Stromeferry

Location type

Station

Names and dates

Strome Ferry (1870-1963)
Stromeferry (1963-)

Station code: STF National Rail ScotRail
Where: Highland, Scotland
Opened on the Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway).
Opened on the Dingwall and Skye Railway.
Open on the Kyle Line.

Description

This is a single platform station located in the small village of Stromeferry with some parking nearby. It opened in 1870 and was the terminus of the railway from Dingwall near Inverness until extension west to Kyle of Lochalsh in 1897.


Terminus


This was a steamer pier and the terminus of the line until extension west and south to Kyle of Lochalsh. The original intention had been to continue further west to Kyle of Lochalsh but, short of money, the Dingwall and Skye Railway built this terminus.

Due to the financial constraints firstly Attadale (further east but not unsuitable for a ferry pier - despite grand plans being drawn up) and then Strome Ferry were chosen.

The choice of location for the terminus at an underpopulated remote lochside location may seem odd. However there was relatively deep water for steamers which operated to Skye and beyond, this was located on the main West Coast roadway and it was already established as a ferry location due to the West Coast road's ferry over Loch Carron. The road east from Strome (north bank) through Achnasheen had only been completed in 1819.

The station had a single platform on the north side which was covered by a timber trainshed. Rails ran via a tight curve to a goods shed on the north side of the trainshed and continued onto the pier for goods exchange and fish traffic. There was a goods yard with loading banks on the south side of the station. East of the station was the two road Strome Ferry Shed on the south side of the line, approached from the west. There was a signal box from the start which was located between the railway and the shed approach.

The steamer pier was just to the east of the existing ferry slip.


Steamers


Prior to the opening of the line there was a well established steamers service up the west coast from Glasgow operated by David Hutcheson & Co. The company was not prepared to divert its steamers via the new pier and the Dingwall and Skye Railway was obliged to operate its own steamers. The company purchased the SS Oscar (possibly of 1850) and PS Jura (of 1857).

From the pier there were daily sailings by SS Oscar to Portree via Kyleakin and Broadford, the outward trip being in the afternoons and return trip being in the mornings.

PS Jura steamed outward to Stornoway on a Saturday (returning Monday) and Tuesday (returning Thursday).

Unfortunately SS Oscar was stranded off Applecross in late 1870. Although salvaged later a replacement was needed. PS Carham (of 1864) was purchased from the NBR in 1871. The PS Jura was sold in late 1871. Later PS Ferret was also purchased.

In 1877 the Highland Railway took over the steamer operation. When the Highland withdrew the Stornoway fish boat the up and coming Callander and Oban Railway was to take much of the traffic, large due to its competitive rates.

The steamers were withdrawn in 1880. The service taken over by David MacBrayne, successor to Hutcheson. Late in 1880 the Dingwall and Skye Railway was bought by the Highland Railway.

To protect steamers approaching the pier from submerged rocks there were lights and beacons close to Plockton, particularly the Cat Islands Lighthouse.

The pier was extended in 1880. The pier had been 'L' shaped and was converted into a 'T' shape.

The running of a Sunday fish train, receiving fish from Stornoway, was to give rise to 'riots' at the pier in 1883, this operation being run on the Sabbath.

The station's trainshed burned down in 1891. This fire also destroyed a train of fourteen carriages and luggage vans.


Extension to Kyle of Lochalsh


In the 1890s, with the Government's financial assistance, the railway was continued west and south to Kyle of Lochalsh.

At Strome Ferry the signal box was replaced in 1893. A replacement trainshed, which could be passed through, was built. A second platform for westbound trains was added to the south of the eastbound, offset to the west to be outwith the trainshed. The existing platform was extended west. The road to the pier was carried over the line by a large skew girder bridge and the west end of the station.

A new signal box, 'Strome Ferry West', opened with the extension at the west end in 1897. The new box was at the west end of the eastbound platform outwith the trainshed. The existing 1893 box became 'Strome Ferry East'.

A water column was provided in the goods yard. Water tanks were located by the former Strome Ferry Shed.

The pier was demolished in 1937.

The overall roof was removed in 1941 (possibly reused for goods sheds at Oldbury and Sowerby Bridge). A small portion of the building which had been outside the shed was retained, a little odd looking without the trainshed.

