Ballachulish railway station explained

Ballachulish
Status:Disused
Borough:Glencoe, Highland
Country:Scotland
Coordinates:56.6783°N -5.1308°W
Platforms:2
Line:Ballachulish branch line
Original:Callander and Oban Railway
Pregroup:Callander and Oban Railway operated by Caledonian Railway
Postgroup:LMS
Years:24 August 1903
Events:Opened as Ballachulish
Years1:July 1905
Events1:Renamed as Ballachulish & Glencoe
Years2:1908
Events2:Renamed as Ballachulish (Glencoe) for Kinlochleven
Years3:25 May 1953
Events3:Closed
Years4:24 August 1953
Events4:Re-opened
Years5:28 March 1966
Events5:Closed

Ballachulish was a railway station at Ballachulish on the southern shore of Loch Leven at East Laroch (south Ballachulish) in Highland. It was the terminus of the Ballachulish branch line that linked to the main line of the Callander and Oban Railway at Connel Ferry.

History

This station opened as Ballachulish on 24 August 1903[1] with two platforms. There was a goods yard on the north side of the station. Within two years it was renamed as Ballachulish & Glencoe[1] and renamed again following the opening of the 'new' road between Glencoe Village and Kinlochleven in 1908 as Ballachulish (Glencoe) for Kinlochleven.[1] Apart for a short closure in 1953, this latter name remained until closure in 1966.[1] In the railway timetables the name was shortened to simply Ballachulish with a note stating "Ballachulish is the Station for Glencoe and Kinlochleven".[2]

The station was opened by the Callander and Oban Railway, which was absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway during the Grouping of 1923. The station then passed to the Scottish Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948, and was closed by the British Railways Board in 1966,[1] when the Ballachulish Branch closed.

In the early 1990s the station buildings were converted into a medical centre.

Houses have been built in the station yard. The engine shed remained, being used by a local garage until 2015, when it was demolished to make way for more private housing.

Stationmasters

Throughout its existence, the Ballachulish Branch was worked by the electric token system. Ballachulish signal box was located west of the platforms, on the north side of the railway. It had 21 levers.

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Butt (1995), page 23
  2. Table 33, British Railways, Passenger Services Scotland summer 1962.
  3. News: . Oban L.M.S. Official . Aberdeen Press and Journal . Scotland . 8 April 1937 . 22 November 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  4. News: . Railway Official Changes . Perthshire Advertiser . Scotland . 29 November 1941 . 22 November 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  5. News: . New Post for County Stationmaster . Perthshire Advertiser . Scotland . 26 November 1941 . 22 November 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  6. News: . Perthshire Stationmasters . Perthshire Advertiser . Scotland . 6 September 1947 . 22 November 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .
  7. News: . Stationmasters’s New Post . Kirriemuir Free Press and Angus Advertiser . Scotland . 3 December 1959 . 22 November 2021 . British Newspaper Archive . subscription .