Druimuachdar Summit
Location type
PlaceName and dates
Druimuachdar Summit (1863-), Scotland
Opened on the Inverness and Perth Junction Railway.
Description
Druimuachdar Pass Summit is 1,484 ft above sea level. The line is double track. It is the highest main line summit in Britain. (The highest standard gauge line was at Wanlockhead at 1,498 ft, closed 1939.)
The line was doubled in the late 1890s, completed around 1900. A double track extended from Blair Atholl to Dalwhinnie.
The Highland Railway was keen to double this portion of the Highland Main Line as it was arduous with trains requiring piloting. Obviously slow moving trains in a single track section greatly reduced capacity. Both the Forres [2nd] original route and later Carrbridge route to Inverness fed the line south.
It was reduced to a single line in 1966. It was redoubled in 1978.
Also known as County March Summit. Nearby, during doubling of the line, was County March Signal Box [Highland Main Line].
Tags
SummitAliases
Drumochter Summit Druimuachdar Pass Summit County March Summit [Highland Main Line]01/11/2021
| Nearby stations Dalnaspidal Dalwhinnie Struan Newtonmore Black Island Platform Blair Atholl Fersit Halt Kingussie Rannoch Tulloch Corrour Killiecrankie Aberfeldy Pitlochry Kincraig | Balsporran Box Tourist/other County March Signal Box [Highland Main Line] An Torc The Sow of Atholl A^Mharconaich Dalnaspidal Lodge A^Bhuidheanach Bheag Geal-Charn [Erecht] Sgairneach Mhor Glas Mheall Mor Beinn Udlamain Loch Garry Loch Garry [Dalnaspidal] Loch Ericht Ben Alder Lodge |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
Pigs and boarsA number of locations on the Highland Main Line refer to pigs and boars. West of Druimuachdar Summit are two striking hills, An Torc (the Boar of Badenoch) and, to its south, Meall an Dobharchain (the Sow of Atholl). The profiles resemble hogbacks. Slochd Viaduct crosses Slochd Mhuic - pig's den in English. SummitsA selection of Scottish line summits, with their heights above sea level:
A - highest point on the Caledonian Railway B - highest on Highland Railway C - highest on North British Railway D - highest on Glasgow and South Western Railway E - highest on Great North of Scotland Railway |
