Glencruitten Crossing

Location type

Sidings

Name and dates

Glencruitten Crossing (1901-1966)

Opened on the Callander and Oban Railway.

Description

This crossing was opened to break the single track section between Oban and Connel Ferry at Glencruitten Summit.

The loop had an unusual stone built combined signal box and railway cottage, not typical of the line but very fine. the lever frame was in the sitting room, effectively. A wonderful Tudor/Gothic style set of windows overlooked the loop.

The loop was particularly needed as the branch to Ballachulish opened in 1903, greatly increasing the number of trains on this section. Glencruitten was at the end of a 1 in 50 climb from both directions. Glencruitten Summit is at a height of 301 ft.

The loop was taken out in 1966 and box closed. However the building has survived intact and is in use as a house. Railway cottages also survive here, to the west. These predated the loop.

Tags

Crossing loop summit Station combined signal box and house

External links

NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map


Chronology Dates

12/08/1903Callander and Oban Railway
Glencruitten Crossing opened at Glencruitten Summit. Opened in anticipation of the opening of the Ballachulish Branch (Callander and Oban Railway).
07/05/1966Callander and Oban Railway
Glencruitten Crossing closed.

Books


A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: The North of Scotland v. 15 (Regional railway history series)

Birth and Death of a Highland Railway: Ballachulish Line

Caledonian Railway

Caledonian Routes 3: Stirling to Crianlarich - DVD - Oakwood Press

Callander & Oban Railway Through Time

Callander and Oban Railway (Library of Railway History)

History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: Callander and Oban Railway v. 4

History of the Railways of the Scottish Highlands: Callander and Oban Railway v. 4

Iron Road to the Isles: A Travellers and Tourist Guide to the West Highland Lines

Iron Roads to the Isles: A Travellers and Tourists Souvenir Guide to the West Highland Lines

Oban 1898: Argyllshire Sheet 98.07 (Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Argyllshire)

On West Highland Lines

Railway World Special: West Highland Lines

Scotland’s Lost Branch Lines: Where Beeching Got It Wrong

Scottish Central Railway (Oakwood Library of Railway History)

The Birth and Death of a Highland Railway: Ballachulish Line

The Caledonian, Scotland's Imperial Railway: A History

Trossachs and West Highlands: Exploring the Lost Railways (Local History Series)

Walks from the West Highland Railway (Cicerone Guide)