Black Tank Siding Signal Box

Location type


Name and dates

Black Tank Siding Signal Box

Opened on the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway.

Description

South of the Allt an Dubh Choire bridge the line was a cutting (33 ft deep) which suffered from deep drifting snow when the line was single track. Partly as a result there were railway cottages here on the north/east side of the line. With doubling the cutting was further opened out and the situation improved. A temporary signal box came into use here on the 5th of May of 1898 related to the excavations to double the line (probably that at Dalinturuaine). There was a service for the cottages which called every other Saturday for railway staff and their families (known as the 'housewife's choice' serving lineside cottages from Blair Atholl to Kingussie).

The name 'Black Tank' is said to be from the dark colour of the rock through which the cutting was cut. It is interesting that dubh-choire is used for the stream.

Tags

Signal Box
06/05/2023

Chronology Dates

05/05/1898Inverness and Perth Junction Railway
Black Tank Siding Signal Box opened during stone cutting works to open out the Black Tank cutting and double the line north of Struan.

Books


Bradshaw's Guides Scotlands Railways West Coast - Carlisle to Inverness: 5

Highland Railway Album: No. 1

Highland Railway Album: No. 2

Highland Railway Carriages and Wagons

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

The Highland Railway

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