Block Systems
Originally, the whole line between Callander & Oban Junction and Oban Station was worked by the Train Staff and Ticket system. Time interval working was in force between Callander & Oban Junction and Tyndrum as there were no block instruments on that part of the line. Block instruments were provided between Tyndrum and Oban. John Anderson considered that it was virtually impossible to work the line by Train Staff and Ticket and applied to the Board of Trade for permission to use the more flexible Tyer's electric tablet system. Approval was granted, and the tablet instruments were put into service in 1880 between Oban and Dalmally. The original Train Tablet Regulations for working the line between Oban and Dalmally can be viewed here. Tablet instruments came into use on the remainder of the line in 1881. The short sections of double track were worked by Caledonian Railway two-position block instruments.
The Killin Railway was originally worked by One Engine in Steam, with block instruments. The block instruments were removed in 1935.
The Ballachulish branch was worked throughout by the Tyer's tablet system from its opening and remained so until closure.
Radio Electronic Token Block (RETB), controlled from Banavie signalling centre, was introduced between Crianlarich and Oban in 1988.
The tables below give a picture of the block systems in use at various points in time.
Key:
| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
Double or multiple line |
|
| |
 |
Signal box (Block post) |
|
| |
 |
Signal box with switching out facility |
|
| |
 |
Single line |
|
| |
 |
RETB token exchange point |
|
| |
AB |
Absolute Block |
|
| |
ET |
Electric Token Block |
|
| |
NSKT |
No Signalman Key Token |
|
| |
OEIS |
One Engine In Steam |
|
| |
RETB |
Radio Electronic Token Block |
|
| |
Y |
Yard Working |
|
| |
|
|
|
Callander to Oban:
| |
1882 |
1886 |
1897 |
1905 |
1922 |
1938 |
1966 |
1969 |
1982 |
1988 |
| Callander & Oban Jcn. |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ET |
ET |
ET |
AB |
AB |
|
|
|
|
|
| Callander East |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
|
|
|
|
| Callander West |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| St. Bride's Crossing |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| Strathyre |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| Balquhidder East |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ET |
ET |
ET |
AB |
AB |
AB |
|
|
|
|
| Balquhidder West |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lochearnhead |
|
|
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Glenoglehead |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| Killin Jcn. East |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ET |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
|
|
|
|
|
| Killin Jcn. West |
|
|
|
|
|
ET |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
|
| Luib |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Crianlarich Station |
|
|
|
|
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Crianlarich East |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lower Crianlarich |
ET |
ET |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RETB |
| Crianlarich West |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ET |
ET |
|
| |
|
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
| Tyndrum |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| Glenlochy Crossing |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ET |
|
|
RETB |
| |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| Dalmally |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| Loch Awe |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
RETB |
| Awe Crossing |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| Taynuilt |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
| Connel Ferry East |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
|
|
RETB |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Connel Ferry |
|
|
|
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Connel Ferry West |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ET |
NSKT |
|
| |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| Glencruitten |
|
|
|
|
|
|
ET |
|
|
RETB |
| |
|
|
|
ET |
ET |
ET |
|
|
|
|
| Oban Goods Jcn. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
AB |
|
|
|
| Oban Station |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
Ballachulish Branch:
| |
1903 |
1927 |
| Connel Ferry West |
|
|
| |
ET |
ET |
| Benderloch |
|
|
| |
ET |
|
| Creagan |
|
ET |
| |
ET |
|
| Appin |
|
|
| |
ET |
|
| Duror |
|
ET |
| |
ET |
|
| Kentallen |
|
|
| |
ET |
ET |
| Ballachulish |
|
|
Killin Railway:
| |
1886 |
1935 |
1959 |
| Killin Jcn. (East) |
|
|
|
| |
OEIS |
|
OEIS |
| Killin |
|
OEIS |
|
| |
OEIS |
|
Y |
| Loch Tay |
|
|
|
Token Configurations:
| Section |
Configuration |
Remarks |
| Callander West - Strathyre |
No. 6 tablet  |
Long section. |
| Strathyre - Balquhidder East |
Key token "A" |
- |
| Balquhidder West - Glenoglehead |
No. 7 tablet |
Special configuration (M). |
| Strathyre - Glenoglehead |
Key token "A" |
- |
| Glenoglehead - Killin East Jcn. |
No. 7 tablet  |
- |
| Glenoglehead - Killin Jcn. |
No. 7 tablet |
Former Glenoglehead - Killin East Jcn. tablets re-used. |
| Killin West Jcn. - Luib |
No. 7 tablet  |
- |
| Killin Jcn. - Luib |
No. 7 tablet |
Former Killin West Jcn. - Luib tablets re-used. |
| Luib - Crianlarich East Jcn. |
No. 7 tablet  |
- |
| Crianlarich West Jcn. - Tyndrum |
No. 7 tablet |
- |
| Crianlarich Upper - Tyndrum Lower |
Key token "B" |
- |
| Crianlarich - Dalmally |
Key token "B" |
- |
| Tyndrum Lower - Dalmally |
No. 6 tablet  |
- |
| Dalmally - Loch Awe |
No. 7 tablet |
- |
| Loch Awe - Awe Crossing |
No. 7 tablet |
- |
| Awe Crossing - Taynuilt |
No. 7 tablet |
- |
| Loch Awe - Taynuilt |
No. 6 tablet  |
Long section. |
| Dalmally - Taynuilt |
No. 6 tablet |
Former Loch Awe - Taynuilt long section tablets re-used. |
| Dalmally - Taynuilt |
Key token "C" |
From 1974. |
| Taynuilt - Connel Ferry East |
No. 7 tablet |
- |
| Connel Ferry West - Glencruitten |
No. 7 tablet |
- |
| Taynuilt - Oban Goods Jcn. |
No. 7 tablet |
- |
| Taynuilt - Oban |
Key token "A" |
From 1974. |
| Connel Ferry West - Benderloch |
No. 7 tablet |
- |
| Appin - Kentallen |
No. 7 tablet |
Special configuration (M). |
| Kentallen - Ballachulish |
No. 7 tablet |
- |
