The 1889 proposal to build the West Highland Line into Fort William included a short branch from Spean Bridge to a loch-side pier on Loch Lochy. However it was never built due to the Highland Railway having concerns about the line being extended to Inverness. Therefore this 7mm O scale layout is a “what might have been” but is closely based on the style of the West Highland Line.
The original Loch Lochy layout was built by Ian Futers and was featured in the March 2006 Railway Modeller.
I acquired the original layout but over the years it has been rebuilt and extended such that the only remaining original building built by Ian is the fish processing factory.
The line is set in the late 1970s to early 80s era of BR blue. Steamer services call at the pier for through trips to Inverness and the fishing industry is still using the processing factory. I run passenger services to Fort William, Spean Bridge and Glasgow, plus a variety of freight traffic including timber and alumina.