Lech-a-Vuie Platform railway station

Lech-a-Vuie Platform
Lech-a-Vuie Platform
	Inverailort House
General information
Location	Near Glenfinnan, Highland ; Scotland
Coordinates	56°52′26″N5°30′47″W / 56.874°N 5.513°W Coordinates: 56°52′26″N5°30′47″W / 56.874°N 5.513°W
Grid reference	NM860813
Platforms	1
Other information
Status	Disused
History
Original company	West Highland Railway
Pre-grouping	North British Railway
Post-grouping	LNER
Key dates
1 April 1901	Opened
After 1970	Closed

Last updated October 04, 2022

Lech-a-Vuie Platform railway station^[3] ( NM860813 ), Lechavuie^[4] or Lech-a-Vute^[5] was not constructed for public use.^[3] It stood close to the A830 road to the east of Loch Eilt near the Allt-a-Ghiughais burn and below Doire Dhamh on the West Highland Railway's extension to Mallaig. It stood in between the still extant Glenfinnan and Lochailort stations. At first it only served the needs of shooting parties on the Inverailort Estate owned by the Common-Head family, however it was later used by the army and navy during WWII^[3] and closed in the 1970s. Lech-a-vuie was 18.5 miles (30 km) from Mallaig Junction and stood at the summit of the line at a height of 379 feet (115.5 metres).^[6]

Infrastructure and working

The OS maps Sheet 61 of 1902 for Arisaig shows only a single short platform on the northern side of the railway line on a straight section of track with a short footpath leading to the nearby road. The 1908 map also marks the 'Platform'^[7] however by 1928 it is no longer annotated or drawn. No sidings or signalling are indicated.

The NBR 'Internal Notice' recorded that "A small platform has been erected 17 miles 15 chains from Banavie Junction, between Glenfinnan and Lochailort, for the purpose of enabling Sporting Parties, visiting Mrs Head of Kinlochailort to leave or join the trains. In all cases, when passengers require to be set down or taken up, previous intimation must be made to the station master at Lochailort, and it will be his duty to instruct the Driver and Guard in the case of trains going in the fort William direction, and to telephone the Stationmaster at Glenfinnan, in the case of trains going in the direction of Mallaig. Parties using the platform must pay the fares to the station beyond , and the Guard must collect the tickets from those alighting, while those to be taken up must previously possess themselves of tickets before the train arrives."^[2]

The station may have had no lighting as the railway rule book stated that "Trains must only call at the platform between sunrise and sunset."^[3]

History

The Scottish Gaelic name may have been 'Leac a' Mhuidhe', meaning 'slab of the churn'. The nearby tunnels are recorded as 'Leachabhuidh' which may have resulted in the anglicised spelling 'Lech-a-Vuie'.^[8] As stated it was a private halt used by shooting parties on the large Inverailort Estate owned at the time by the Cameron-Head family.^[9] It is recorded that the construction was linked to the agreement to sell the land as was so often the case as with Corrour for example.^[2]

Inside Inverailort House is the official plaque that commemorates the Inverailort Estate's role and significance as a Special Training Centre established here in 1940, the operations of which subsequently combined with other units to form the Commandos, and later as the Royal Marines Commando base.^[10] It was during this time that Lech-a-Vuie Platform took on a new role in relation to the training exercises for the forces personnel.^[9]

The house and Inverailort Estate's 12,000 acres were requisitioned for the war effort by the government and used as a base by David Stirling and Lord Lovat. A camp with barracks and an assault course was built for the 3,000 or so commandos that were trained here. In 1945 the estate was returned to the Cameron-Head family. Sporting use of the platform continued after 1945 and continued into the 1970s.^[2]

The site today

The railway line to Mallaig from Fort William is in daily use for passengers traffic and the remains of the path from the platform site to the A830 are visible as a low facing wall.^[2]

Related Research Articles

The West Highland Line is a railway line linking the ports of Mallaig and Oban in the Scottish Highlands to Glasgow in Central Scotland. The line was voted the top rail journey in the world by readers of independent travel magazine Wanderlust in 2009, ahead of the notable Trans-Siberian line in Russia and the Cuzco to Machu Picchu line in Peru. The ScotRail website has since reported that the line has been voted the most scenic railway line in the world for the second year running.

