Kilmallie Mill

Location type

Works

Names and dates

Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills (1966-2005)
Kilmallie Mill (2008-)

Served by the Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway).

Description

This railway served pulp and paper mill was important to the survival of the West Highland Railway giving rise to much purely Scottish rail traffic. Timber, paper, and oil were carried by rail.

The mill was opened to the west of Corpach by Wiggins Teape, financially assisted by the Government who planned to increase local employment. Construction began in 1963 and completed in 1966.

A siding entered the site from the east, Fort William Junction, direction. This siding turned through 180 degrees, fanning out into a yard, to serve the works. There was a regular timber carrying service from Crianlarich Lower goods yard.

The mill received 350 tonnes of timber daily. The last train from Crianlarich Lower running when the pulp mill closed in 1980. This was a considerable loss of traffic to British Rail.

Rail traffic continued afterwards for the paper mill. Oil, from Grangemouth, pulp (now imported through Methil Docks, Grangemouth Docks, Montrose or Aberdeen) and china clay from Cornwall (Pontsmill Works). This rail borne pulp traffic reduced by the late 1980s as pulp was brought increasing by sea beside the works. Wiggins Teape bought locomotive 08077 for traffic within the works in 1978 (replacing Ruston Hornsby 304471 of 1951 which left in 1977 to go to the Strathspey Railway). Paper from the works travelled to locations such as Pensnett, Wolverton and Cardiff.

The paper mill closed in 1991 with complete closure of the site in 2005. The sidings are lifted.

After clearance of the site and a period of inactivity a a major sawmill was opened. Although use of the railway is not made, the nearby pier is used. BSW Timber - Fort William

The nearby Annat Signal Box, which controlled level crossings, has closed.

Tags

Mill

Aliases

Corpach Pulp Mill

External links

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



Chronology Dates

  /  /1963West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
British Railways and Scottish Pulp (Developments) Ltd agree a 22 year plan for a new Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills to receive raw materials and dispatch paper by rail.
  /  /1964Westfield to Kinglassie Line (North British Railway)
Lochore and Redford Extension (North British Railway)
Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
Unused signal box at Kinglassie Colliery moved to the Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) to become Annat Signal Box, for the Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills (opened in 1966).
  /  /1966West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
The Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills open at Corpach leading to a great increase in traffic for the line at a time when it is under threat.
  /  /1968Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
North British Railway
A 'feeder' service is introduced from the Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills at Corpach to the Portobello Freightliner Terminal.
09/06/1980West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
Final timber train leaves Crianlarich Lower for the Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills, Corpach.
  /10/1980West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
As the Pulp Mill at Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills, Corpach, closes much traffic is lost.
  /  /2005West Highland Railway Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
Paper mill at the Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills closes, 135 jobs lost.

Books


A Mallaig Boyhood (Flashbacks)
All Stations to Mallaig!: West Highland Line Since Nationalisation
Captains and Commanders: Memoirs of a Scottish West Coast Fisherman

Chapels of the Rough Bounds

Highland Steam: A Scrapbook of Images from the 'Kyle, Mallaig and Highland Lines

History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: West Highland Railway v. 1

History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: West Highland Railway v. 1

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

Landranger (40) Mallaig & Glenfinnan, Loch Shiel (OS Landranger Map)

Mallaig Line: An Illustrated History and Guide

Old Mallaig, Morar and Arisaig

On West Highland Lines

Railway World Special: Fort William and Mallaig

Railway World Special: West Highland Lines

Rannan Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean =: The West Highland Line
Steam to Mallaig
The Mallaig Railway
The Mallaig Railway: The West Highland Extension 1897-1901 (RCAHMS Broadsheet)
The Story of the West Highland

The Story of the West Highland: The 1940s LNER Guide to the Line

The West Highland Mallaig Extension in B.R.Days

The West Highland Railway

The West Highland Railway (Railways of the Scottish Highlands)

The West Highland Railway 120 Years

Walks from the West Highland Railway (Cicerone Guide)

West Highland Extension: Great Railway Journeys Through Time

West Highland Railway
West Highland Railway (History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands v. 1): West Highland Railway v. 1