Rail crash near Oban diverts all the traffic from Glasgow via Glencoe and Appin

This photo comes from STV, click on the headline for a link to the full story.

Luckily no one was injured, but a nasty sounding rail crash and fire near Dalmally could have been a true disaster.

STV reported earlier to-day the derailment of a train at Cruachan Power station. This is about 10 miles from Oban just past Dalmally. The train was travelling from Glasgow to Oban when it hit a boulder on the line last night. no one knows yet how the boulder came to be on the line.
Those onboard had a lucky escape after it burst into flames near the Falls of Cruachan Power Station, by Loch Awe in Argyll just before 9pm.
The train came to rest balancing over the A85 – the main road between Glasgow and Oban – and both road and rail routes are likely to be closed for up to three days.
It will mean a 60 miles detour for cars and lorries, via Glencoe, then near our cottage in Kentallen, through Duror, near Port Appin, then Benderloch. That is 90 minutes on the normal journey by my reckoning.

John
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Rannoch Moor A82 Glasgow to Fort William is clear for traffic, but icy

The A82

The road warnings for the West of Scotland are about icy conditions rather than blocks due to snow. Winds of 45mph are expected so it will not be nice to run out of fuel. A shovel, a blanket, wellington boots, thermos flask and a couple of chocolate biscuits are called for. Don't get benighted. If you are, then the women in your party are more likely to survive.

I rang Traffic Scotland for information about the condition of the A82 over Rannoch Moor. They are responsible for the main roads. Very nice chap said, "Where is that exactly?" As far as he knew it is ok.

So I end up with the Police station in Fort William. Chap said he could not remember the road closing in the past four years. So that looks pretty good.

But the hazards are ice, and deer, and that most dangerous of animals the white van man.

Driving and overtaking standards on this part of the A82 are putrid. Just take it easy. Our daughter had her car jumped on by a deer a couple of New Year's back.

For your information : Police station Glencoe 01855 811222

John
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