Benderloch railway station

Railway station in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, UK

56°29′21″N 5°24′20″W / 56.4891°N 5.4055°W / 56.4891; -5.4055Line(s)Ballachulish branch linePlatforms2Other informationStatusDisusedHistoryOriginal companyCallander and Oban RailwayPre-groupingCallander and Oban Railway operated by Caledonian RailwayKey dates24 August 1903Opened25 May 1953Closed24 August 1953Reopened28 March 1966Closed

Benderloch was a railway station located in Benderloch, Argyll and Bute, on the north east shore of Ardmucknish Bay. It was on the Ballachulish branch line that linked Connel Ferry, on the main line of the Callander and Oban Railway, with Ballachulish.

History

This station opened on 24 August 1903.[1] It was laid out with two platforms, one on either side of a crossing loop. There were sidings on both sides of the line.[citation needed]

Opened by the Callander and Oban Railway, it joined the London, Midland and Scottish Railway during the Grouping of 1923. Passing on to the Scottish Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948.

The station was temporarily closed from 25 May to 24 August 1953 when flooding washed away a bridge.[2] It was then closed by the British Railways Board in 1966, when the Ballachulish Branch of the Callander and Oban Railway was closed.[1][3]

The station was host to a LMS caravan in 1935 and 1936 followed by two caravans from 1937 to 1939.[4] A camping coach was also positioned here by the Scottish Region from 1956 to 1959 followed by two coaches from 1960 to 1965.[5]

Preceding station Historical railways Following station
North Connel
Line and station closed 		  Callander and Oban Railway
Ballachulish Branch
Caledonian Railway
   Barcaldine
Line and station closed

Signalling

Throughout its existence, the Ballachulish Branch was worked by the electric token system. Benderloch signal box was located on the Up platform, on the east side of the railway. It had 24 levers.[citation needed]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b Butt (1995), page 32
  2. ^ "Railway Reopens". Dundee Courier. 19 August 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 26 June 2020. – via britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (subscription required)
  3. ^ Hurst (1992), page 43 (ref 1943)
  4. ^ McRae (1997), page 22
  5. ^ McRae (1998), page 13

Sources

  • Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
  • Hurst, Geoffrey (1992). Register of Closed Railways: 1948-1991. Worksop, Nottinghamshire: Milepost Publications. ISBN 0-9477-9618-5.
  • McRae, Andrew (1997). British Railway Camping Coach Holidays: The 1930s & British Railways (London Midland Region). Vol. Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part One). Foxline. ISBN 1-870119-48-7.
  • McRae, Andrew (1998). British Railways Camping Coach Holidays: A Tour of Britain in the 1950s and 1960s. Vol. Scenes from the Past: 30 (Part Two). Foxline. ISBN 1-870119-53-3.

Further reading

  • Fryer, Charles (1989). The Callander and Oban Railway. Oxford: Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-8536-1377-X. OCLC 21870958.
  • Jowett, Alan (March 1989). Jowett's Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland: From Pre-Grouping to the Present Day (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-086-0. OCLC 22311137.