Callander and Oban Railway

The Callander and Oban Railway company was formed in 1864 with the objective of linking Callander, Scotland to the west coast port of Oban over challenging terrain, particularly at Glen Ogle and the Pass of Brander at Loch Awe. Callander had been reached in 1858 by the Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway (soon to be absorbed into Scottish Central Railways and then Caledonian Railway). Starting in 1866, the single track line passed Killin in 1870, reaching Tyndrum in 1873 and Dalmally in 1877. Following completion in 1880, Oban developed as a fashionable resort, though economically the railway was never really profitable.

In 1923, the Railway became part of LMS.

Branch lines and connections to other lines

Major constructions came when a branch line was built to Ballachulish.

There were also connections to the:
* Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway at Callander and Oban Junction (Callander).
* Comrie, St Fillans & Lochearnhead Railway at Balquhidder Junction
* Killin Railway
* West Highland Railway at Crianlarich

Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway

The Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway had opened in 1858. It was formally closed with the eastern section of the Callander and Oban Railway on 5 November 1965.

Killin Railway

The five mile Killin Branch opened on 13 March 1886. The branch to Loch Tay at Killin was privately owned and funded by local landowners as the Killin Railway required viaducts over the rivers Dochart and Lochay.

Ballachulish Branch

The 1903 branch to the Ballachulish slate quarries spanned Loch Etive with a spectacular cantilever bridge at Connel, and also Loch Creran.

Comrie, St Fillans & Lochearnhead Railway

The Comrie, St Fillans & Lochearnhead Railway connection (following the take-over by the Caledonian Railway) from Crieff along Loch Earn reached Balquidder Junction on 1 May 1905 with the Kendrum Viaduct over Glen Ogle at Lochearnhead.

West Highland Railway

The chord between Crianlarich Upper and Crianlarich Lower Junction was opened in 20 December 1897, connecting to the West Highland Railway, however it did not see its first regular passenger services until 23 May 1949.

Ben Cruachan Quarry Branch

The Ben Cruachan Quarry Branch was a short freight-only line that connected east of Loch Awe railway station. It closed in 1916.

Closures and current operations

Only the Crianlarich - Oban section remains today as a branch of the West Highland Railway. The eastern section was scheduled for closure on 5 November 1965, however the section between Callander and Crianlarich was closed following a landslide in Glen Ogle on 27 September 1965 and never reopened.Sanders and Hodgins; p 40] Thomas; pp 127 to 131] Much of the eastern section has been converted to a cycle path known as the Rob Roy way, with the Kendrum viaduct restored in 2001 (the girders spanning the river having been scrapped).

The Ballachulish branch closed on 28 March 1966. Connel Bridge and Creagan (Loch Creran) Bridge are now used for road traffic, the latter following an almost complete reconstruction in 1999.

References

Notes

Sources

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* [http://www.railscot.co.uk/Callander_and_Oban_Railway/frame.htm RAILSCOT on Callander and Oban Railway]