Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway

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Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway


Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway - Argyll - 0-6-2T built 1906 by Andrew Barclay - 2ft 3inch light railway built in 1905 and closed in 1933
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The railway in its earliest form opened in 1876 linking Kilkivan Pit to a depot on the outskirts of Campbeltown. From here the coal was transported by road to the Campbeltown harbour. The railway replaced a canal which was built by in the late 1700s. The canal was closed and filled due to the inconsistent output from the pits it was built to serve.

The primary market for coal from the pits were from locals, who only seemed to buy the coal in the colder winter months, meaning the railway was underused during summer months. Because of this, the colliery owners began to look for additional forms of traffic for the railway. The area was popular with tourists who arrived by boat and were transported around via horse & cart.  A light railway company (The Association of Argyll Railway Co. Ltd) was formed to capitalize on the tourist traffic market. They applied for a Light Railways Act so that they could build a railway linking Campbeltown with Machrihanish. 

Construction started in 1905 with the newer railway taking the courses of the older Colliery tramway but, with some steeper curves and gradients, being eased. The new railway was opened in August 1906 and was an immediate success with tourists.  
The railway's success continued through WW1 thanks to passenger and coal traffic. Sadly, during the 1920s the railway started to face competition from new local bus companies which took passenger traffic away from the line. Passenger traffic did continue despite this new competition. But, sadly due to falling passenger numbers the railway withdrew passenger trains in May 1932. And sold the passenger carrying rights to the bus company competitors. 

A few years prior to this in 1929 the railway and associated collieries had been acquired by the Maisel Oil Company. Who, planned to make oil from coal. This was not successful and also lead to the downfall of the railway.

Sadly, closure of the railway came in November 1933. And by May 1934 the railway had been sold for scrap and the last train had run. The demotion train was hauled by "Atlantic" which, worked back to Campbeltown from Machrihanish. A number of wagons and a short length of track survived on the quayside at Campbeltown to assist in the off loading of boats. Sadly, this has also now disappeared.


Locomotives & Stock


When opened, the railway had one locomotive; a 0-4-0WT Andrew Barclay named "Pioneer" she was in service till around 1900 and her eventual fate is not known. During the course of her working life, she was rebuilt as an 0-4-2 to improve the ride. In 1885 "Pioneer" was joined by "Chevalier" an 0-4-0 "Ogge" saddle tank built by Andrew Barclay. "Pioneer" was replaced around 1900 by Kerr Stuart "Skylark" 0-4-2T "Princess". 
It is believed that "Pioneer" never ran on the completed Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway and only ever ran on the earlier Colliery tramway.  

Atlantic', the last locomotive built for the Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway, Andrew Barclay 0-6-2T, builder's photograph, 1907

"Chevalier" was rebuilt a number of times during its working life. These rebuilds included fitted a more enclosed cab with rear coal bunker (from Princess), converting the engines from an 0-4-0 to 0-4-2, again to improve ride quality. And, fitting of a sand dome, again from "Princess". Unlike "Pioneer", "Chevalier" was occasionally used on passenger trains.
"Princess" became the line's back up passenger loco but, was withdrawn in 1926 with a ruined firebox. Parts from her were used in the rebuilding of "Chevalier".

In total, there were 5 steam locomotives associated with the railway. Possibly the most well known were the two identical 0-6-2 "Class P" tank engines built by Andrew Barclay. These were named "Argyll" (1059/1906) and "Atlantic" (1098/1907). 
Both engines wore a livery similar to that of North British Locomotives. A dark green known as "Dark Gamboge". Sadly, after closure of the line, both engines were broken up for scrap. "Atlantic" was the last locomotive used. It hauled the demolition trains before being scraped.

The passengers stock for the railway was supplied by R.Y. Pickering & Co. who supplied 6 bogie coaches (4 in 1906 & 2 further in 1907). These coaches had balconies at each end and tramway style seating inside. One of the later coaches was supplied with a central luggage compartment. The coaches out lasted the railway and later becoming holiday homes at Trench Point on the other side of Campbeltown Loch. They were also used during WW2. After the war, the coaches were left to deteriorate and were finally broken up in 1958. The "Maxi" coaches built by the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway for the Gateshead Garden Festival were based on these coaches; 2 of these are still in regular service, with the remaining either scraped or converted to static use.

A Kerr Stuart "Skylark" to the same design as  "Princess". On the Snailbeach District Railway


Stations

There were 8 stations along the railway. Bar the two main stations, many of these stations were simply halts before level crossing and did not have any platforms. The stations on the railway were:

  • Campbeltown
  • Plantation Halt
  • Moss Road Halt
  • Lintmill Halt
  • Drumlemble Halt
  • Machrihanish Farm Halt
  • Trodigal Halt
  • Machrihanish

The Line Today

The disused trackbed in 2005 - J M Briscoe

At one time, plans existed to reopen the full trackbed as a path. But, this sadly didn't happen. Plans also existed to reopen part of the line as a tourist railway. Again, this sadly didn't happen. Unsurprisingly since closure, the course of the railway has either returned to nature or been built upon. There is a walkable section of trackbed linking Kilkerran road with Limecraigs road in Campbeltown, near the site of the railway's depot. The site of the depot is now occupied by the "Robert Black Memorial" Helipad.
The Campbeltown & Machrihanish Light Railway Preservation Society have saved a number of artefacts relating to the railway (track, sleeps etc) and have also installed a number of interpretation boards.

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