Callander volunteers install new permanent tribute to town's railway past

The planter is located at the site of the former railway station.

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A Callander volunteer group have given a nod to the town’s historic old railway station.

Volunteers from Greener Callander have recently installed a brand new wooden train planter at the site of where the station once stood.

Callander station opened on July 1, 1858, on the Dunblane, Doune and Callander line.

That was taken over by the Callander and Oban Railway – running initially to Glenoglehead then extended to Oban on June 30, 1880.

However, during the 1950s use of the line declined heavily so winter usage was low.

Beeching’s cuts therefore included closure of the line between Dunblane and Crianlarich from November 1, 1965, the through traffic being diverted over the West Highland line and the Crianlarich connection to Oban.

The final train over the line was scheduled for September 27, 1965.

However, in the early hours a rock fall occurred on the line at Glen Ogle – causing a massive blockage. After engineers assessed the damage, it was deemed that re-opening the line would be impractical and it was shut with immediate effect.

In present day Callander, the only trace of the former station is the name of Station Road and the car park where the station once stood.

Greener Callander’s gardening volunteers have been maintaining a nod to its history. In 2015, George Walker rescued a wooden train from a neighbour’s garden and restored it as a planter, filled with summer and winter bedding.

Unfortunately, eight years of Callander weather meant it had reached the end of the line, hit the buffers and finally fallen off the tracks,

The group were then delighted when one generous volunteer, Steve Willett, responded to an advert for ‘wooden train engineers’ to build a new replacement planter.

A Greener Callander spokesperson said: “A bit like Santa, he had a secret helper for the construction phase before completing the final build and painting. As a steam train enthusiast, details were observed, including the colour scheme of the Caledonian Railway.”

The group recently gathered for the formal naming ceremony and, despite the dreich weather, it was a fun event with the final unveiling of the engine name of Ben Ledi View – named in honour of the towering mountain that hangs over the town, and recognises a financial donation from Callander’s local news magazine of the same name.

The spokesperson added: “We are also extremely grateful to The Crafty Barrel Company for gifting the three barrels (Hoggins), recognised in the brass plaque at the front of the engine.”