UTTS # 016 DALMALLY STATION: A Heartfelt Restoration

Under The Tartan Sky

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Photo courtesy Colin Baird, The Cycling Scot (Read his Scottish travel blog here <a href= — Photo courtesy Colin Baird, The Cycling Scot (Read his Scottish travel blog here http://www.cyclingscot.co.uk/)

Dalmally is a small village in Argyll and Bute, sat just near the tip of Loch Awe. The village was established by the first Lord of Glenorchy, Sir Collin Campbell. Today it is a popular tourist destination in Scotland's western highlands. Feature attractions in the area include the remains of Kilchurn Castle, St. Conan's Kirk, and Scotland's always enchanting scenery.
Dalmally is easily accessed by the A85 roadway or by rail along the Glasgow to Oban line. Dalmally Station is but one of the hundreds of train stations that dot the rail lines criss-crossing Scotland. Opened in 1870, it is a tad unique among rail stations as it is a stone building and includes a Victorian glass awning.
Dalmally Station was left abandoned (unmanned) in the 1980's when its signal box was closed after British Rail moved to Radio Electronic Token Block (RETB) signaling. Windows were boarded up and the place was left to the whims of Mother Nature, who is not always so kind in Scotland!

The station has seen quite a history. The first Station Master's daughter was born there and many a young Scottish lad went off to war - in World Wars I and II from Dalmally Station. Fortunately, this bit of Scottish history is now being lovingly restored as a private home. Graham and Liz Gaffney-Whaite first met as business partners, Graham a wool producer and Liz in felting textiles. Graham also buys, refurbishes and lets (rents) properties and he acquired Dalmally Station in a British Rail auction. Rather than "flip" it or let he, he and Liz decided to relocate from Ayr to the Scottish Highlands and restore the building as their home.

Three years on the couple were married just a few months ago on the platform. They are now living in the building while restoration continues. Liz has relocated her felting textiles fashion business, Heartfelt by Liz, to the station and they have plans to turn the signal box into something of a local museum. It is truly a "heartfelt restoration."

• Dalmally Station website

• Heartfelt by Liz

• Travel Scotland by train (general info)

• Scottish Railways Museum

• Scottish Rail Tours (3rd party commercial tour website)

• The Jacobite Steam Train (Hogwarts Express)

• The Strathspey Railway

• The Borders Railway

• The Flying Scotsman

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