In many respects, the early history of Scotland's two scenic mountain routes to the western seaports at Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig was similar. By 1894, the West Highland Railway route to Fort William was completed and seven years later the line was extended to Mallaig.
At around the same period of railway expansion, the 63¼-mile Dingwall & Skye Railway which merged with the Highland Railway in 1880, opened its cross country line to its first terminus at Strome Ferry in August 1870 and 27 years later in 1897 extended its route to the west coast port of Kyle of Lochalsh.
It was anticipated by the Highland Railway board that as well as providing a service for the population of the Scottish outer islands and the west coast regions of Inverness-shire, the new railway would create a direct and rapid route for fish traffic consigned to the southern markets and also earn additional revenue from the transport of livestock formerly carried by steamship from Glasgow. Importantly, the railway would play an essential part towards the tourist industry and the development of steamboat connections to a variety of west coast and Hebridean island destinations.
Strome Ferry
The original intension of the promoters of the Dingwall & Skye Railway Company was to terminate their railway at Attadale near the head of Loch Carron but when the difficulties of navigation for shipping were made known, the company agreed to continue the single line track for a further 4½ miles to Strome Ferry where as well as the station and yards, a pier would be constructed.
On the opening of the 53-mile railway on
