Achanalt

Location type

Station

Name and dates

Achanalt (1870-)

Station code: AAT National Rail ScotRail
Where: Highland, Scotland
Opened on the Dingwall and Skye Railway.
Open on the Kyle Line.

Description

This was a two platform station. The original timber bulding (by Murdoch Paterson) on the up (eastbound) platform was lost in 1889. Its replacement survived until at least the 1960s.

The stationmaster's cottage remains in use as a house, this was just to the north of the timber station building.

Goods facilities were to the west, north side of the line, accessed from the westbound line by reversal. There were east and west signal boxes, both opened in 1893, on the north side of the line at either end of the loop. The loop was widely spaced to allow goods trains carrying vessels to pass.

The loop closed in 1966 and both boxes were closed. The former westbound line was lifted and the disused platform remains, increasingly decrepit and overgrown.

Achanalt Viaduct is a mile to the east.

Local

The line runs to the north of the River Bran the meandering route of which has left many oxbow lakes. Strathbran is an area of low population. Strathbran Lodge is to the north west.

Tags

Station

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67

Facilities

Gaelic name: Achadh nan Allt (Achan nan Allt)




Chronology Dates

02/05/1868Dingwall and Skye Railway
Deviation authorised; Kyle of Lochalsh to Attadale not to be built. Attadale to have a terminus and pier. Engineer; Joseph Mitchell & Company. Contractors; J & A Granger (Dingwall to Achanalt), A and K Macdonald (Achanalt to Attadale) and Donald McGregor & Company (Attadale Pier).
19/08/1870Dingwall and Skye Railway
Railway opened from Dingwall to Strome Ferry Pier. Stations at Strathpeffer [1st], Garve, Achanalt, Achnasheen, Strathcarron and Strome Ferry. Loops at Garve, Achnasheen, Strathcarron and Strome Ferry.
02/11/1964Dingwall and Skye Railway
Achanalt closed to goods.
23/03/1966Dingwall and Skye Railway
Achanalt East and West boxes and loop closed.

News items

27/11/2021Roncadora Press, publisher of 'Achanalt', wins Award [Saltire Society/Railscot]

Books


Highland Railway: People and Places - From the Inverness and Nairn Railway to Scotrail

History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: Skye Railway v. 5

Insider Rail Guide: Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh (The Insider Rail Guide)

OS Explorer Map (428) Kyle of Lochalsh, Plockton and Applecross (OS Explorer Active Map)

Rails to Kyle of Lochalsh: Story of the Dingwall and Skye Railway Including the Strathpeffer Branch (Oakwood Library of Railway History)

The Dingwall & Skye Railway: A Pictorial Record of the Line to Kyle of Lochalsh

The Highland Railway

The Highland Railway : The History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands - Vol 2

The Kyle Line: An Illustrated History and Guide

The Kyle of Lochalsh and Far North Lines

The Kyle of Lochalsh Line: Great Railway Journeys Through Time