Scotland’s Railways

Dunblane, Doune and Callander Railway

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The railway from Dunblane to Callander

Ten and a half miles that opened the way west

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Dunblane → Doune → CallanderOpened 1858 · passengers closed 1965History, journeys, images and films
Callander's later station around 1900, with trains for Oban and Dunblane
Operating-era context at Callander’s second station, about 1900: an Oban train stands at the down platform and a Dunblane train in the bay. This is the later 1870 station, not the original 1858 terminus. Unknown contemporary photographer, via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain →

Dunblane to Callander through Doune

Ten and a half miles that opened the way west

Opened in 1858, this railway linked Dunblane, Doune and Callander before becoming the eastern approach to the later route towards Oban.

Authorised on 21 July 1856 and opened on 1 July 1858, the line left the Scottish Central Railway at Dunblane and ran through Doune to a new terminus at Callander. Contemporary reference works put its length at about 10½ miles.

Callander changed from terminus to through railway in 1870, when the Callander and Oban Railway opened westwards. A new passenger station served the through route, while the original 1858 terminus continued as the town’s goods-station site.

The railway itself kept changing. The section to Doune was doubled in 1902, returned to single track in 1955, and closed to passengers on 1 November 1965. Freight still reached Springbank Mill from Dunblane until 30 July 1971.

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The railway at a glance

From opening day to the last freight connection

Authorised

21 July 1856

The company Act authorised a railway from the Scottish Central Railway at Dunblane, by Doune, to Callander.

Source DDC-S01 ↗

Opened

1 July 1858

The railway opened from Dunblane to Doune and Callander.

Source DDC-S02 ↗

Historic length

About 10½ miles

A contemporary gazetteer records the Dunblane-to-Callander railway at 10½ miles; detailed chainages remain to be checked.

Source DDC-S03 ↗

Opening stations

Doune and Callander

The new railway served Doune and its original Callander terminus, connecting with the existing railway at Dunblane.

Source DDC-S02 ↗

Passenger closure

1 November 1965

The final passenger service ran on Saturday 30 October before closure on Monday 1 November.

Source DDC-S04 ↗

Freight remnant

Until 30 July 1971

The Springbank Mill siding to Dunblane Junction remnant survived after passenger closure.

Source DDC-S02 ↗

1923 operation

Double to Doune; single to Callander

A reproduced 1923 Railway Magazine account also identifies Drumvaich as the crossing place between Doune and Callander.

Source DDC-S09 ↗

Recorded chainage

10 miles 44 chains

The signalling reference index places the original Callander station at 10m 44c from its Dunblane datum.

Source DDC-S10 ↗