Banavie Railway Swing Bridge

Banavie Railway Swing Bridge
Coordinates	56°50′39″N5°05′50″W / 56.844273°N 5.097086°W / 56.844273; -5.097086
Carries	West Highland Line
Crosses	Caledonian Canal
History
Fabrication by	Alex Findlay & Co.
Opened	1901
Location

The Banavie Railway Swing Bridge carries the West Highland Line across the Caledonian Canal at Banavie.

History

Construction of the extension from Mallaig Extension Railway began in January 1887, and the line opened on 1 April 1901. ^{[1] [2]}

The bridge was manufactured by Alex Findlay & Co. of Motherwell. ^[3]

Design

The bridge is an asymmetric bow truss, with more reinforcement at the end where it is held. ^[4]

Its operation is fully automated and is controlled by Network Rail staff in the signal box located only a few yards away. ^[3] It is adjacent to the Banavie Swing Bridge, which carries the A830 road across the canal. ^{[5] [6]}

There is a speed limit of 5 mph for trains passing over the bridge.

See also

• Banavie railway station

References

1. Thomas 1971 , pp. 177–178
2. Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies . Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 169. ISBN   1-8526-0049-7. OCLC   19514063. CN 8983.
3. Historic Environment Scotland. "Caledonian Canal, Banavie Railway Swing Bridge (Site no. NN17NW 19)" . Retrieved 26 June 2025.
4. "Caledonian Canal, Swing Bridge (Railway), Banavie". kweimar.de. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
5. "Banavie Railway Swing Bridge" (Map). Google Maps . Retrieved 1 January 2015.
6. Historic Environment Scotland. "Caledonian Canal, Banvie Swing Bridge (Site no. NN17NW 17)" . Retrieved 26 June 2025.

Sources

• Thomas, John (1971). The West Highland Railway. Pan Books. ISBN   0-330-02479-5.