The A830, also known as the Road to the Isles is a major road in Lochaber, Scottish Highlands. It connects the town of Fort William to the port of Mallaig.

The Glenfinnan Viaduct is a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Inverness-shire, Scotland, built from 1897 to 1901. Located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Scottish Highlands, the viaduct overlooks the Glenfinnan Monument and the waters of Loch Shiel.

Arrochar and Tarbet railway station is a railway station on the West Highland Line in Scotland. It stands between the villages of Arrochar and Tarbet. It is sited 19 miles 45 chains (31.5 km) from Craigendoran Junction, near Helensburgh, between Ardlui and Garelochhead. ScotRail manage the station and operate most services, others provided by Caledonian Sleeper.

Arisaig railway station serves the village of Arisaig on the west coast of the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line, measured 32 miles 2 chains (51.5 km) from the former Banavie Junction, near Fort William, between Beasdale and Morar on the way to Mallaig. The westernmost station on the Network Rail network, it is the only one of the four cardinal points of the national network that is not a terminus. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.

Crianlarich railway station is a railway station serving the village of Crianlarich in Scotland. It is located on the West Highland Line, sited 41 miles 25 chains (66.5 km) from Craigendoran Junction, near Helensburgh, with Ardlui to the south, and Tyndrum Lower and Upper Tyndrum to the north west, on the routes to Oban and Mallaig respectively, which diverge immediately north of the station. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate most services.

Locheilside railway station is a railway station on the northern shore of Loch Eil in the Highland Council Area of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line, between Glenfinnan and Loch Eil Outward Bound, located 7 miles 79 chains (12.9 km) from the former Banavie Junction near Fort William. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.

Glenfinnan railway station is a railway station serving the village of Glenfinnan in the Highland council area of Scotland. It is on the West Highland Line, between Lochailort and Locheilside, located 14 miles 58 chains (23.7 km) from the former Banavie Junction. Glenfinnan Viaduct is about 0.7 miles (1 km) to the east of the station. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all services.

Lochailort railway station is a railway station serving the village of Lochailort in the Highland Council area in Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line, between Glenfinnan and Beasdale, 28 miles 49 chains (46.0 km) from the former Banavie Junction. ScotRail manage the station and operate all services.

Beasdale railway station is a railway station serving Glen Beasdale in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line, sited 28 miles 49 chains (46.0 km) from the former Banavie Junction, between Lochailort and Arisaig. ScotRail manage the station and operate all services.

Morar railway station is a railway station serving the village of Morar in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is on the West Highland Line, between Arisaig and Mallaig, 36 miles 59 chains (59.1 km) from the former Banavie Junction, near Fort William. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate all the services here.

Mallaig railway station is a railway station serving the ferry port of Mallaig, Lochaber, in the Highland region of Scotland. This station is a terminus on the West Highland Line, 41 miles (66 km) by rail from Fort William and 164 miles (264 km) from Glasgow Queen Street. The station building is Category C listed. ScotRail, who manage the station, operate most of the services.

The West Highland Railway was a railway company that constructed a railway line from Craigendoran to Fort William and Mallaig. The line was built through remote and difficult terrain in two stages: the section from Craigendoran to Fort William opened in 1894, with a short extension to Banavie on the Caledonian Canal opening in 1895.

Lochailort is a hamlet in Scotland that lies at the head of Loch Ailort, a sea loch, on the junction of the Road to the Isles (A830) between Fort William and Mallaig with the A861 towards Salen and Strontian. It is served by Lochailort railway station on the West Highland Line.

The Jacobite is a steam locomotive-hauled tourist train service that operates over part of the West Highland Line in Scotland. It has been operating under various names and with different operators every summer since 1984. It has played an important role in sustaining a scenic route.

Glen Douglas Halt railway station was known as Craggan in the line's construction reports, also Glen Douglas Siding, Glen Douglas Platform (Private), Glen Douglas (Private) and finally Glen Douglas Halt. Opened by the North British Railway in 1894 or 1895 its status has changed several times along with its official name. The form Glendouglas was also sometimes used, such as on the platform name board.

