FORT WILLIAM’S LOST RAILWAY STATION REBUILT IN MINIATURE

Iain Ferguson

Fort William’s demolished Railway Station has been reproduced in all its former glory in a model kit which was revealed by a local railway enthusiast and campaigner at a national exhibition in Glasgow.

John Barnes of Glenfinnan Station museum displayed a fully assembled reproduction of the stylish Victorian building at the recent Scottish Model Rail show in the SECC which which attracted tens of thousands of visitors over to three day run.

Made form precision laser cut wooden parts which is also highly detailed to capture every aspect of the original, it attracted a great deal of interest from enthusiasts who stopped at his stall, which also had a display and books on the history of the world famous West Highland Line.

Demolished in the mid 1970s along with the Art Deco style McBraynes bus terminal at the West End of the town all that now remains of this original transport ‘hub’ is what is now the Crannog Restaurant on the pier where steamers once docked, completing the link between, road, rail and water which has since become the planners dream of an integrated transport link.

Many people have since expressed regret at the loss of what were iconic buildings to build a duel carriageway which was supposed to link to a bypass which ultimately was never built, but can now recreate in tremendous detail what was lost. The model building can also be further extended with another kit which faithfully reproduces the extensive platforms which once ran along the side of the loch.

While these particular mini buildings will present many new opportunities for local modellers to re create part of Fort William’s lost heritage, the model range also contains very recognisable buildings such as Glenfinnan Station which is not only still standing, but also still in use as a stop on the West Highland Line after 125 years.

John said: “I was delighted to see these models being made as part of a large collection of railway buildings from across the entire railway network.

“The detail is fantastic and the model itself looks very accurate which I’m sure will appeal to those who remember it as well as enthusiastic modellers. I was delighted to have it on display at the show and will be stocking the kits at the Glenfinnan Railway museum, alongside, of course the reproduction of our own station”.