Connel Ferry: Busy period at Connel Ferry in September 1961.
David Stewart 09/09/1961

Connel Ferry

Location type

Station

Name and dates

Connel Ferry (1880-)

Station code: CON National Rail ScotRail
Where: Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Opened on the Callander and Oban Railway.
Opened on the Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway).
Open on the West Highland Line.

Description

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.

Tags

Station junction oil depot

External links

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

Facilities

Gaelic name: Aiseag na Coingheil




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 Ferry


The 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.


Chronology Dates

24/08/1903Ballachulish 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.
  /  /1909Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway)
Charabanc service introduced between Connel Ferry and Benderloch over the Connel Ferry Bridge.
01/07/1909Callander and Oban Railway
Charabanc operates over Connel Ferry Bridge; Benderloch and North Connel to Connel Ferry.
07/07/1940Callander and Oban Railway
Achaleven Sidings opened at Connel Ferry for the Admiralty.
  /06/1948Callander and Oban Railway
Achaleven Sidings at Connel Ferry closed.
14/06/1965Ballachulish 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.
26/03/1966Ballachulish 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.
08/01/1967Callander 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).
  /  /1968Callander and Oban Railway
Connel Ferry oil siding and loop opened east of the station.
  /  /2010Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway)
Bridge on never completed west to north curve at Connel Ferry demolished.

News items

17/11/2021Oban train services disrupted by fire near railway line [BBC News]
09/04/2021Here are 12 beautiful views you can see from train journeys around Scotland [Scotsman]

Books


A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: The North of Scotland v. 15 (Regional railway history series)

A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: The North of Scotland v. 15 (Regional railway history series)

Birth and Death of a Highland Railway: Ballachulish Line

Birth and Death of a Highland Railway: Ballachulish Line

Caledonian Railway

Caledonian Routes 3: Stirling to Crianlarich - DVD - Oakwood Press

Callander & Oban Railway Through Time

Callander & Oban Railway Through Time

Callander and Oban Railway (Library of Railway History)

Callander and Oban Railway (Library of Railway History)

History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: Callander and Oban Railway v. 4

History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: Callander and Oban Railway v. 4

History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: Callander and Oban Railway v. 4

Iron Road to the Isles: A Travellers and Tourist Guide to the West Highland Lines

Iron Roads to the Isles: A Travellers and Tourists Souvenir Guide to the West Highland Lines

Oban 1898: Argyllshire Sheet 98.07 (Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Argyllshire)

On West Highland Lines

Railway World Special: West Highland Lines

Scotland’s Lost Branch Lines: Where Beeching Got It Wrong

Scotland’s Lost Branch Lines: Where Beeching Got It Wrong

Scottish Central Railway (Oakwood Library of Railway History)

The Birth and Death of a Highland Railway: Ballachulish Line

The Birth and Death of a Highland Railway: Ballachulish Line

The Caledonian, Scotland's Imperial Railway: A History

Trossachs and West Highlands: Exploring the Lost Railways (Local History Series)

Trossachs and West Highlands: Exploring the Lost Railways (Local History Series)

Walks from the West Highland Railway (Cicerone Guide)