Appin Station

[46444]

On my travels today I came across the remains of Appin Station on the old Oban-Ballachulish railway which was closed in 1966 sadly. All that remains are the concrete platforms and an old LMS platelayers hut fenced off in a compound. 

 

 

A bit of Google research came up with the following websites which may be of interest:

 

http://bbranchcor.livejournal.com/1518.html

 

http://oldappin.com/ballachulish-railway-line/

 

https://www.highlandtitles.com/2015/05/ballachulish-railway-the-slow-train/

 

A video on You Tube covers the line also in 1966:

 

https://youtu.be/utLbJQnT7oE

 

Not being clued up on Caledonian locos can anyone identify the locos 55263 and 57667. Where would these locos have been allocated at the time? Also from other photos I can see a Class 27 and what looks to be an Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0. Did the latter work on the line?

 

Finally does anyone know of a book covering the line?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Cheers.,

 

Mark

Edited September 12, 2017 by 46444

[Bon Accord]

55263 and 57667 were both shedded at Oban. The former was an LMS built version of the MacIntosh 439 class 0-4-4T passenger tank whilst the latter was a Pickersgill 300 class. The Ivatt 2 did work the line on occasion I believe, Oban had 46460 (currently produced by Bachmann and Farish) on it's books for a couple of years in the early 60s.

[46444]

55263 and 57667 were both shedded at Oban. The former was an LMS built version of the MacIntosh 439 class 0-4-4T passenger tank whilst the latter was a Pickersgill 300 class. The Ivatt 2 did work the line on occasion I believe, Oban had 46460 (currently produced by Bachmann and Farish) on it's books for a couple of years in the early 60s.

 

Hi Jim,

 

Good to hear of 46460 being used on the branch. 

 

Also thanks for the info on the Caledonian locos which will be available as whitemetal kits no doubt?  Did DMU's ever work the line at all?

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

[Bon Accord]

Hi Jim,

 

Good to hear of 46460 being used on the branch. 

 

Also thanks for the info on the Caledonian locos which will be available as whitemetal kits no doubt?  Did DMU's ever work the line at all?

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

 

Mark,

The Caley 439 is available as a kit from DJH and is pretty simple to put together, I'm not sure about the 300 however. I don't ever recall DMUs getting that far into the C&O prior to the Ballachulish branch closing, the final days were with class 27s plus an assortment of grouping coaches, including Thompson suburbans (as modelled by Hornby).

[Londontram]

I don't recall there being a kit for the 300 class but Caley coaches do an etched brass one for the fairly similar 812 class as you can see in this link (No connection etc etc)

 

http://www.caley.com/class812.php

Edited September 12, 2017 by Londontram

[pH]

Also from other photos I can see a Class 27 and what looks to be an Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0. Did the latter work on the line?

 

Finally does anyone know of a book covering the line?

 

Both 46460 and 46468 worked on the branch. BR Standard 2-6-0 78052 also worked to Ballachulish in 1961, though it does not seem that it was ever allocated to Oban. 

 

Not a book, but there was a 9-page colour photo article titled "Ballachulish Branch Services" in Steam Days for December 2010, with very long and informative captions. 46460, 46468, 55263, 576667 and 78052 are all pictured.

[pH]

I don't recall there being a kit for the 300 class but Caley coaches do an etched brass one for the fairly similar 812 class though as you can see in this link (No connection etc etc)

 

http://www.caley.com/class812.php

 

Oban had a few McIntosh 812/652 class engines in BR days. From the BR database site - 57571, 57576, 57587 and 57635. They were actually more common than the Pickersgill 300 class - 57667 seems to have been the only one at Oban in BR days. 

[Irishswissernie]

For books, Callender & Oban Railway by CEJ Fryer, Oakwood Press ISBN 0 85361 377 X has history, photos of branch including several of Appin. From memory the KR Pirt, colour volumns on Scotland published by Book Law have several colour phots.

