There are a number of buildings and structures on the West Highland Line that are on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. The West Highland Line runs from a junction at Craigendoran, 23 miles (37 km) west of Glasgow Queen Street on the electrified line to Helensburgh, to Crianlarich, where it divides into two branches, one to Fort William and Mallaig and another to Oban.[1] It is marketed to tourists, who come for scenery that includes views of mountains, moorland, glens and the Atlantic Ocean.[2][3]
The Callander & Oban Railway (C&OR) was the first railway in the area when this opened through to Tyndrum in 1877. It reached Oban in 1880; in 1901 a branch line opened from Connel Ferry to Ballachulish; services were operated by the Caledonian Railway.[4][5] The West Highland Railway (WHR) built the line from Craigendoran to Fort William in 1894, and this was extended to Mallaig in 1901. A short curve opened in 1897 connecting the C&OR and WHR where they crossed at Crianlarich. Services over the WHR were operated by the North British Railway, who absorbed the railway in 1908. In the 1923 grouping the WHR became part of the London and North Eastern Railway,[6][7] and the C&OR part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.[4] The former C&OR line east and south of Crianlarich closed in 1966, following which trains to Oban ran via Craigendoran.[8]
Stations were built on the line to Fort William with an island platform with buildings in a Swiss-Chalet style to complement the scenic route, and style of the North British Railway signal boxes was modified to match. The design of the stations has been attributed to James Miller, although they may be the work of Robert Wemyss working with John James Burnett.[9] A similar style of station, matched with signal boxes built by the Railway Signal Company, was used on the railway extension to Mallaig.[10] The extension used concrete viaducts build by Robert McAlpine & Sons, headed by Robert "Concrete Bob" McAlpine; concrete was used as it was 10 – 30 per cent cheaper than masonry.[11] Listed buildings are placed in one of three categories: Category A for buildings of national or international importance, Category B for particularly important buildings of regional or more than local importance and Category C for buildings that local importance, or lesser examples of any period, style, or building type.[12]
Callander & Oban Railway edit
| Name | Category | Image | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connel Bridge | B |  |
Argyll and Bute NM91123450 | This steel cantilever bridge, 1,044 feet (318 m) long and with a clear span of 524 feet (160 m), was built by the C&OR between 1898 and 1903 for their branch line from Oban to Ballachulish. The branch closed in 1966 and the bridge is in use today as a road bridge.[13][14] |
| Falls of Cruachan Railway Viaduct | A |  |
Argyll and Bute NN0788326824 | First arched viaduct on a British Railway to be constructed from mass concrete, this was designed by John Stain in 1880.[15] |
| Dalmally railway station, with signal box | C |  |
Argyll and Bute NN1599027202 | Two storey station buildings and house built for C&OR circa 1875. The signal box is a Caledonian Railway (Northern Division) Type 2 from 1896.[16] |
West Highland Railway edit
| Name | Category | Image | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mallaig railway station | C |  |
Highland NM675971 | Built for the WHR extension to Mallaig, this originally had the station house above offices.[17] |
| Railway Houses | B | Highland NM674967 | Four blocks of 2-storey houses for railwaymen built for the WHR extension to Mallaig.[18] | |
| Morar Railway Viaduct | B |  |
Highland NM681923 | Built for the WHR extension to Mallaig, this 1897 concrete viaduct has three arches with differing widths, including one of 90 feet (27 m).[19][20] |
| Arisaig railway station, with signal box | B | .jpg) |
Highland NM6637486740 | Built for the WHR extension to Mallaig.[21] |
| Larichmore Viaduct | B |  |
Highland NM674866 | Concrete viaduct built for the WHR extension to Mallaig.[22] |
| Borrodale Viaduct | A |  |
Highland NM698855 | Built for the WHR extension to Mallaig. The original design had standard arches with piers in the stream, but the landowner insisted that the piers be clad in granite. To save costs the 86-foot (26 m) high bridge was built with two side spans of 20 feet (6.1 m) each and central span 127 feet 6 inches (38.86 m) wide, at the time the longest for a concrete bridge.[23][20][24] |
| Loch nan Uamh Viaduct | B |  |
Highland NM729841 | A concrete viaduct with eight 50 feet (15 m) arches built for the WHR extension to Mallaig.[25][20] |
| Arnabol Viaduct | B |  |
Highland NM738836 | A concrete viaduct with six 50 ft arches built for the WHR extension to Mallaig.[26][20] |
| Glenfinnan railway station, with signal box | B |  |
Highland NM8987180975 | Built for the WHR extension to Mallaig. Dated 1900–1, the 3-bay single storey station building in the Swiss chalet style. Currently in use as a museum.[10] |
| Glenfinnan Viaduct | A |  |
Highland NM910813 | A 416 yards (380 m) long concrete viaduct on a curve with a radius of 12 chains (790 ft; 240 m) with a maximum height of 100 feet (30 m), made up of 21 x 50 feet (15 m) arches. Built for the WHR extension to Mallaig.[27][20][24] |
| Banavie Railway Swing Bridge | B |  |
Highland NN112768 | A steel bow truss swing bridge built by Simpson & Wilson over the Caledonian Canal.[28] |
| Spean Bridge railway station, with signal box | C |  |
Highland NN2211881428 | A Swiss Chalet style railway station of a design attributed to James Miller, c. 1894. Signal box is a later addition.[29] |
