Kentallen railway station explained

Kentallen
Status:Disused
Borough:Highland
Country:Scotland
Coordinates:56.6747°N -5.2439°W
Grid Name:Grid reference
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
Years1:25 May 1953
Events1:Closed
Years2:24 August 1953
Events2:Re-opened
Years3:28 March 1966
Events3:Closed

Kentallen was a railway station at the head of Kentallen Bay, which is on the southern shore of Loch Linnhe in the Highland council area of Scotland. It was on the Ballachulish branch line that linked Connel Ferry, on the main line of the Callander and Oban Railway, with Ballachulish.

History

This station opened on 24 August 1903.[1] It was laid out with two platforms, one on either side of a crossing loop. There were sidings on the east side of the line.

The station was temporarily closed from 25 May to 24 August 1953 when flooding washed away a bridge.[2] It was then closed by the British Railways Board in 1966, when the Ballachulish Branch of the Callander and Oban Railway was closed.[1] [3]

The station had been the location of a LMS caravan in 1935 and then two caravans from 1936 to 1939.[4] A camping coach was also positioned here by the Scottish Region from 1953 to 1965.[5]

Following closure the station buildings were converted into a hotel and restaurant.

Signalling

Throughout its existence, the Ballachulish Branch was worked by the electric token system. Kentallen signal box was located on the Up platform, on the east side of the railway. It had 24 levers.

References

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Butt (1995), page 130
  2. News: Railway Reopens. Dundee Courier . 19 August 1953. 4 . 13 July 2020 .
  3. Hurst (1992), page 43 (ref 1943)
  4. McRae (1997), page 22
  5. McRae (1998), page 13