 

My Flickr album has  photos of the branch but none of Appin.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157688374962505

 

Ernie

[AJCT]

Finally does anyone know of a book covering the line?

 

 

You could look for "The Birth and Death of a Highland Railway" by Duncan Kennedy, eg -

 

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781899863112/Birth-Death-Highland-Railway-Ballachulish-1899863117/plp

 

- I don't have it myself so can't comment on the extent of its coverage of Appin.  Have you tried the Caledonian Railway Association - 

 

http://www.crassoc.org.uk/web/index.php

 

HTH

 

Alasdair

[46444]

Finally does anyone know of a book covering the line?

 

 

You could look for "The Birth and Death of a Highland Railway" by Duncan Kennedy, eg -

 

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781899863112/Birth-Death-Highland-Railway-Ballachulish-1899863117/plp

 

- I don't have it myself so can't comment on the extent of its coverage of Appin.  Have you tried the Caledonian Railway Association - 

 

http://www.crassoc.org.uk/web/index.php

 

HTH

 

Alasdair

 

Thanks Alasdair,

 

I'll look into these links.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

[46444]

For books, Callender & Oban Railway by CEJ Fryer, Oakwood Press ISBN 0 85361 377 X has history, photos of branch including several of Appin. From memory the KR Pirt, colour volumns on Scotland published by Book Law have several colour phots.

 

My Flickr album has  photos of the branch but none of Appin.

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/albums/72157688374962505

 

Ernie

 

Thanks Ernie,

 

Great photos and thanks for the link to the book.

 

I popped into a local well known bookstore yesterday and was told the Fryer book was out of print so will have to find a secondhand copy.  I did manage to find a lovely book by Michael Welch on Stream in The Scottish Landscape. Fabulous pictures including several pages in colour of the Callander & Oban Railway.

 

I'll post some photos of my finds of remnants of the line soon.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

[Argos]

Don't forget John Thomas's Callander & Oban Railway.

A superb narrative history. 

 

There is a chapter on the Ballachulish Branch.

 

There is also a DVD Caledonain Routes Vol 4 which covers the western half of the C&O along with the Ballachulish branch.

It might take a bit of searching to find as I don't think it available new, but well worth tracking down.

 

And for signalling information:-

 

http://www.oban-line.info/ap1/ap1.html

Edited September 13, 2017 by Argos

[46444]

Don't forget John Thomas's Callander & Oban Railway.

A superb narrative history. 

 

There is a chapter on the Ballachulish Branch.

 

There is also a DVD Caledonain Routes Vol 4 which covers the western half of the C&O along with the Ballachulish branch.

It might take a bit of searching to find as I don't think it available new, but well worth tracking down.

 

And for signalling information:-

 

http://www.oban-line.info/ap1/ap1.html

 

 

Hi Argos,

 

Many thanks for your post. Following Alasdair's link to the CRS believe it or not I found the link to the Thomas book you refer to. Another book to look out for.

 

The signalling information for Appin is really useful.  

 

Thankyou once again.

 

Mark

[Kylestrome]

You could look for "The Birth and Death of a Highland Railway" by Duncan Kennedy, eg -

 

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/9781899863112/Birth-Death-Highland-Railway-Ballachulish-1899863117/plp

 

This book does not have much in it that is specific to Appin, but it is a fascinating read about the construction of the Ballachulish line and was written by one of the engineers involved in its construction. It's well worth getting hold of a copy if you're interested in the railways of the West Highlands.

 

David

Edited September 13, 2017 by Kylestrome

[Corrour]

Hi 4644,

 

Here's what the signal box diagram may have looked like back in Caley days.

 

kind regards,

 

Robert

Appin-M5-n.d.-Rev.4-rot.pdf

[46444]

This book does not have much in it that is specific to Appin, but it is a fascinating read about the construction of the Ballachulish line and was written by one of the engineers involved in its construction. It's well worth getting hold of a copy if you're interested in the railways of the West Highlands.

