The North British Railway was a Scottish railway company that was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923.-History:...
.
History
Construction was authorised in 1889, with the Act of ParliamentAct of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
being passed on 12 August and construction starting 23 October. The following year the branch line to Banavie Pier was authorised. The line was publicly opened to Fort William on 7 August 1894.
The line was extended to Mallaig
Mallaig railway station
Mallaig railway station is a railway station serving the ferry port of Mallaig, Lochaber, in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is a terminus on the West Highland Line, from and north of Glasgow Queen Street railway station.- History :...
by the Mallaig Extension Railway
Mallaig Extension Railway
The Mallaig Extension Railway is a railway line in Highland, Scotland. It runs from Banavie Junction on the Banavie Pier branch of the West Highland Railway to Mallaig. The previous "Banavie Junction" closer to Fort William was renamed "Mallaig Junction" upon opening of the Mallaig Extension Railway...
. Authorisation was obtained on 31 July 1894 and the Mallaig Extension Railway opened on 1 April 1901.
The West Highland Railway was absorbed by the North British Railway
North British Railway
The North British Railway was a Scottish railway company that was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923.-History:...
on 21 December 1908. The North British Railway was then absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway
London and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
at the Grouping in 1923.
Brief description of line
The West Highland Railway begins at Craigendoran JunctionCraigendoran railway station
Craigendoran railway station is a railway station serving Craigendoran, east of Helensburgh, Scotland.The station is managed by First ScotRail and is served by trains on the North Clyde Line west of...
heading towards Garelochhead and emerging alongside the northwesterly shores of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
. Significant points on the journey include Crianlarich
Crianlarich
Crianlarich is a village in the Stirling district and registration county of Perthshire, Scotland, about six miles north-east of the head of Loch Lomond...
, an important Highland junction of both road and rail where the line crosses - and is linked to - the Callander and Oban Railway
Callander and Oban Railway
The Callander and Oban Railway company was formed in 1864 with the objective of linking Callander, Scotland to the west coast port of Oban over challenging terrain, particularly at Glen Ogle and the Pass of Brander at Loch Awe. Callander had been reached in 1858 by the Dunblane, Doune and Callander...
and Tyndrum
Tyndrum
Tyndrum is a small village in Scotland. Its Gaelic name translates as "the house on the ridge". It lies in Strathfillan, at the southern edge of Rannoch Moor.The village is notable mainly for being at an important crossroads of transport routes...
, the smallest place in Scotland to boast two railway stations. After Tyndrum, the line climbs onto Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor
Rannoch Moor is a large expanse of around 50 square miles of boggy moorland to the west of Loch Rannoch, in Perth and Kinross and Lochaber, Highland, partly northern Argyll and Bute, Scotland...
. The station at Corrour
Corrour railway station
Corrour railway station is a railway station on the West Highland Line,Scotland. It is situated near Loch Ossian and Loch Treig, on the Corrour Estate. It is the highest mainline railway station in the United Kingdom.- Location :...
on the moor is one of the most remote stations in Britain. Carrying on northwards, the final stop before Fort William is Spean Bridge
Spean Bridge railway station
Spean Bridge railway station is a railway station serving the village of Spean Bridge in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line.- History :...
. A branch line was constructed from Fort William to Banavie Pier at the southern end of the Caledonian Canal
Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal is a canal in Scotland that connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. It was constructed in the early nineteenth century by engineer Thomas Telford, and is a sister canal of the Göta Canal in Sweden, also constructed by...
.
Connections to other railways
- At Craigendoran JunctionCraigendoran railway stationCraigendoran railway station is a railway station serving Craigendoran, east of Helensburgh, Scotland.The station is managed by First ScotRail and is served by trains on the North Clyde Line west of...
with the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh RailwayGlasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh RailwayGlasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway is an historic railway in Scotland.-History:It was authorised by an Act of Parliament on 14 August 1855.The railway was absorbed by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway on 31 July 1862.... - At Faslane Junction with the Faslane BranchFaslane BranchThe Faslane Branch was a standard gauge military railway built during World War II to serve "Military Port No.1" at Faslane, west of Glasgow in Scotland.Latterly, the branch was used to serve the ship breaking activities at Faslane.- Route :...
- At CrianlarichCrianlarich railway stationCrianlarich railway station is a railway station serving the village of Crianlarich in Scotland. It is located on the West Highland Line. The routes to Fort William/Mallaig and Oban diverge after this station...
with the Callander and Oban RailwayCallander and Oban RailwayThe Callander and Oban Railway company was formed in 1864 with the objective of linking Callander, Scotland to the west coast port of Oban over challenging terrain, particularly at Glen Ogle and the Pass of Brander at Loch Awe. Callander had been reached in 1858 by the Dunblane, Doune and Callander... - At Spean BridgeSpean Bridge railway stationSpean Bridge railway station is a railway station serving the village of Spean Bridge in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line.- History :...
with the Invergarry and Fort Augustus RailwayInvergarry and Fort Augustus RailwayThe Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway was a branch-line railway built in Scotland, and served by the Highland Railway, the North British Railway and later the London & North Eastern Railway- Beginnings :... - At Banavie Junction (New) with the Mallaig Extension RailwayMallaig Extension RailwayThe Mallaig Extension Railway is a railway line in Highland, Scotland. It runs from Banavie Junction on the Banavie Pier branch of the West Highland Railway to Mallaig. The previous "Banavie Junction" closer to Fort William was renamed "Mallaig Junction" upon opening of the Mallaig Extension Railway...
Current status
Apart from the last section of the Banavie Branch, and several of the southern stations, the line is still open, being operated by First ScotRailFirst ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
as part of the West Highland Line
West Highland Line
The West Highland Line is considered the most scenic railway line in Britain, linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban on the west coast of Scotland to Glasgow. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the iconic...
services (which also encompasses services to Oban and Mallaig).
Sources
- Thomas, JohnJohn Thomas (author)John Thomas was a Scottish railway author based in Springburn, Glasgow.Most of his books were published by the Newton Abbot based publisher David & Charles.-Books:* The Springburn Story: The History of the Scottish Railway Metropolis. ....
(1965). The West Highland Railway. Newton Abbot: David and Charles (Publishers) Ltd. ISBN 0-7153-7281-5. - RAILSCOT on the West Highland Railway