Kentallen railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kentallen
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Hotel and restaurant on the site of Kentallen station, in 2005
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| Location | Highland Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°40′29″N 5°14′38″W / 56.6747°N 5.2439°W |
| Line(s) | Ballachulish branch line |
| Platforms | 2 |
| Other information | |
| Status | Disused |
| History | |
| Original company | Callander and Oban Railway |
| Pre-grouping | Callander and Oban Railway operated by Caledonian Railway |
| Post-grouping | LMS |
| Key dates | |
| 24 August 1903 | Opened |
| 25 May 1953 | Closed |
| 24 August 1953 | Re-opened |
| 28 March 1966 | Closed |
Kentallen was a railway station located at Kentallen Bay. This beautiful bay is on the southern shore of Loch Linnhe in the Highland council area of Scotland. The station was part of the Ballachulish branch line. This line connected Connel Ferry to Ballachulish. Today, the old station buildings have been turned into a hotel and restaurant.
A Look Back: Kentallen Station's Story
Kentallen station first opened its doors on 20 August 1903. It had two platforms, one on each side of a 'crossing loop'. This loop was a special section of track that allowed trains going in opposite directions to pass each other safely. There were also 'sidings' – extra tracks where trains could wait or be stored without blocking the main line.
The station had to close temporarily from 25 May to 24 August 1953. This happened because a bridge was washed away by flooding. It reopened, but then closed for good on 28 March 1966. This final closure was part of a bigger plan to close many railway lines across Britain.
From 1935, the station was a place where 'camping coaches' were parked. These were old railway carriages that had been turned into holiday homes. People could rent them for their vacations. The station had one camping coach in 1935, then two from 1936 to 1939. After World War II, another camping coach was here from 1953 to 1965.
After the railway closed, the station buildings were changed into a hotel and restaurant.
How Trains Stayed Safe: Signalling at Kentallen
The Ballachulish Branch line used a special safety system called the 'electric token system'. This system made sure that only one train could be on a section of track at a time. It used a physical 'token' that the train driver had to carry.
The Kentallen signal box was located on the platform that trains heading 'Up' (towards Connel Ferry) would use. This was on the east side of the railway. Inside the signal box, there were 24 levers. These levers were used by a signalman to control the railway signals and points, guiding trains safely along the tracks.
