Spean Bridge

Spean Bridge (Drochaid an Aonachain) is a major village with accommodation, restaurants (including one at the station) and shops. Adjacent to the station is Spean Bridge Golf ClubThe nearby Commando Monument commemorates the commandos who were trained in the area between 1942 and 1945. The village also stands at the junction where the A86 road to Kingussie and Aviemore meets the A82 Glasgow to Inverness road. The village is situated at the foot of the Grey Corries mountain range and is a good location for walkers to enjoy the impressive views of Aonach Mor, Carn Mor Dearg and the imposing north east face of Ben Nevis. The best viewpoint is from the Commando Monument.

Spean Bridge was the junction where the Invergarry & Fort August joined the West Highland Line. The Invergarry & Fort Augustus Line opened in 1903 and extended as far as a pier on Loch Ness. The Line had a brief history and closed to passenger traffic in 1933. It remained open for coal delivery and strategic requirements during the 2nd World War and finally closed in 1947.

The Invergarry Station Preservation Society is constituted to rebuild Invergarry Station and establish a museum dedicated to the line and its chequered political and financial history.

North and south bound services cross at Spean Bridge at 11.55 every day except Sundays. This picture taken on a cold sleety day in late March.

The outskirts of Spean Bridge with Aonach Mor behind. The railway runs parallel with the road from Spean Bridge to Fort William but is rarely visible through the trees. Click on the image for a wider view.

Aonach Mor’s slopes are ideal for skiing and the ‘The Nevis Range has been developed to exploit this natural asset. The mountain also offers many challenging mountain bike trails for enthusiasts after the snow season has finished.  The name ‘Nevis Range’ is a misnomer since the true Nevis range, including Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis lies several miles west and another long ridge mountain, Carn Mor Dearg, lies between. The marketing people strike again! If you click on the picture of Aonach Mor you will see the complete range.

This train is Glasgow-bound and is about 1 km west of Spean Bridge Station, having left Fort William at 11.40

The rear of the Glasgow – Fort William & Mallaig train 2 km west of Spean Bridge (where it crossed with the southbound train opposite). Aonach Mor, Carn Mor Dearg and Ben Nevis behind.

Mark Fielding has captured the two images below at 09.30 in the summer. With a Fort William departure just before 20.00, capturing the south-bound sleeper is challenging outside the summer months.

67004 takes the Edinburgh to Fort William portion of the overnight Sleeper through Glen Spean in the morning, July 2011.

67009 crosses the River Spean with the morning Sleeper, June 2012.