The lines to the West Highlands start their journey in the heart of
Central Scotland and were built to link up with ports on the far West
Coast. Built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as
handling passenger traffic, they were able to transport mail, livestock
and fish to Scotland's industrial heartland, and were a valuable link to
Scotland's island communities. Holiday traffic was also a welcome source
of revenue, even from their very beginnings. Large parts of the lines
run through sparsely populated areas, and the companies building them
often struggled to raise the money for their construction. Nowadays,
very little freight is carried. However, the lines are very much used as
part of the tourist industry, an industry that the West Highlands and
Islands rely heavily on, and the magnificent scenery surrounding them
makes it easy to understand their appeal. There is even a regular steam
train service between Fort William and Mallaig on a line that received a
lot of welcome publicity from the Harry Potter films. With over 175
stunning photographs, this book will take you from Glasgow to Oban and
Fort William, and along the 'Road to the Isles' to Mallaig.
