Connel Ferry Bridge

Location type

Bridge

Name and dates

Connel Ferry Bridge (1903-)

Opened on the Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway).

Description

Also known as Connel Ferry Viaduct. Bridge or Connel Bridge is used rather than viaduct as the structure has a long span crossing Loch Etive, and the Falls of Lora, and is not a series of similarly sized arches. The bridge is 'B' listed. The metalwork is painted light grey, the approach arches are granite. The line carried a single track railway.

It is a cantilever bridge with a tower on the north and south banks. Each end is approached by three arch masonry viaducts. The central span is of 524 ft, the overall length 1020 ft, height over high water 54 ft. The engineers were John Wolfe Barry, John Forman, Henry Marc Brunel and George Edward Wilson Cruttwell (resident engineer for Barry). The bridge's metalwork was manufactured at the Germiston Works of Arrol's Bridge and Roof Co - 2600 tons of metal. Construction began in 1898. (Another massive product of the company is the Ferris wheel in Vienna.)

The halt North Connel was at the north end and station Connel Ferry nearby the south end. The bridge is close to the south end of the former Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway), only a short distance from the junction at Connel Ferry.

Between the opening in 1903 and 1914 the railway company and council could not come to an agreement to share the bridge for road traffic, although after 1909 a railway operated service operated between Connel Ferry and Benderloch stations with cars being carried on flatbed wagons, hauled by a Durham Churchill and Co petrol charabanc with 23 tiered seats (the 'Connel Bus') which was fitted with railway wheels at St Rollox Works. Cars were loaded onto flatbeds at the dock platform at the east end of Connel Ferry station. The same characbanc (or another of the same model) was used between Clarkston station and Eaglesham. Displayed on the sides of the charabanc was 'Caledonian Railway - Rail Motor Service - Connel Ferry & Benderloch'.

The ferry slips were just to the west of the bridge.

After 1914 the bridge opened to toll paying road traffic (taxis were not allowed). Traffic was single file and not allowed when trains were crossing. The railway was slewed to the east and a narrow roadway provided opposite. A level crossing at the north end was required. Gates at either end prevented road vehicles crossing the bridge. A wooden guide strip down the side of the track prevented damage to straying vehicles and the railway.

Following closure of the railway in 1966 the bridge became road only and the toll lifted.

Today the bridge carries a single lane portion of the A828 road, with traffic lights at either end to control the flow of traffic.

Tags

Bridge Cantilever Charabanc Loch Etive

Aliases

Connel Ferry Viaduct

External links

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

Facilities

Listing: B




Nearby stations
North Connel
Connel Ferry
Benderloch
Ach-na-Cloich
Oban
Oban Ticket Platform
Barcaldine Halt
Taynuilt
Creagan
Appin
Torosay Castle
Falls of Cruachan
Craignure
Duror
Loch Awe
Connel Ferry Unused Curve
Achaleven Sidings
Glencruitten Crossing
Glencruitten Railway Cottage
Tourist/other
Falls of Lora
Oban Airport
Achaleven Level Crossing
Dunstaffnage Castle
Loch Etive
Achnacloich House
Tralee Beach
Achnacloich Pier
Ardchattan Priory
Barcaldine Castle
McCaig^s Tower
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.


'Level Crossing'


With a gate at either end of the bridge to stop the road traffic the bridge has been referred to as the longest level crossing in Britain.


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.
  /  /1914Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway)
Callander and Oban Railway company and council finally come to an agreement to allow cars, on payment of a toll, to cross the Connel Ferry Bridge when trains are not running.
22/06/1914Callander and Oban Railway
Connel Ferry Bridge altered for road vehicles and pedestrians.
  /  /1991Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway)
Realignment of the A828 for around half a mile north of the Connel Ferry Bridge onto the former trackbed. (Date approximate.)

News items

26/04/2022Hull firm Spencer Group to install new walkway across historic Grade II listed Connel Bridge in Scotland [Yorkshire Post]
10/02/20217 pieces of architecture that shaped Scotlands Railway [ScotRail]

Books


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

Callander & Oban Railway Through Time

Callander and Oban Railway (Library of Railway History)

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

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

The Birth and Death of a Highland Railway: Ballachulish Line

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