Avalanche Shelter

Location type

Place

Name and dates

Avalanche Shelter (1978-)

Opened on the Dingwall and Skye Railway.

Description

This concrete structure crosses over the railway and A890 south west of Attadale station. The shelter protects the railway and road from the cliff above to the south east.

The railway is on the seaward side of the road. The railway portion is large enough for a single track and the road portion for a single track road.

The concrete is dressed at either end with crests and patterns, less obvious due to the discolouring of the concrete.

The structure was built in 1978 when the Stromeferry Bypass road opened between Stromeferry and Attadale where it met an older road from Strathcarron. This allowed closure of the Strome Ferry crossing from Stromeferry to North Strome Pier. The cutting back of the cliff face has resulted in an unstable surface which is netted to prevent rockfalls.

Works on the cliff face have necessitated the laying of matting on the railway and diversion of the road onto the railway. The railway remains open while the road is diverted with traffic lights interlocked with the signalling. When in operation this constitutes the longest level crossing in the UK.

Tags

Avalanche Shelter



News items

27/08/2018Work begins at Stromeferry bypass [Highland Council]

Books


Highland Railway: People and Places - From the Inverness and Nairn Railway to Scotrail

History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: Skye Railway v. 5

Insider Rail Guide: Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh (The Insider Rail Guide)

OS Explorer Map (428) Kyle of Lochalsh, Plockton and Applecross (OS Explorer Active Map)

Rails to Kyle of Lochalsh: Story of the Dingwall and Skye Railway Including the Strathpeffer Branch (Oakwood Library of Railway History)

The Dingwall & Skye Railway: A Pictorial Record of the Line to Kyle of Lochalsh

The Highland Railway

The Highland Railway : The History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands - Vol 2

The Kyle Line: An Illustrated History and Guide

The Kyle of Lochalsh and Far North Lines

The Kyle of Lochalsh Line: Great Railway Journeys Through Time