West Highland Line
The West Highland Line (Scottish Gaelic: Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean - "Iron Road to the Isles") is a railway line linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban in the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow in Central Scotland. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the notable Trans-Siberian line in Russia and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru. The ScotRail website has since reported that the line has been voted the most scenic railway line in the world for the second year running.
The West Highland Line is one of two railway lines that access the remote and mountainous west coast of Scotland, the other being the Kyle of Lochalsh Line which connects Inverness with Kyle of Lochalsh. The line is the westernmost railway line in Great Britain.
At least in part, the West Highland Line is the same railway line as that referred to as the West H...Read more
The West Highland Line (Scottish Gaelic: Rathad Iarainn nan Eilean - "Iron Road to the Isles") is a railway line linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban in the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow in Central Scotland. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the notable Trans-Siberian line in Russia and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru. The ScotRail website has since reported that the line has been voted the most scenic railway line in the world for the second year running.
The West Highland Line is one of two railway lines that access the remote and mountainous west coast of Scotland, the other being the Kyle of Lochalsh Line which connects Inverness with Kyle of Lochalsh. The line is the westernmost railway line in Great Britain.
At least in part, the West Highland Line is the same railway line as that referred to as the West Highland Railway.
Glenfinnan ViaductThe route was built in several sections:
Glasgow Queen Street to Cowlairs Junction - Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Cowlairs Junction to Bowling - Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway (later absorbed into the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway) Bowling to Dumbarton Central - Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway, operated by the Caledonian Railway Dumbarton Central to Dalreoch - Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction Railway Dalreoch to Craigendoran - Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway Craigendoran to Fort William (opened 11 August 1894)[1][2][3] - West Highland Railway sponsored by the North British Railway Crianlarich to Oban[4] - Callander and Oban Railway, operated by the Caledonian Railway.There is an additional section from Fort William (or a junction near Fort William) to Mallaig, built as the Mallaig Extension Railway.[5] The West Highland Railway approved the construction of the line at their annual meeting in January 1895.[6]
The line faced potential closure as part of the Beeching cuts in 1963[7] and again in 1995 due to reduced revenues.[8][9]
^ "A New Highland Railway". The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser. Bristol, England. 13 August 1894. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Fine, Mary Jane (26 January 2003). "Fling: Highland train". The Record. Hackensack, New Jersey. p. 145 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Railway Enterprise in the North - Railway extension in the West Highlands". The Courier and Argus. Dundee, Scotland. 15 August 1895. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "The West Highland Railway (Mallaig Extension) Bill". Glasgow Herald. 28 April 1894. p. 3 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Railway Meetings - West Highland Railway". Glasgow Herald. 18 January 1895. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Ascherson, Neal (13 January 1963). "Lifeline in Jeopardy". The Observer. London. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Johnson, Maureen (14 May 1995). "Scottish rail ride faces closure". Johnson City Press. Johnson City, Tennessee. Associated Press. p. 44 – via Newspapers.com.
^ O'Kelly, Lisa (14 May 1995). "Deerstalker sees light at end of the tunnel". The Observer. London. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.
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