| Corrour railway station, with signal box | C |  |
Highland NN3563466389 | A railway station originally built for a private sporting estate, together with a non-standard version of the North British Railway's Type 6b signal box.[30] |
| Rannoch railway station, with signal box and sculptured portrait of James Renton | B |  |
Perth and Kinross NN4224957878 | A Swiss Chalet style railway station of a design built 1893–94, with contemporary North British Railway's Type 6b signal box. James Renton was a WHR director who invested in the railway company when it was about to run of money during the line's construction.[31][32] |
| Bridge of Orchy railway station, with signal box | B |  |
Argyll and Bute NN3002739441 | A Swiss Chalet style railway station of a design built 1893–94, with contemporary North British Railway's Type 6b signal box.[9] |
| Tyndrum Upper railway station, with signal box | B |  |
Stirling (council area) NN3338630222 | A Swiss Chalet style railway station of a design built 1893–94, with contemporary North British Railway's Type 6b signal box.[33] |
| Crianlarich engine shed | C |  |
Stirling (council area) NN3848424974 | A 13-bay engine shed built of brick in the late 19th century.[34] |
| Ardlui railway station | C |  |
Argyll and Bute NN31671551 | A Swiss Chalet style railway station built c. 1894.[35] |
| Ardlui station master's house | C | Argyll and Bute NN31701554 | A single storey house built by the WHR for the station master, probably by Robert Wemyss in 1894.[36] | |
| Creag-an-Arnain Viaduct | B |  |
Argyll and Bute NN32431070 | A railway viaduct built from eight arches of rough-hewn stone in a gentle curve. Possibly designed by James Miller in 1891.[37] |
| Arrochar & Tarbet railway station, with signal box | B |  |
Argyll and Bute | A Swiss Chalet style railway station built 1889–94 with contemporary signal box..[38] |
| Garelochhead railway station, with signal box | B |  |
Argyll and Bute | A Swiss Chalet style railway station built 1893–94 with contemporary North British Railway's Type 6b signal box.[39] |
| Garelochhead station master's house | B | Argyll and Bute | A two-storey house built by the WHR for the station master, probably by Robert Wemyss in 1894.[40] |
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ "Route Specifications: Scotland" (PDF). Network Rail. 2010. pp. 58, 90. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ "West Highland Line" (PDF). ScotRail. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ "The West Highland Line". The Man in Seat 61. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
- ^ a b Awdry 1990, pp. 64–65.
- ^ Cobb 2006, pp. 559–560.
- ^ Awdry 1990, p. 169.
- ^ Thomas 1971, pp. 177–179.
- ^ Thomas, Paterson & Ranson 1998, p. 170.
- ^ a b "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.13072)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.312)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Thomas 1971, pp. 95–96.
- ^ "Historic and Listed Buildings: What is listing?". Historic Scotland. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.11986)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Thomas & Turnock 1993, pp. 273–274.
- ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.50811)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.13352)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.43567)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.13037)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.296)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b c d e Thomas 1971, pp. 100–101.
- ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.326)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.292)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.302)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ a b Thomas & Turnock 1993, p. 278.
- ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.295)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.297)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.310)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.7079)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.51615)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.52057)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.12245)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ Thomas 1971, pp. 62.
- ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.8290)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.50319)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.43177)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.43178)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.864)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.865)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.19490)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Historic Scotland listed buildings (No.14496)". Historic Scotland. Retrieved January 2015.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help)
Books edit
- Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Wellingborough: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-85260-049-7.
- Cobb, Colonel M.H. (2006). The Railways of Great Britain: A Historical Atlas. Ian Allan. ISBN 978-07110-3236-1.
- Thomas, John (1971). The West Highland Railway. Pan Books. ISBN 0-330-02479-5.
- Thomas, John; Paterson, Alan; Ranson, P. (1998). The West Highland Railway. House of Lochar. ISBN 978-1899863211.
- Thomas, John; Turnock, David (1993). The North of Scotland. A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain Vol. 15 (2nd ed.). Pan Books. ISBN 0-330-02479-5.