Caledonian Canal

Introduction

The Caledonian Canal follows the Great Glen connecting Loch Linnhe, near Fort William on the west coast, to the Beauly Firth near Inverness on the east coast, via Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness.




Dates

  /  /1804Caledonian Canal
Construction begins. Several quarry to worksite tramways carried stone and other materials to the construction sites. Engineer Thomas Telford.
  /  /1822Caledonian Canal
Canal opened from Corpach (Loch Linnhe on the West Coast) to Clachnaharry (Beauly Firth, East Coast).
  /  /1843Caledonian Canal
Canal closed for repairs and an increase in the overall working depth.
  /  /1847Caledonian Canal
Canal re-opens.
  /11/1882Glasgow and North Western Railway
Glasgow and North Western Railway proposed, the Bill presented to Parliament to seek approval. The route was to have been a 167 mile long railway from Glasgow to Inverness via Fort William. Supported by the North British Railway and opposed by the Highland Railway, Caledonian Railway (part owners of the Callander and Oban Railway), Caledonian Canal, David MacBrayne and some landowners. The Bill was rejected in 1883. It was not built (a less ambitious variation of it, the West Highland Railway with an Act in 1889, did open).
01/04/1901Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
Line opened from Banavie (Banavie Junction [2nd]), over the Caledonian Canal and on through Banavie, Corpach, Locheilside, Glenfinnan, Lochailort, Beasdale, Arisaig and Morar to Mallaig, extending the West Highland Railway to the western seaboard. There was no official opening ceremony.
22/07/1903Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway Highland Railway
Line opened by Eliza Stewart Ellice of Invergarry House. The service was operated by the Highland Railway who were keen to keep the North British Railway away from Inverness. Connecting David Hutcheson and Co steamers operating along the Caledonian Canal connecting the line to Inverness via Loch Ness and the canal. Stations opened at Gairlochy, Invergarry, Aberchalder, Fort Augustus and Fort Augustus Pier. The Lovat Arms and Station Hotel was rebuilt and reopened in connection with new line.
  /  /1909Inverness and Ross-shire Railway
Clachnaharry Swing Bridge replaced over the Caledonian Canal.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.



This is the canal basin at the south west end of the Caledonian Canal where the canal enters the north end of Loch Linnhe where it joins Loch Eil, which continues west.
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This single track railway swing bridge is immediately north of Banavie station. It carries the Fort William to Mallaig line at the foot of Neptune's Staircase, a series of interconnected locks on the Caledonian Canal.
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See also
Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway)
1973 view from a passing train of the original Banavie Swing Bridge signalbox.
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Bill Roberton //1973
On my first visit to the West Coast since 2020 I managed to capture K1 No.62005, easing over the swing bridge at Banavie with the morning Jacobite ...
John Gray 27/05/2021
Black 5 Alderman A.E Draper 5305 crossing Banavie swing bridge on its way to Mallaig in August 1987. Thirty years later this loco is still on the main ...
Gordon Steel 16/08/1987
Classic view of Ben Nevis from the afternoon Jacobite to Mallaig at Banavie on 3rd June 2016. ...
David Spaven 03/06/2016
4 of 16 images. more


This is a flight of locks on the Caledonian Canal where the canal gains height, going north east, to run by the River Lochy to Loch Lochy.
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This was a single track hand operated swing bridge immediately north of Fort Augustus station and its through platform on the west side of the station. The bridge pivoted at the south end.
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Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway
During maintenance of the Caledonian Canal locks in 1996 it was possible to see the detail of the pier which once supported the swing bridge for the ...
Ewan Crawford //1996
Looking east towards Fort Augustus station where the Caledonian Canal was crossed via a swing bridge by the Fort Augustus Pier branch. The canal is ...
Ewan Crawford //
2 of 2 images.




This was the south end of a short branch from Canal Junction [Inverness]. To the north the single line split into a siding serving the quayside and a line continuing to serve the Glen-Albyn Distillery and southern portion of the quayside. Both quaysides were on the east side of the canal, just north of the Muirtown swing bridge (a road bridge). The distillery was to the east.
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Muirtown Basin Branch (Highland Railway)


This 126 ft girder railway swing bridge crosses the Caledonian Canal near Inverness where the canal passes between Muirtown Basin (to the south) and Clachnaharry Sea Lock. The railway crossing over has the former Clachnaharry station to the west and former Canal Junction [Inverness] to the east.
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Inverness and Ross-shire Railway
ScotRail 158720 runs past Clachnaharry signal box on a wet and windy 3 October 2009 with the 12.16 Inverness - Dingwall service, just as the sun puts ...
John Furnevel 03/10/2009
Clachnaharry signalbox, 1990. At this time the line was closed due to the collapse of the Ness Viaduct, allowing some care and maintenance of the ...
Bill Roberton //1990
Fishing boat heading south along the Caledonian Canal past Clachnaharry swing bridge. ...
Bill Roberton 28/03/1988
158718 crosses the Caledonian Canal swing bridge at Clachnaharry on Friday 22nd May 2009 with the 11:03 Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh.
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Malcolm Chattwood 22/05/2009
4 of 15 images. more