Falls Of Cruachan
Station 139Rudy visited Falls Of Cruachan on
Sunday, 28th August 2022
arriving at 11:31 on a train from Falkirk High!
Falls Of Cruachan Station
The station at Falls Of Cruachan was first opened in 1893 by the Callander and Oban Railway. After falling foul of the Beeching Axe and closing in 1965 it was reopened in the Summer of 1988. The station remains in use as a “Summer Only” stop for Glasgow – Oban trains on the West Highland Line.
Rudy’s paws aren’t comfortable on the loose stone platforms found at remote stations – he did a good check for approaching trains before walking at the edge though!
The rather modest entrance to the platform at Falls Of Cruachan station. The station was used by just under 500 passengers in the latest 2021-2022 figures.
Anderson’s Piano
More properly known as the Pass of Brander stone signals, these are a series of semaphore signals that warn of rockfalls along a four mile section of track including at Falls Of Cruachan. This 140 year old safety system is uniquely still mechanical – it works by using wires which when broken by falling boulders will set signals to danger and protect trains.
Falls of Cruachan is a small &remote station which has extremely limited facilities. There’s an LED display screen and a help point for train information. There’s a couple of benches and a shelter from light rain.
The station is of course unstaffed with no toilet facilities. The platform is loose stones with access being steps from a main road.
Although there is no car park the main road is used by many who are climbing Ben Cruachan or visiting the Dam.
YouTuber Tom Scott made a video about Anderson's Piano which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzAfich6mow