Connel Ferry: Busy period at Connel Ferry in September 1961.
David Stewart 09/09/1961
This is a single platform station with a shelter. There is a car park on the north side of the station. At the east end of the station is a goods loop and oil siding (both out of use). The station was once far larger and a junction.
The original station here was a two platform station with passing loop. (Possibly three as there was a bay at the west end of the eastbound platform). The main station building was on the eastbound platform (village side) and the goods yard was on the north side approached from the east. There was a signal box on the south side of the line at the east end.
On the opening of the Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway) in 1903 this became a five platform station. An island platform (the former westbound (down) platform with a new face opened to the south) became the platforms for Oban, the former eastbound (up) platform and a bay platform at the west end became the platforms for Ballachulish and a bay platform at the east end was a loading bank for cars crossing the Connel Ferry Bridge.
These alterations led to a second double track bridge being erected alongside the single track bridge at the west end of the station. The older bridge was then used for the branch and new bridge for the approach to the new island platform.
The existing signal box was replaced by two boxes, east and west. Both boxes were on the south side of the line. The west end junction was crossed by a signal bridge which was viewed by trains approaching from the west.
In 1940 the substantial Achaleven Sidings were laid out for wartime use at on the south side of the station, accessed from the west controlled by the west signal box. These sidings were lifted after the war.
The Callander route closed in 1965, branch closed in 1966 and, with the reduction in traffic, the line was singled here in 1967 with the closure of the east and west signal boxes.
The remaining single track was realigned through the station to serve the branch platform, originally the eastbound (up) platform. A ground frame operated loop for the oil siding, the former goods yard, was installed at the east end of the station in 1968. The depot received oil from Grangemouth New Oil Terminal. Although the oil depot is still in operation it is an entirely road based operation, the last oil flow by rail being about 1993 or possibly earlier.
Nearby stations North Connel Benderloch Ach-na-Cloich Oban Oban Ticket Platform Taynuilt Barcaldine Halt Creagan Appin Falls of Cruachan Torosay Castle Craignure Duror Loch Awe Dalmally | Achaleven Sidings Connel Ferry Unused Curve Connel Ferry Bridge Glencruitten Crossing Glencruitten Railway Cottage Tourist/other Falls of Lora Achaleven Level Crossing Oban Airport Loch Etive Dunstaffnage Castle Achnacloich House Achnacloich Pier Tralee Beach Ardchattan Priory Barcaldine Castle |
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. |
Junction at Connel FerryThe Ballachulish branch junction was intended to be a triangular junction. Although temporary way was laid for the construction of the west to north curve and a bridge erected over a road it never opened to traffic. Branch trains either met main line trains at Connel Ferry or, if from Oban, ran round at Connel Ferry. The never used bridge did earn something, it carried advertising. It was demolished in 2010. |
24/08/1903 | Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway) Line opened to passengers and goods. Stations opened at Benderloch, Creagan, Appin, Duror, Kentallen, Ballachulish Ferry, Ballachulish. For the opening Connel Ferry and Oban stations were rebuilt. Two large bridges were required Connel Ferry Bridge and Creagan Viaduct. |
/ /1909 | Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway) Charabanc service introduced between Connel Ferry and Benderloch over the Connel Ferry Bridge. |
01/07/1909 | Callander and Oban Railway Charabanc operates over Connel Ferry Bridge; Benderloch and North Connel to Connel Ferry. |
07/07/1940 | Callander and Oban Railway Achaleven Sidings opened at Connel Ferry for the Admiralty. |
/06/1948 | Callander and Oban Railway Achaleven Sidings at Connel Ferry closed. |
14/06/1965 | Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway) Ballachulish (Glencoe) to Connel Ferry closed to goods. Traffic for the Kinlochleven Aluminium Smelter is diverted to the Lochaber Smelter (Fort William) and carried by road from there south to Kinlochleven. |
26/03/1966 | Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway) Line closed completely between Connel Ferry and Ballachulish (Glencoe). North Connel, Benderloch, Barcaldine Halt, Creagan, Appin, Duror, Kentallen, Ballachulish Ferry, Ballachulish (Glencoe) closed. |
08/01/1967 | Callander and Oban Railway Connel Ferry east and west signal boxes closed. Main line loops and goods bypass line taken out. The remaining line, used for both directions, is the former branch platform line (originally the eastbound line before the branch opened). |
/ /1968 | Callander and Oban Railway Connel Ferry oil siding and loop opened east of the station. |
/ /2010 | Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway) Bridge on never completed west to north curve at Connel Ferry demolished. |
17/11/2021 | Oban train services disrupted by fire near railway line [BBC News] |
09/04/2021 | Here are 12 beautiful views you can see from train journeys around Scotland [Scotsman] |