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Description

This is a single platform station. It was a two platform station similar to both Glenfinnan and Arisaig. It is located at Kinlochailort, now more commonly known as Lochailort due to the station. The loch, Loch Ailort, itself is to the south west.

All the original buildings and the small goods yard have been lost (a disused loading bank remains). The main station building, of typical 'Extension' style such as those at Glenfinnan and Arisaig, was on the westbound platform. It was demolished around 1983. There was a relatively modern signal box here at the west end, the loop having been extended in the Second World War. The box closed in 1966 but remains in use as a railway bothy until 1986 when it was demolished.

Only the westbound platform remains in use, now used for both directions. The eastbound platform is still there, but somewhat overgrown in summer. There is a very limited amount of parking available here.

Despite its present reduced status, it was not an unimportant station, being the railhead of the Moidart peninsula (where Roshven is located, at one time the intended western terminus of the line). The road to Moidart is relatively new, dating from the 1960s. The station served the nearby Inverailort House House which was used extensively in Commando training in the Second World War. (The Lochailort Estate had a second station, a shooting halt, at Lech-a-vuie Platform).

There are a number of hotels here and this is the first time the line reaches the true western seaboard, although it continues to Mallaig to reach a port.

One of the construction camps for navvies was nearby.

At 23.67 miles from Banavie Junction [2nd] this station is just over half way along the line.

Local

Lochailort House is half a mile to the south.

The Lochailort Inn is just to the south at the road junction between the road from Fort William to Mallaig and that south to Roshven and beyond. Lochailort Inn

Polnish Chapel, now a house, is a former chapel. It is a whitewashed building which forms the backdrop of many photographs of the line. The chapel is about a mile to the west on the south side of the line.

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