The signal boxes closed in 1966 and the west end of the westbound loop line was taken out, the line being retained as a siding. The former eastbound platform remained in use, more useful as it adjoined the nearby houses. At the same time the goods yard sidings were lifted.


Oil rig construction traffic


One of the conditions of the establishment of the Howard Doris Loch Kishorn Fabrication Yard, where oil rigs were to be built, was that materials were to be brought in by sea. The Ninian Central Platform was assembled at this site.

This development was planned for some time and the decision to bring in materials by rail and sea was responsible for reversing the planned closure of the Kyle line in 1973.

In 1974/5 land was reclaimed at Stromeferry with space for four cement silos, five sidings (three looped alongside silos, two by pier) and a new pier with cranes. Materials were taken from the pier to the fabrication site.

Briefly there was considerable traffic: including cement from the Dunbar Cement Works (Oxwellmains), fly ash from Alloa Marshalling Yard.

There were two Hudswell Clark 0-6-0DM shunters.

The railway depot closed in 1977. The fabrication yard remained open until 1987, mothballed latterly.

The sidings, long disused, were disconnected around 1982 and lifted in 1988.


Today


The station buildings no longer exist and only one platform, the original platform and its extension to the west, remains in use.

Local

Although the railway hotel is no more, the former stationmaster's house is available as accommodation for large groups. Stationmaster's Lodge

Tags

Terminus Station Pier Riot

Aliases

Stromeferry Pier Strome Ferry Pier

External links

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

Facilities

Gaelic name: Port an t-Sròim



Nearby stations
Duncraig
Plockton
Attadale
Duirinish
Strathcarron
Kyle of Lochalsh
Achnashellach
Glencarron
Achnasheen
Mallaig
Morar
Achanalt
Arisaig
Beasdale
Lochailort
Strome Ferry Shed
Fernaig Bridge
Avalanche Shelter
Tourist/other
South Strome Pier
Stromeferry Station Hotel
Stromeferry Viewpoint
North Strome Pier
Strome Castle
Loch Carron
Ulluva Beacon
Birch Rock Buoy
Bonadu Sgeir Beacon
Duncraig Castle
Hawk Rock Buoy
Plockton Pier
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.


No ferry


Strome Ferry is famous for its 'Strome Ferry (No Ferry)' road sign on the A890.

Strome Ferry is on the south shore of Loch Carron and its ferry connected to Strome on the north shore until 1970 when the A890 Stromeferry Bypass was opened between Stromeferry and Attadale. The largely single track roadway was squeezed in between the shore, railway and cliffs leading to the building of the Avalanche Shelter to protect the road and railway.

Rockfalls have been a feature of the road since its opening leading to the novel use of matting on the railway track near the Avalanche Shelter and diversion of road vehicles along the railway (when trains are not running!) during repairs to the cuttings alongside the road.


S.S. 'Ferret'


Following service with the Dingwall and Skye Railway the SS Ferret was to go on to have an interesting future.

Built by J. & G. Thomson (Clyde Bank Iron Shipyard [2nd]) in 1871 for J. & G. Burns this was a passenger and cargo vessel.

The vessel was bought by the Dingwall and Skye Railway in 1873 and operated from Stromeferry.

Sold, along with the railway, to the Highland Railway in 1877 that company ceased steamer services from Stromeferry in 1880.

The now redundant vessel was chartered in the name of 'George Smith' for six months in 1880. Unfortunately the vessel had been effectively stolen.

Lloyds reported the Ferret passing Gibraltar in November 1880. Later wreckage, apparently from the Ferret, was found at Gibraltar and the Highland planned to claim the total loss of the vessel.

Then silence.

When the Ferret was found in Melbourne Australia, in 1881, Smith was detained. The vessel had entered the Mediterranean but left under cover of darkness without lights, been repainted (now named 'Bentan'), called at Santos in Brazil (where a cargo of coffee was picked up under false pretences of carrying it to Marseilles), been renamed 'India', continued to Cape Town (the coffee was sold), then (in search of further cargo) travelled via Mauritius and Port Albany to Melbourne.

