Fort Augustus

Location type

Station

Name and dates

Fort Augustus (1903-1933)

Opened on the Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway.

Description

This was a three platform station. There was a through platform for the line to Fort Augustus Pier and two bay platforms. The platforms were in concrete, as were many structures of this line. The station building was reminiscent of the West Highland style, but at ninety degrees to the line.

Curiously no crossover was provided in the station bays as built, but this was installed later. The through platform, and adjoining bay, were longer than the second bay on the east side. Generally the west bay was used as this allowed the locomotive to be released easily. The east bay often had a van parked against the buffer.

On the east side of the station was the goods yard, with goods shed and a two road locomotive shed.

The signal box opened with the line in 1903 and closed in 1933 with the closure to passengers. By 1938 the platform lines were lifted. The line remained open for goods until 1946. The station building burned down in 1950.

Little remains of the station except a short portion of the long disused through platform close to the canal.

The line continued north by swing bridge over the Caledonian Canal and over a fine castellated viaduct (Oich Viaduct) over the River Oich to the Fort Augustus Pier station on Loch Ness. This portion of the line was only open to passengers for three years. It fell out of use in 1915, officially closing in 1924 and lifted after or around 1935.

To the south the line continued to Fort Augustus RNAD Depot. Parts of the trackbed are very well preserved with every sleeper indentation still visible.

The railway came to own the nearby Lovat Arms and Station Hotel.

Local

The actual Fort, Fort Augustus [Fort] was on the banks of the south end of Loch Ness between the Caledonian Canal and River Tarff. The site was later absorbed into the site of Fort Augustus Abbey.

Tags

Station Terminus

External links

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


Chronology Dates

  /  /1897Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway
Bill proposing extension from Fort Augustus to Inverness is rejected in the House of Commons.
01/07/1897Highland Railway
Bill for railway from Inverness to Fort Augustus is rejected in the House of Lords (was passed by the Commons).
21/07/1903Highland RailwayInvergarry and Fort Augustus Railway
Act passed which allows the Highland Railway to operate the services over the Fort Augustus line.
22/07/1903Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway Highland Railway
Line opened by Eliza Stewart Ellice of Invergarry House. The service was operated by the Highland Railway who were keen to keep the North British Railway away from Inverness. Connecting David Hutcheson and Co steamers operating along the Caledonian Canal connecting the line to Inverness via Loch Ness and the canal. Stations opened at Gairlochy, Invergarry, Aberchalder, Fort Augustus and Fort Augustus Pier. The Lovat Arms and Station Hotel was rebuilt and reopened in connection with new line.
30/09/1906Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway
Fort Augustus Pier station and line to Fort Augustus station closed.
31/12/1914Invergarry and Fort Augustus RailwayNorth British Railway
North British Railway buys line and railway hotel (Lovat Arms and Station Hotel) at Fort Augustus.
01/12/1933Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway
Fort Augustus to Spean Bridge closed to passengers. Gairlochy, Invergarry, Invergloy Platform, Aberchalder, Fort Augustus closed. Line closed to all but a weekly coal train. (Also given as 31/12/1933).
01/01/1947Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway
Fort Augustus to Spean Bridge (excluded) closed to freight.
30/10/1950Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway
Fort Augustus station burned down.

News items

13/02/2019Historic Caledonian Canal 'dewatered' for lock work [BBC News]

Books


Forgotten Railways: Scotland