 

David

 

Hi David,

 

Thanks for the  recommended read....One to look out for.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

 

Hi 4644,

 

Here's what the signal box diagram may have looked like back in Caley days.

 

kind regards,

 

Robert

 

The signal box diagram is really useful as well Robert.   Thanks for posting.  It certainly gives a clearer picture of the existing site and the remnants which are left. 

 

I'll post my related images once I've finished editing them.

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

[NCB]

The site has been tidied up recently during creation of a cycle track.

 

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4205158

 

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2392849

 

I've passed that way a few times over the last 4 years and have meant to drop by, but have yet to do it.

 

In 1963 I caught a train from Ballachulish to Ballachulish Ferry; took this pic:

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2931926

Think the train was a couple of non-corridor coaches pulled by a diesel, think it was a class 24 but not sure about that.

[Argos]

The site has been tidied up recently during creation of a cycle track.

 

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4205158

 

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2392849

 

I've passed that way a few times over the last 4 years and have meant to drop by, but have yet to do it.

 

In 1963 I caught a train from Ballachulish to Ballachulish Ferry; took this pic:

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2931926

Think the train was a couple of non-corridor coaches pulled by a diesel, think it was a class 24 but not sure about that.

 

I'd be interested if it was a class 24, I haven't found any evidence class 24s worked over the C&O.

There is plenty of photos of class 27s on the line, and class 21s regularly ran to Oban (I can't recall seeing a photo of one on the Ballachulish line though).

[NCB]

I'd be interested if it was a class 24, I haven't found any evidence class 24s worked over the C&O.

There is plenty of photos of class 27s on the line, and class 21s regularly ran to Oban (I can't recall seeing a photo of one on the Ballachulish line though).

 

Wasn't that interested in diesels then, so could very easily not have been a class 24. But it was that sort of thing. Not sure when steam disappeared on the line; think it was still going strong in 1961.

 

In 1963 me and a mate were hitch-hiking north, ending up on Skye; we cheated by getting the Fort William to Mallaig train. Coming back we gave in and took trains the whole way. The train south from Fort William had two diesels on it, and my memory tells me that the second was a Class 21 (recognisable because of the Dublo model). Wonder if my memory had it right.

 

Nigel

[keefer]

double-headers south from FW could often be an odd pairing, in multiple as long's both loco types were of the same coupling code. e.g. cl.27 + 20

(in fact a ScR batch of 20s had through steam pipes fitted so they could be coupled between the other boiler-fitted loco & the train)

 

IIRC the original 21s were red-diamond MU fitted so, if used with the other classes, would require each loco to be manned (i.e. worked in tandem)

according to t'internet the first cl.21 to be converted to a 29 was in 1963, but the rest were '64-65. i mention this as some (but not all?) conversions had blue-star MU eqpt fitted which enabled them to be used in multiple (i.e. one crew) with pretty much everything else of the time (cl.20 & 24-27)

 

so in 1963, if the second loco was a cl.21, maybe the first loco was also a 21? (i don't know how common it was to mix types requiring tandem working)

[NCB]

Said I didn't know much about diesels! I meant a class 20. As per the Dublo model. Doh!

[keefer]

ah well, that makes it easier if it was a 20!

 

here's one from May 1962, showing your memory had it right after all: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24041160@N02/3381949699/in/album-72157622477895789/

 

and one going the other way in May 1965: https://www.flickr.com/photos/24041160@N02/13966473743/in/album-72157622477895789/

Edited October 18, 2017 by keefer

[NCB]

That's exactly the sort of thing! The class 20 was certainly behind the class 27. Can't swear it was a 27 but that general shape, and if the first pic was 1962 in 1963 probably was a class 27. On some of the more bendy bits of the line I could see both locomotives from the carriage window.

 

I liked the old station in Fort William. Had one of the best chippies ever just outside it, great fresh fish.

Edited October 20, 2017 by NCB