Editing Kyle of Lochalsh line (section)

==Route==
The Kyle of Lochalsh line runs east-west and links the town of [[Dingwall]], on the east coast of the Highlands at the tip of the [[Cromarty Firth]], with the village of [[Kyle of Lochalsh]] on the west coast, close to the [[Isle of Skye]]. The line lies entirely within the former county of [[Ross and Cromarty]], part of the modern-day [[Highland (council area)|Highland]] [[Council areas of Scotland|council area]].

===Dingwall–Achnasheen: Easter Ross===
[[File:Dingwall station - geograph.org.uk - 6897562.jpg|thumb|[[Dingwall railway station]]]]
[[File:Lochluichart railway station - geograph.org.uk - 7128563.jpg|thumb|[[Lochluichart railway station]]]]
The route begins at [[Dingwall railway station|Dingwall station]]{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NH553586}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|0|mi|0|ch|km}}<ref name="route">{{cite book|title=TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain|publisher=Platform 5|pages=97–99|date=2017|isbn=978-1909431-26-3|edition=3rd}}</ref>}} – a junction station with the [[Far North Line]], which runs (mostly) along the [[Moray Firth]] and links {{rws|Inverness}} with {{rws|Wick}} and {{rws|Thurso}}.<ref>{{cite book|title=TRACKatlas of Mainland Britain|publisher=Platform 5|pages=99, 102–104|date=2017|isbn=978-1909431-26-3|edition=3rd}}</ref> Almost immediately north of Dingwall, the two lines diverge at ''Dingwall Junction''{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NH554590}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|0|mi|19|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} and the line to Kyle of Lochalsh takes a sharp left turn to head west.

Initially, the single-track line briefly follows the course of the [[A834 road]] until it abruptly curves off to the north, crossing over the River Peffery, only to turn west again. There used to be a short branch line here that went straight on towards {{rws|Strathpeffer}}; this branch closed to passengers in 1946 and closed completely in 1951.<ref name = ross>David Ross, ''The Highland Railway'', Tempus Publishing Limited, Stroud, 2005, {{ISBN|0 7524 3479 9}}</ref><ref name = forgotten>John Thomas, ''Forgotten Railways: Scotland'', David and Charles (Publishers) Limited, Newton Abbot, 1976, {{ISBN|0 7153 7185 1}}</ref> The line to Kyle, meanwhile, bypasses the town about {{convert|1|mi|km}} to the north; [[Achterneed railway station|Achterneed station]]{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NH490597}}}} existed along this stretch and also served [[Strathpeffer]] until it too closed in 1964.<ref name="Butt13">Butt (1995), page 13</ref> Achterneed is one of only three stations on the main line to have been closed, and one of two that were never reopened.

The line then continues west, climbing at gradients as steep as 1 in 50, until it passes close to the summit of Raven Rock where it starts descending. It eventually meets the [[Black Water (Conon)|Black Water]] – a tributary of the [[River Conon]] – and follows it upstream alongside the [[A832 road]]. The railway and the road both skirt the southern edge of Loch Garve and then turn northwest, approaching the first open station on the line – {{rws|Garve}}.{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NH395613}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|11|mi|65|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} This was supposed to be site of a junction with the [[Garve and Ullapool Railway]] to the port village of [[Ullapool]] but, despite securing government approval, this line was never built.<ref>Garve and Ullapool Railway Act, 1890.  Parliamentary Papers, ref: Local Act, 53 & 54 Victoria I, c. ccxxxiii.  London. (1890)</ref>

Beyond Garve, the railway and the A832 continue westwards, away from the Black Water whose source lies to the north. Soon, the line meets Loch Luichart – the source of the River Conon itself – and follows its northern edge; [[Lochluichart railway station|Lochluichart station]]{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NH322625}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|17|mi|20|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} is located at the northwestern tip of the [[loch]]. This station was moved to this location from its original site in 1954 as a result of a hydroelectric scheme, which raised the water level of the loch.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=A Station To Be Moved |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19490506/023/0002 |newspaper=Dundee Courier |location=Scotland |date=6 May 1949 |access-date=15 November 2017 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=The Railway Magazine |date=June 1954 |page=432 |editor-first=B.W.C. |editor-last=Cooke |publisher=Tothill Press |location=Westminster |number=638 |volume=100 |title=Re-Siting of Lochluichart Station }}</ref> From here, the line continues to follow several of the Conon's tributaries, passing by Loch a' Chuilinn and Loch Achanalt until it reaches [[Achanalt railway station|Achanalt station]]{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NH260615}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|21|mi|34|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} near the mouth of the River Bran. The track then follows the course of this river for about {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} until the village of [[Achnasheen]], near the eastern end of Loch a' Chroisg. [[Achnasheen railway station|The station at Achnasheen]]{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NH164586}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|27|mi|72|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}}, like Garve, was to be the site of a junction: the proposed [[Loch Maree and Aultbea Railway]] was to run between Achnasheen and the small fishing village of [[Aultbea]], but the line never received government approval.<ref>House of Commons Papers, Paper 75, Volume 72, page 87: Return of Private Bills and Provisional Orders relating to Scotland, 1888-97  (p.7).  Printed 21 February 1898.</ref>

Down the line from Achnasheen the line turns southwest, parting ways with the A832 which continues westwards; the railway now parallels the [[A890 road]] instead.

