Balloch Pier, any future for the station?

[philthetube]

Noticed this mentioned in another thread, (the station was closed in September 1986 after the Maid of the Loch steamer ceased to operate).

It is planned for the Maid of the loch to start operating next year after major restoration is completed.

There is obviously no chance of heavy rail being re-instated or the station re-opening as part of the main line network, but I wondered if the bed was still in place and whether there would be an opportunity for a light railway to operate.

It would probably not be possible to cross Balloch Rd. But I can see no further obstacles on Google Maps.

 

[Railsigns]

The Balloch Central - Balloch Pier trackbed was seriously considered as a new site for the displaced track and rolling stock from the miniature Isle of Mull Railway (read about this on Wikipedia).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Was the former station site cleared for use as a car park?

 

[ChiefPlanner]

About as much chance as Carmarthen to Aberystwyth.

No one is going to rebuild a line for use on half a dozen days in the year. That is why it shut in the first place.

 

[najaB]

No one is going to rebuild a line for use on half a dozen days in the year. That is why it shut in the first place.

Heavy rail, connected to the network - no. As a narrow gauge line with rolling stock brought in for the summer season - maybe.

 

[gsnedders]

Was the former station site cleared for use as a car park?

The platform was on the pier itself (and indeed half the pier remains somewhat raised from the rest); what was station building in later years survives.

The approach went through what's now a car park (and I believe there was a siding there too, built sometime after the opening of the line).

That said, I suspect one could move the car park relatively easily; whether Health & Safety would be happy with a line going right to the very end of a pier I'm dubious about however!

 

[Greenback]

There's no chance of the track being reinstated. What exactly would be the point?

A minature, tourist railway might have more chance, but I wouldn't put money up in the hope of making a decent return!

 

[Dvorak]

So, this line would be all of around 800m? It would be pointless as a means of transport, and near pointless as an attraction in itself (I'm basing any thoughts on it being a miniature railway).

 

[Carntyne]

Absolutely zero chance.

 

[najaB]

So, this line would be all of around 800m? It would be pointless as a means of transport, and near pointless as an attraction in itself (I'm basing any thoughts on it being a miniature railway).

If if didn't connect onto the steamer, I agree. However I could see a miniature steam railway working a few days a year for the whole 'ye olde time experience' thing.

 

[thenorthern]

It won't re-open although I think it had it not of closed there would be a new market for it given how much of a tourist attraction Loch Lomond is now.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Heavy rail, connected to the network - no. As a narrow gauge line with rolling stock brought in for the summer season - maybe.

Good luck with that one ....

 

[Greenback]

It won't re-open although I think it had it not of closed there would be a new market for it given how much of a tourist attraction Loch Lomond is now.

As is the case with other reopening proposals. Times have changed, and what looked to be a basket case in the 1960's o 1980's period might not be considered quite so hopeless now.

 

[djpontrack]

I managed to do the line to Balloch Pier in July 1986 when doing a Scottish Rover. I had 311092 from Westerton to Balloch Pier and then the same unit to Airdrie which I think was the end of the line then.
When we went back to Balloch a couple of years later, we got off at the new Balloch station on the other side of the level crossing and walked along the track bed to Balloch Pier as my wife wanted to go for a trip on the boat on Loch Lomond.
I remember that the track was mostly gone but some of the overhead line equipment was still there.

 

[signallerscot]

I've been told most/all of the overhead line equipment from Balloch Pier was reused on the 600m long extension from Airdrie to Drumgelloch in 1989 and I've no reason to doubt that.

 

[Altnabreac]

It won't re-open although I think it had it not of closed there would be a new market for it given how much of a tourist attraction Loch Lomond is now.

Indeed a service to Lomond Shores and the Sea Life Centre would do very well now if it still existed.

Reinstatement is impossible because of the level crossing. I thought the miniature railway proposal had potential but it didn't come off.

 

[thenorthern]

Indeed a service to Lomond Shores and the Sea Life Centre would do very well now if it still existed.

Reinstatement is impossible because of the level crossing. I thought the miniature railway proposal had potential but it didn't come off.

Also a service would only really be useful in the summer and I don't think Network Rail would be interested in building a line and station mostly summer traffic.

 

[47271]

I'm not remotely suggesting full reinstatement of the electric service to Balloch Pier, but are we sure that the Maid of the Loch is only planned to operate in the summer? Their website is very well presented but slight on future operational detail.

Knowing how the Scottish tourist market is exploding I'd say that serious thought is given to make some sort of year round connection to the network, even if it means a shuffle over the old level crossing. A wild vision and a big ask, but no better home for a perfectly preserved working Blue Train? Two icons of late twentieth century west of Scotland transport together.

It'd just need a secure overnight shed to stop the Balloch neds putting in its restored curved windscreens again, 50 years on from the last time we had to worry about that problem [emoji38]

 

[thenorthern]

I'm not remotely suggesting full reinstatement of the electric service to Balloch Pier, but are we sure that the Maid of the Loch is only planned to operate in the summer? Their website is very well presented but slight on future operational detail.

Knowing how the Scottish tourist market is exploding I'd say that serious thought is given to make some sort of year round connection to the network, even if it means a shuffle over the old level crossing. A wild vision and a big ask, but no better home for a perfectly preserved working Blue Train? Two icons of late twentieth century west of Scotland transport together.

It'd just need a secure overnight shed to stop the Balloch neds putting in its restored curved windscreens again, 50 years on from the last time we had to worry about that problem [emoji38]

I think there is only one Blue Train still in existence, the problem is that in winter people don't normally want to go to a cold lake in Scotland.

 

[PHILIPE]

Noticed this mentioned in another thread, (the station was closed in September 1986 after the Maid of the Loch steamer ceased to operate).

It is planned for the Maid of the loch to start operating next year after major restoration is completed.

There is obviously no chance of heavy rail being re-instated or the station re-opening as part of the main line network, but I wondered if the bed was still in place and whether there would be an opportunity for a light railway to operate.

It would probably not be possible to cross Balloch Rd. But I can see no further obstacles on Google Maps.

Have you a source regarding the Maid of the Loch sailing next year, please ? I am a member of the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society and there is a report on the Maid of the Loch in our quarterly magazine. There has been no mention of it restarting sailing operations next year.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I think there is only one Blue Train still in existence, the problem is that in winter people don't normally want to go to a cold lake in Scotland.

It's a loccchhhhh.

 

[47271]

I think there is only one Blue Train still in existence, the problem is that in winter people don't normally want to go to a cold lake in Scotland.

Yes, it's sat at Bo'ness doing very little any more other than being pushed up and down the line occasionally, hence my far from easily implemented idea. It's just an idea, and I completely agree that numbers would be low in the winter.

Totally off topic, but if the Riverside Museum could get a grip of the city's more recent transport history rather than being permanently trapped in the 1930s amongst fancy architecture then this sort of living initiative outside the building may be more easily realised.

If not, how they managed to build that place without seeing to it that a Blue Train is inside is pretty shocking.

 

[thenorthern]

It's a loccchhhhh.

Alright at least I didn't say that Lough.