Rather than return the Ferret to Britain she was sold locally and operated until 1920 when wrecked at the Yorke Peninsula. The boiler can be seen on the shoreline at Cape Spencer. South Australia - Ethel and Ferret


Chronology Dates

  /  /1869Dingwall and Skye Railway
Terminus plans altered from Attadale to Strome Ferry around this time.
  /  /1870Dingwall and Skye Railway
SS Oscar and SS Jura acquired for connecting steamer services to Portree and Stornoway from Strome Ferry.
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.
09/11/1870Dingwall and Skye Railway
SS Oscar wrecked off Applecross and considered at that time to be a total loss. Passengers and crew safely rescued. Sailings from Strome Ferry to Stornoway abandoned.
  /09/1872PS Carham
Sold by the North British Steam Packet Company to the Dingwall and Skye Railway to operate the Strome Ferry to Portree service.
16/10/1891Dingwall and Skye Railway
Strome Ferry station train shed burns down
  /  /1893Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)
Extension from Stromeferry to Kyle of Lochalsh authorised.
02/11/1897Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)
Line opened from Stromeferry to new terminus and pier at Kyle of Lochalsh. Stations at; Plockton, Duirinish and Kyle of Lochalsh.
  /09/1937Dingwall and Skye Railway
Strome Ferry pier demolished.
  /09/1937Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)
Stromeferry pier demolished.
15/06/1964Dingwall and Skye Railway
Stromeferry closed to goods.
20/03/1966Dingwall and Skye Railway
Stromeferry east and west signal boxes and loop closed.
  /11/1969Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)
A rockfall caused by the building of first road along south shore of Loch Carron leads to temporary blockage of line near Stromeferry.
13/03/1970Dingwall and Skye Railway Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)
Strathcarron to Strome Ferry re-opens (following major rockfall).
  /  /1975Dingwall and Skye Railway
Howard Doris' Loch Kishorn Fabrication Yard depot opened at Strome Ferry.
  /  /1975Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)
Loch Kishorn Fabrication Yard depot opened at Strome Ferry.
  /  /1982Dingwall and Skye Railway
Depot at Strome Ferry closed and track disconnected from main line.
  /  /1982Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)
Depot at Strome Ferry closed and track disconnected from main line.
  /  /1988Dingwall and Skye Railway
Disused depot track at Strome Ferry lifted
  /  /1988Kyle of Lochalsh Extension (Highland Railway)
Disused depot track at Strome Ferry lifted.
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.
  /11/2001Dingwall and Skye Railway
Plans to make the hillside above the line near Stromeferry are abandoned in favour of a £2.5M deviation of the line north of its original alignment, requiring a new embankment on the Loch Carron shore. The site was east of Stromeferry and was reached by driving along the shore at low tide. The hillside was partly cleared and fitted with netting.

News items

19/10/2023Storm Babet gales cause road and rail disruption near Plockton and Stromeferry [Ross-shire Journal]
03/02/2023Kyle of Lochalsh line reopens following landslip but delays continue [Press and Journal]
30/11/2021Highland train passengers told to expect delays due to heavy rain speed restrictions [Press and Journal]
30/07/2021Stromeferry landslip closes Kyle Line for several hours [Ross-shire Journal]
24/09/2020Fire crews called as car reported on railway line near Stromeferry [Press and Journal]
25/08/2020Highland railway pioneer celebrated 150th anniversary of Dingwall to Stromeferry line [Press and Journal]
22/02/2020New section of road could solve rockfall woes at Stromeferry [Press and Journal]
20/10/2018New system signals changes for Stromeferry motorists [Network Rail]
05/10/2018Council wants ScotRail to help ease disruption on Stromeferry bypass [West Highland Free Press]
27/08/2018Work begins at Stromeferry bypass [Highland Council]

Books


Cock o' the North: Aberdeen to Kyle of Lochalsh - Study in Diesel Power Through Its Various Stages

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

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

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

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

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)

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)

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

The Highland Railway

The Highland Railway

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

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

The Kyle Line: An Illustrated History and Guide

The Kyle Line: An Illustrated History and Guide

The Kyle of Lochalsh and Far North Lines

The Kyle of Lochalsh and Far North Lines

The Kyle of Lochalsh Line: Great Railway Journeys Through Time

The Kyle of Lochalsh Line: Great Railway Journeys Through Time

Wester Ross and Lochalsh: 40 Coast and Country Walks