This railway served pulp and paper mill was important to the survival of the West Highland Railway giving rise to much purely Scottish rail traffic. Timber, paper, and oil were carried by rail.
The mill was opened to the west of Corpach by Wiggins Teape, financially assisted by the Government who planned to increase local employment. Construction began in 1963 and completed in 1966.
A siding entered the site from the east, Fort William Junction, direction. This siding turned through 180 degrees, fanning out into a yard, to serve the works. There was a regular timber carrying service from Crianlarich Lower goods yard.
The mill received 350 tonnes of timber daily. The last train from Crianlarich Lower running when the pulp mill closed in 1980.
This was a considerable loss of traffic to British Rail.
Rail traffic continued afterwards for the paper mill. Oil, from Grangemouth, pulp (now imported through Methil Docks, Grangemouth Docks or Montrose) and china clay from Cornwall. This pulp traffic reduced by the late 1980s as pulp was brought increasing by sea. Wiggins Teape bought locomotive 08077 for traffic within the works in 1978 (replacing Ruston Hornsby 304471 of 1951 which left in 1977 to go to the Strathspey Railway).
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The paper mill closed in 1991 with complete closure of the site in 2005. The sidings are lifted.
After clearance of the site and a period of inactivity a a major sawmill was opened. Although use of the railway is not made, the nearby pier is used. BSW Timber - Fort William
The nearby Annat Signal Box, which controlled level crossings, has closed.
Nearby stations Corpach Banavie Loch Eil Outward Bound Fort William [1st] Fort William Banavie Pier Locheilside Gairlochy Spean Bridge Ballachulish Ferry Ballachulish (Glencoe) Glenfinnan Invergloy Platform Kentallen Roy Bridge | Annat Pulp Mill Ground Frame Annat Signal Box Annat Sidings Camus-na-ha Sidings Camus-na-ha Signal Box Corpach Basin Tomonie Signal Box Banavie Swing Bridge Neptune^s Staircase Fort William Goods Tourist/other Corpach Pier Camusnagaul Fort William Aluminium Pier Loch Eil Outward Bound Centre Fort William [Fort] |
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. |
/ /1963 | [West Highland Railway]]
Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) British Railways and Scottish Pulp (Developments) Ltd agree a 22 year plan for a new Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills to receive raw materials and dispatch paper by rail. |
/ /1966 | West Highland Railway
Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) The Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills open at Corpach leading to a great increase in traffic for the line at a time when it is under threat. |
09/06/1980 | West Highland Railway
Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) Final timber train leaves Crianlarich Lower for the Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills, Corpach. |
/10/1980 | West Highland Railway
Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) As the Pulp Mill at Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills, Corpach, closes much traffic is lost. |
/ /2005 | West Highland Railway
Mallaig Extension (West Highland Railway) Paper mill at the Scottish Pulp and Paper Mills closes. |