Strathcarron: Strathcarron station, a lovely spot, sees trains cross twice a day. This view in July 2012 shows 158715 heading for Kyle with 158719 eastbound for Inverness.
Mark Bartlett 11/07/2012

Strathcarron

Location type

Station

Name and dates

Strathcarron (1870-)

Station code: STC National Rail ScotRail
Where: Highland, Scotland
Opened on the Dingwall and Skye Railway.
Open on the Kyle Line.

Description

This is a two platform station with a passing loop on a single track railway. The main station building, of two storeys and of the same style as those at Achnasheen and Garve, is on the eastbound platform.

The tracks have wide separation, due to a proposal to provide clearance to carry fishing boats on the line. The station has a fine lattice footbridge.

A water column was provided on the westbound platform. A water tank was at the end of the platform close to the level crossing.

The goods yard was on the north side of the line, at the east end of the station and approached from the east.

There were two signal boxes, both opened in 1893. The west box was at the west end of the eastbound platform, close to the level crossing. The east box was closed to the east end of the loop at the goods yard turn out.

Most of the yard is now lifted except a short PW siding. A hotel was built by the station.

The signal boxes closed in 1984 when taken over by RETB controlled from Dingwall.

Strathcarron was the end of the road, originally this did not continue west along the south bank of Loch Carron to Stromeferry until the 1970s. With the extension of the station access road west a level crossing, rather than the former occupational crossing, now exists at the west end of the station.

To avoid the Strome Ferry motorists could book onto trains, their cars beig carried by flat wagons from Strathcarron to Kyle.

The station is at the settlement of New Kelso (just to the north across the River Carron), a name which the station was very nearly given.

Local

Strathcarron Station House

Tags

Station

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67

Facilities

Gaelic name: Srath Carrann




Chronology Dates

19/08/1870Dingwall and Skye Railway
Railway opened from Dingwall to Strome Ferry Pier. Stations at Strathpeffer [1st], Garve, Achanalt, Achnasheen, Strathcarron and Strome Ferry. Loops at Garve, Achnasheen, Strathcarron and Strome Ferry.
13/03/1970Dingwall and Skye Railway Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)
Strathcarron to Strome Ferry re-opens (following major rockfall).
17/06/1984Dingwall and Skye Railway
Strathcarron east box closed, Strathcarron west box converted into gate box.
29/10/2001Dingwall and Skye Railway
158733 damaged after hitting rocks from a landslip near Stromeferry (described as Strathcarron in the press). The line was planned to be closed until Nov 20.

News items

03/02/2023Kyle of Lochalsh line reopens following landslip but delays continue [Press and Journal]
24/10/2022Road closure enables Strathcarron Level Crossing safety inspection [Network Rail]
30/09/2022Road closure enables Strathcarron level crossing safety inspection [Network Rail]
05/10/2018Council wants ScotRail to help ease disruption on Stromeferry bypass [West Highland Free Press]
20/07/2007Railway line blocked by landslip [BBC News]
29/10/2001Mudslide closes Kyle of Lochalsh to Strathcarron [Railscot]

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