Virtually every Scottish branch line was swept away in the 1960s, regarded by conventional wisdom as inevitable in an era of growing affluence and rising car ownership. Among the many towns and villages across Scotland which lost their trains were Ballachulish and Ballater; Callander, Crieff and Crail; Fraserburgh and Peterhead; Leven and St Andrews. But, says author David Spaven, the case for closure of most of these lines was flawed: sensible economies proposed at the time would have allowed a significant number of axed routes to survive and prosper. And now today, he argues, in a new book, road congestion and the climate emergency are opening the way for a potential renaissance of branch lines. 

An animated past and present look at the lost Callander to Oban Railway that once connected Callander to Crianlarich.

 In the 1950s local use of the line declined heavily, and the contrast between summer and winter loadings became more extreme. As traffic declined, it was eventually decided that closure would take place between Dunblane and Crianlarich from 1 November 1965, the through traffic being diverted over the West Highland line and the Crianlarich connection.

The last excursion train was planned over the line for 27 September 1965, but in the small hours a rock fall took place in Glen Ogle. The blockage was considerable, and after engineering assessment it was obvious that re-opening for a few weeks was impracticable. The section from Crianlarich to Oban remains in use today. 

RAILWAY MEMORIES FILMED IN 1961 AND 1962 WITH AN 8 mm CLOCKWORK MOVIE CAMERA .SCENES FROM PERTH ; STIRLING ; CALLANDER AND KILLIN .AT THAT TIME I WORKED FOR BRITISH RAILWAYS AND ALL THE FOOTAGE WAS SHOT BY ME AT THAT TIME 15,16 YRS, OLD . PLEASE ALLOW FOR DETERIOATION OF THE ORIGINAL FILM NOW IN DIGIT FORM. 

Very rare footage WITH SOUND of Caledonian Railway No. 123 leaving Buchanan Street in 1964 on a Railtour to the Callander. 

Holidays in Scotland in the 1930's. 

A look at the remains of the former Balquhidder Railway Station. Opened by the Callander and Oban Railway in 1870 as Lochearnhead Station.

It was renamed Balquhidder in 1904 and became a junction in 1905 when the Comrie, St Fillans and Lochearnhead Railway opened their line to Crieff. 

The station would close in 1965, six weeks earlier than planned after a landslip at Glenogle blocked the line.

Filmed 3 August 2023.