Balquhidder railway station
Encyclopedia
Balquhidder was a railway station around two miles south of Lochearnhead
, Stirling (district). It was where the Callander and Oban Railway
was joined by the Comrie, St Fillans & Lochearnhead Railway from Crieff
.
on 1 June 1870, Balquhidder station was called Lochearnhead. The station was laid out with two platforms, one on either side of a crossing loop. There were sidings
on the east side of the station. The station was renamed as Balquhidder on 1 July 1904.
Balquhidder station was relocated slightly further south on 18 December 1904 in preparation for it becoming a junction with the Comrie, St Fillans & Lochearnhead Railway. Upon the opening of the junction on 1 May 1905, the station boasted two signal box
es and an engine shed.
The crossing loop was taken out of use on 21 March 1965.
This station was closed with the Callander and Oban line on 27 September 1965, six weeks before the scheduled closure on 5 November 1965 due to a landslide
in Glen Ogle
.
Lochearnhead
Lochearnhead is a village on the A84 Stirling to Crianlarich road at the foot of Glen Ogle, north of the Highland Boundary Fault...
, Stirling (district). It was where the Callander and Oban Railway
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...
was joined by the Comrie, St Fillans & Lochearnhead Railway from Crieff
Crieff
Crieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline....
.
Opening and development
When opened as part of the Callander and Oban RailwayCallander 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...
on 1 June 1870, Balquhidder station was called Lochearnhead. The station was laid out with two platforms, one on either side of a crossing loop. There were sidings
Rail siding
A siding, in rail terminology, is a low-speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur. It may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end...
on the east side of the station. The station was renamed as Balquhidder on 1 July 1904.
Balquhidder station was relocated slightly further south on 18 December 1904 in preparation for it becoming a junction with the Comrie, St Fillans & Lochearnhead Railway. Upon the opening of the junction on 1 May 1905, the station boasted two signal box
Signal box
On a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
es and an engine shed.
Closure
When the line to Crieff closed on 1 October 1951, the station ceased to be a junction.The crossing loop was taken out of use on 21 March 1965.
This station was closed with the Callander and Oban line on 27 September 1965, six weeks before the scheduled closure on 5 November 1965 due to a landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
in Glen Ogle
Glen Ogle
Glen Ogle extends 7 miles north westwards from Lochearnhead to Lix Toll, where it opens into Glen Dochart....
.