Banavie Pier railway station was the terminus of a short branch and was at first known as Banvie, opened by the North British Railway in 1895. The station's location was just above the impressive flight of locks on the Caledonian Canal known as "Neptune's Staircase", Banavie, Highland council area, Scotland.

Inveruglas was a remote temporary private railway station near the hamlet of Inveruglas, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Opened in 1945 by the LNER, it was built in connection with the construction of the Sloy Hydro-Electric facility and was located on the Ardlui side of the Inveruglas Viaduct and recorded to be out of use by around 1948.

Whistlefield, later Whistlefield Halt, was a minor station on the West Highland Line 10.30 miles from Craigendoran Junction railway station near the hamlet of Portincaple on Loch Long, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Opened in 1896 by the West Highland Railway, it was built on a single track section without a passing loop in between Garelochhead and Glen Douglas and closed by the British Railways Board in 1964.

Faslane Platform railway station or Faslane Junction Platform railway station was a temporary private railway station located near the Stuckendoff PoW camp, Shandon, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Opened in 1945 by the LNER in connection with the construction of the Loch Sloy Hydro-Electric facility and was located on the Shandon side of the Chapel Burn and recorded to be out of use by around 1949 in the British Railways era.

References

Notes

↑ "North British Railway List of Stations with Opening and Closing Dates" (PDF). Retrieved 12 December 2017.
1 2 3 4 5 McGregor, John (July 2016). "Lechavuie Platform - The Landed Interest and the West Highland". North British Railway Study Group Journal. North British Railway Study Group.
1 2 3 4 McGregor, John (1994). 100 years of the West Highland Railway. ScotRail. p. 11.
↑ McGregor, John (1994). 100 years of the West Highland Railway. ScotRail. p. 1.
↑ Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Patrick Stevens. p. 140. ISBN 1-85260-508-1.
↑ McGregor, John (1994). 100 years of the West Highland Railway. ScotRail. p. 57.
↑ "Sheet 61. Arisaig and a Publication date of 1908" . Retrieved 12 December 2017.
↑ Jacobs, Gerald (2001). Railway Track Diagrams. Book 1: Scotland and the Isle of Man. Trackmaps. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-9549866-3-6.
1 2 McGregor, John (1994). 100 years of the West Highland Railway. ScotRail. p. 11.
↑ Historic Environment Scotland. "Inverailort House (106738)". Canmore . Retrieved 12 December 2017.

Sources

Butt, R. V. J. (October 1995). The Directory of Railway Stations: details every public and private passenger station, halt, platform and stopping place, past and present (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-508-7. OCLC 60251199. OL 11956311M.
McGregor, John (1994). 100 years of the West Higland Line. ScotRail.
McGregor, John (2016). Lechavuie Platform - The Landed Interest and the West Highland. NBR study Group. Journal 128.

External links

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[1] "North British Railway List of Stations with Opening and Closing Dates" (PDF). Retrieved 12 December 2017.

[NBR-2] 1 2 3 4 5 McGregor, John (July 2016). "Lechavuie Platform - The Landed Interest and the West Highland". North British Railway Study Group Journal. North British Railway Study Group.

[McGregor_1994_11-3] 1 2 3 4 McGregor, John (1994). 100 years of the West Highland Railway. ScotRail. p. 11.

[4] McGregor, John (1994). 100 years of the West Highland Railway. ScotRail. p. 1.

[5] Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Patrick Stevens. p. 140. ISBN 1-85260-508-1.

[6] McGregor, John (1994). 100 years of the West Highland Railway. ScotRail. p. 57.

[7] "Sheet 61. Arisaig and a Publication date of 1908" . Retrieved 12 December 2017.

[8] Jacobs, Gerald (2001). Railway Track Diagrams. Book 1: Scotland and the Isle of Man. Trackmaps. p. 22. ISBN 978-0-9549866-3-6.

[ReferenceA-9] 1 2 McGregor, John (1994). 100 years of the West Highland Railway. ScotRail. p. 11.

[10] Historic Environment Scotland. "Inverailort House (106738)". Canmore . Retrieved 12 December 2017.