===Achnasheen–Kyle of Lochalsh: Wester Ross===
[[File:Achnashellach Station Nov2019.jpeg|thumb|left|[[Achnashellach railway station]]]]
[[File:The avalanche shelters on Lochcarron to Kyle of Lochalsh road - geograph.org.uk - 216769.jpg|thumb|The avalanche shelter southwest of Attadale]]
[[File:Platform at Stromeferry station - geograph.org.uk - 2571610.jpg|thumb|left|[[Stromeferry railway station]]]]
[[File:Plockton Station (geograph 4949712).jpg|thumb|left|[[Plockton railway station]]]]
[[File:Kyle of Lochalsh.jpg|thumb|left|The terminus at [[Kyle of Lochalsh railway station|Kyle of Lochalsh station]], with the Isle of Skye in the background]]
A few miles southwest of Achnasheen the track reaches its highest point above sea level, as it leaves the [[drainage basin]] of the [[River Conon]] (which flows to the Cromarty Firth on the east coast) and enters the basin of the [[River Carron, Wester Ross|River Carron]] (whose estuary is on the west coast). The line meets the River Carron itself at [[Loch Scaven]] near its source, and then follows the course of the river downstream.

Close to the point where the Carron is joined by the Alltan na Feola stream lies the site of the former [[Glencarron Platform railway station|Glencarron station]];{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NH063508}}}} this small halt closed in 1964, although some drivers continued to stop at the station unofficially, refusing to acknowledge the station's closure, until as late as the 1990s.<ref>{{cite book| last=Thomas| first=J.| others=revised by Farrington, J.| title=The Skye Railway| publisher=David St John Thomas Publisher| year=1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last=McConnel| first=D.| title=Rails to Kyle of Lochalsh| publisher=The Oakwood Press| year=1997}}</ref> The next open station on the line is {{rws|Achnashellach}},{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NH003485}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|40|mi|34|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} some {{convert|12|mi|42|ch|km}} down the line from Achnasheen; this is the longest distance between two existing consecutive stations on the line.<ref name="route" /> The line then skirts the northwestern edge of [[Loch Dùghaill]] and continues to follow the River Carron until reaching [[Strathcarron railway station|Strathcarron station]],{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NG942421}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|45|mi|74|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} where the river ends as it flows into [[Loch Carron]], a sea inlet. From here, the railway runs along the southern coastline of Loch Carron, and continues to hug the coast all the way until the terminus at Kyle of Lochalsh (except briefly near [[Plockton]]).

A short distance from Strathcarron the line reaches another station, {{rws|Attadale}},{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NG924391}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|48|mi|22|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} located near the mouth of the river of the same name. Just southwest of the station, the line passes through an avalanche shelter – an unusual tunnel-like structure, approximately {{cvt|250|m|yd|disp=flip}}, which also carries the A890 and is partially open on the loch-side; it was built in 1978{{Citation needed|date=May 2022}} to prevent rocks from falling onto the road and track. The line then continues for nearly {{convert|5|mi|km|0|spell=in|adj=pre|more}} until it reaches [[Stromeferry railway station|Stromeferry station]],{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NG865346}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|53|mi|15|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} adjacent to a former ferry port which linked the area with North Strome on the opposite side of the loch. Occasionally the ferry link reopens on a temporary basis, when the A890 is closed due to landslips.<ref>{{cite web|title=Strome ferry boat|url=http://www.ambaile.org.uk/en/item/item_photograph.jsp?item_id=73263|publisher=Am Baile highland history and culture|accessdate=13 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ferries set for introduction at Strome on Monday|url=http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2012/January/2012-01-11-05.htm|publisher= Highland Council|access-date=13 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125092204/http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2012/January/2012-01-11-05.htm|archive-date=25 January 2012}}</ref> At Stromeferry the A890 turns south; from here, the railway does not parallel any major roads, instead simply following the coast.

The next station on the line is {{rws|Duncraig}},{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NG811331}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|57|mi|09|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} which was built as a private, single-platform halt to serve [[Duncraig Castle]]; it was not made available for the public until 1949, more than 50 years after opening.{{sfn|Butt|1995|p=85}} Similarly to Glencarron, the station closed in 1965 but continued to be served unofficially, as drivers refused to acknowledge the station's closure;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/stop-the-train-i-want-to-get-off-the-magic-of-britains-railway-request-stations-9246846.html|title=Stop the train, I want to get off: The magic of Britain's railway request stations|first=Dixe|last=Wills|date=8 April 2014|access-date=27 July 2015|newspaper=The Independent|archive-date=5 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905213124/http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/uk/stop-the-train-i-want-to-get-off-the-magic-of-britains-railway-request-stations-9246846.html|url-status=live}}</ref> however, unlike Glencarron, Duncraig eventually reopened officially, in 1976.{{sfn|Butt|1995|p=85}} From here it is just over {{convert|1|mi|km}} until the next station at {{rws|Plockton}};{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NG794329}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|58|mi|22|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} this is the shortest distance between any two stations on the line.<ref name="route" /> Plockton station is actually located about {{convert|0.6|mi|km|1}} south of the main part of [[Plockton|the village itself]], although it lies adjacent to both the Plockton High School and the Plockton Airstrip.

The penultimate station en route is {{rws|Duirinish}},{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NG777315}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|59|mi|58|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} which is also a short distance away from Plockton; the station primarily serves the villages of [[Duirinish, Lochalsh|Duirinish]] and [[Drumbuie]]. From here, the line runs in a generally southerly direction, although the exact heading varies significantly as the track closely follows the jagged coast. The railway leaves the coast of Loch Carron just before entering the village of [[Kyle of Lochalsh]]; it terminates at [[Kyle of Lochalsh railway station|Kyle of Lochalsh station]],{{efn-ua|[[Ordnance Survey]] [[British national grid reference system|grid reference]]: {{gbmappingsmall|NG762271}}<br />Mileage from Dingwall: {{cvt|63|mi|64|ch|km}}<ref name="route" />}} built on a pier right on the edge of [[Loch Alsh]], just {{convert|750|m|ft}} away from the [[Isle of Skye]] which can be seen across the loch.