A branch to Ballachulish Callander and Oban Railway

the ballachulish branch railway

the west highland railway opened fort william in 1894, , interest aroused in opening other areas of region. railways along great glen proposed, , attention turned tract of remote terrain between oban , fort william. several sea lochs made road travel in area difficult, , argyll county council had indicated co-operate c&or if railway build dual-use bridges; c&or considering ambitious railway oban inverness way of fort william. c&or decided decline idea, , make railway on own, , work itself. c&or had difficulty in raising enough money survey of proposed line, undaunted, presented parliamentary bill line in september 1894, following year s session.

the autonomy of c&or evidently considerable, owner, caledonian railway announced oppose bill in parliament. untenable situation , when anderson consulted lord breadalbane made clear proposal not continue, , swiftly withdrawn.

the c&or converted proposal branch line ballachulish connel ferry; west highland railway proposed branch ballachulish north. ballachulish had population of 1,800 @ time, , industry chiefly quarrying.

both railways authorised act of parliament on 7 august 1896, west highland scheme subject serious limitations, , line never built. c&or line have triangular junction connel ferry, , cross loch etive connel bridge second in britain forth bridge in length of main span, , largest single-span steel bridge in britain. route approved north of bridge later changed substantially, , hotel built @ loch creran serve proposed station there; hotel never opened railway built did not go there. capital £210,000 of caledonian railway agreed fund £15,000.

connel bridge under construction, sphere, 15 august 1903

the connel bridge crossed channel rapid rip ran @ ebb tide, , intermediate piers or temporary staging impossible. constructed arrol bridge , roofing company, starting in 1898; done building out cantilevers each shore. there large bridge, creagan bridge, no other large engineering work on line, although considerable section of bad ground encountered. connel ferry station extended give additional bay platform ballachulish trains. western arm of authorised triangle never constructed. ballachulish station had two-platform terminal station.

the connel , creagan bridges had been provided footpath on 1 side, not public. anderson met argyll county council , offered open path on connel bridge in return payment of £800 per annum. council thought excessive , issue remained contentious several years.

in 1909 company instituted shuttle passenger service on bridge, between connel ferry , benderloch, motor charabanc converted railway wheels. service ran on sundays also, though c&or did not operate sunday service on remainder of network. charabanc conveyed flat truck request, on private motor cars conveyed, fare of 15 shillings. driver , passengers remained in own vehicle.

private motoring increased on years , c&or pressed permit motor cars drive on bridge, c&or declared impossible make roadway on bridge. demand permit pedestrians cross continued declined.

the matter resolved when in 1913 macalpine downie applied board of trade operate chain ferry @ crossing. c&or made arrangements open bridge motor cars , pedestrians, , achieved on 22 june 1914; special signalling arrangements made secure safety of operation. toll charge between 7s 6d , 10s. c&or continued make obstructions in usage of bridge: thomas states shepherds take flock of sheep across bridge, must lead animals 1 @ time. company s policy on bridge generated huge resentment on years.

from 1930s use of railway declined, , road network in area improved. time passed dominant use on line schoolchildren.

from 14 june 1965 goods service on line discontinued, , on 28 march 1966 line closed completely. connel , creagan bridges transferred county council, , became simple road bridges.