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Preceding station	National Rail		Following station
Glenfinnan		ScotRail West Highland Line	Lochailort
	Historical railways
Glenfinnan Line and Station open		North British Railway Mallaig Extension Railway of West Highland Railway	Lochailort Line and Station open

v t e Historical Scottish railway companies
Primary companies	Caledonian Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Great North of Scotland Railway Highland Railway North British Railway
Caledonian Railway	Aberdeen Railway Alloa Railway Alyth Arbroath and Forfar Busby Railway Cathcart District Clydesdale Junction Crieff Junction Crieff and Comrie Crieff and Methven Junction Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Dunblane, Doune and Callander Dundee and Perth Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Forfar and Brechin General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Garnkirk and Glasgow Glasgow Central Railway Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Greenock and Wemyss Bay Hamilton and Strathaven Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Leadhills and Wanlockhead Lesmahagow Railway Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie Paisley and Barrhead District Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Polloc and Govan Rutherglen and Coatbridge Scottish Central Scottish Midland Junction Scottish North Eastern Solway Junction Symington, Biggar and Broughton Talla Railway Wishaw and Coltness Lines built by the Caledonian Railway Balerno line CR Cleland and Midcalder CR Main Line CR Douglas Branch CR Hamilton Branch CR Hamiltonhill Branch CR The Switchback Independent lines worked by the Caledonian Railway Callander and Oban Killin Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway	Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan and Johnstone Ayr and Dalmellington Ayr and Maybole Junction Ayr to Mauchline Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Barrhead Branch Bridge of Weir Railway Cairn Valley Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Castle Douglas and Dumfries Dalry and North Johnstone Darvel Branch Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Greenock and Ayrshire Kilmarnock and Troon Largs Branch Maidens and Dunure Maybole and Girvan Paisley and Renfrew Paisley Canal Line
Great North of Scotland Railway	Aberdeen and Turriff Aboyne and Braemar Alford Valley Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Boddam Branch Deeside Denburn Valley Formartine and Buchan Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Keith and Dufftown Moray Coast Morayshire St Combs Light Railway Strathspey Railway
Highland Railway	Buckie and Portessie Branch Dingwall and Skye Duke of Sutherland Findhorn Railway Fortrose Branch Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Inverness and Aviemore Direct Inverness and Nairn Inverness and Perth Junction Inverness and Ross-shire Kyle of Lochalsh Extension Perth and Dunkeld Sutherland and Caithness Sutherland Railway Independent lines worked by the Highland Railway Dornoch Light Railway Wick and Lybster Light Railway
North British Railway	Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Anstruther and St Andrews Railway Ballochney Bathgate and Coatbridge Blane Valley Border Counties Railway Border Union Railway Campsie Branch Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway and Dock Company Charlestown Railway and Harbour Company Coatbridge Branch Devon Valley Railway Dunfermline and Queensferry East of Fife Railway Edinburgh and Bathgate Edinburgh and Dalkeith Edinburgh and Glasgow Edinburgh and Hawick Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway Edinburgh and Northern Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Esk Valley Eyemouth Railway Fife and Kinross Railway Forth and Clyde Junction Gifford and Garvald Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Glasgow City and District Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Glasgow, Yoker and Clydebank Kelvin Valley Railway Kincardine Line Kinross-shire Railway Kirkcaldy and District Railway Leadburn, Linton and Dolphinton Leven Railway Leven and East of Fife Railway Macmerry Branch Monkland and Kirkintilloch Monkland Railways Montrose and Bervie Mallaig Extension Newburgh and North Fife Railway (worked by NBR) Newport Railway North Berwick Branch North British, Arbroath and Montrose Peebles Railway The St. Andrews Railway Stirling and Dunfermline Strathendrick and Aberfoyle Slamannan Slamannan and Borrowstounness Wemyss and Buckhaven Railway West Highland Railway West of Fife Mineral Railway Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness
Joint lines	Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction City Union Dundee and Arbroath Darvel and Strathaven Glasgow and Paisley Joint Glasgow and Renfrew District Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint
Other lines	Brechin and Edzell District Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway Dundee and Arbroath Hagdale Chromate Railway Invergarry and Fort Augustus Lealt Valley Diatomite Railway Lochaber Narrow Gauge Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Rothesay and Ettrick Bay Light Railway Skye Marble Railway Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway