Ghost Train: Callander to Crianlarich (Lost Scottish Railway Animation)

My first Scottish video! 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.
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[@nick8772]

Good to see the surrounding countryside is largely as shown on the 1874 map... Apart from the railway!

[@Speedy6237]

Beautifully done. Very interesting 👍🏻

[@Skyeskimmer]

Stunning railway line which would be quite a draw today given the huge amount of tourism in the area.. Missed out Lochearnhead station in the village itself,that station has been preserved by boy scouts and is well worth a visit..

[@DavidMartin-ym2te]

Just down the road form me in Aberfeldy. I often think that would have made an amazing scenic line to rival the far north line and Mallaig lines as the road parallels it for much of the way.. Shame it wasn't kept although most of the highland route is still there and the viaducts in Glen Ogle.

[@colinhaste]

Thank you for the time and effort put into this video. Love it.

[@ghosttrainlostrailways]

Thanks Colin! Enjoyed making it! 💻

[@railwaychristina3192]

Why, oh why was this splendid route destroyed?. Where was Balquhidder? Also, on the map past that station, there was a branch line to Crieff and Perth, please please do a film for thst! Thanks for this!

[@Buttlands]

Railway systems, as you know, cost many millions of pounds to maintain. Therefore the temptation to provide a far cheaper bus service is very great, in fact, irresistible. But, I get your point.

[@MrGarymcadam]

Unfortunately, back in the 19860s rail was seen as increasingly irrelevant to the nation's transport needs. The car was modern and futuristic, whilst rail was yesterday's technology. Routes like this were seen as nothing more than a drain on the public purse and the governments of the day were keen to get rid of the worst-performing rural routes such as this one. Oban could be served via the West Highland line through Arrochar (and quicker to boot), so this one was axed in 1965. Ironically, within a decade, the OPEC oil crisis exposed the short-sightedness of over-reliance on roads and cars - but by then it was too late. Today it makes a splendid long-distance footpath & cycle route, but one can only think of what might have been.....