Tarbet to Craigendoran - by steamer and/or train?

[platinumsage]

Can anyone help decipher this ticket which I found in the attic?

It says "by steamer" but this would mean sailing from Tarbet to Balloch at the bottom of Loch Lomond, and then all the way down the meandering River Leven and then down the River Clyde to Craigendoran. Quite a journey and there appears to be an unnavigable low bridge south of Balloch.

However it is a rail ticket, and there is a station "Arrochar & Tarbet", although on the opposite side of Tarbet to the pier. From this station it's possible to go to Craigendoran by changing at e.g. Cardross.

Presumably it was a part rail, part boat journey, but which part and where was the changing point? Also if this was the case, why print a direct ticket between two places so inconveniently situated for an excursion without mentioning the route?

 

[Sue]

Possibly Tarbet on Harris?

ETA Ah no, didn't notice the spelling.

 

[Pickman's model]

have you tried consulting the bradshaws available at the internet archive? search site:archive.org "bradshaw's guide"

 

[danny la rouge]

Can anyone help decipher this ticket which I found in the attic?

It says "by steamer" but this would mean sailing from Tarbet to Balloch at the bottom of Loch Lomond, and then all the way down the meandering River Leven and then down the River Clyde to Craigendoran. Quite a journey and there appears to be an unnavigable low bridge south of Balloch.

However it is a rail ticket, and there is a station "Arrochar & Tarbet", although on the opposite side of Tarbet to the pier. From this station it's possible to go to Craigendoran by changing at e.g. Cardross.

Presumably it was a part rail, part boat journey, but which part and where was the changing point? Also if this was the case, why print a direct ticket between two places so inconveniently situated for an excursion without mentioning the route?

View attachment 256612

I think they’re stations on the old West Highland Railway Line: The West Highland Railway Line :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

 

[pogofish]

As well as the railway, there was an extensive network of railway-owned steamers serving communities all round the firth of Clyde and adjacent areas and Craigendoran was one of the main fleet bases.

Craigendoran Steamers between the Wars | Clyde River and Firth (dalmadan.com)

If you can lay your hand on an old Bartholomew's map - I think they are online, you should get an idea of the sheer scale of the steamer/ferry operations before road transport became the norm.

eta - Here's one. check-out all the boats on that!

View map: Sheet 7 Firth of Clyde - Bartholomew's 'Half Inch to the Mile Maps' of Scotland, 1926-1935 (nls.uk)

And that doesn't include the less formal/privately operated Puffer routes, which served the freight/transport needs of all the wee places that didn't warrant a scheduled boat.

 

[heinous seamus]

It says 'By Steamer; BaliochP & Dalreoch'

Dalreoch is a station near Dumbarton and I think the other one might be a weird spelling of Balloch? So that might be the route.

 

[platinumsage]

It says 'By Steamer; BaliochP & Dalreoch'

Dalreoch is a station near Dumbarton and I think the other one might be a weird spelling of Balloch? So that might be the route.

Aha, that must be the route - Balloch Pier and then by train via Dalreoch to Craigendoran. I think the l is faded and looks like an i.

For some reason I thought BalicohP & Dalreoch was the name of a boat or a company.

 

[Pickman's model]

It says 'By Steamer; BaliochP & Dalreoch'

Dalreoch is a station near Dumbarton and I think the other one might be a weird spelling of Balloch? So that might be the route.

it is balloch but poor printing

 

[platinumsage]

As well as the railway, there was an extensive network of railway-owned steamers serving communities all round the firth of Clyde and adjacent areas and Craigendoran was one of the main fleet bases.

Craigendoran Steamers between the Wars | Clyde River and Firth (dalmadan.com)

If you can lay your hand on an old Bartholomew's map - I think they are online, you should get an idea of the sheer scale of the steamer/ferry operations before road transport became the norm.

eta - Here's one. check-out all the boats on that!

View map: Sheet 7 Firth of Clyde - Bartholomew's 'Half Inch to the Mile Maps' of Scotland, 1926-1935 (nls.uk)

And that doesn't include the less formal/privately operated Puffer routes, which served the freight/transport needs of all the wee places that didn't warrant a scheduled boat.

It seems there are no ferries from Dalreoch/Dumbarton, hence the onward journey to Craigendoran by rail makes sense because there are several ferry routes headed west from there.

 

[neonwilderness]

Aha, that must be the route - Balloch Pier and then by train via Dalreoch to Craigendoran. I think the l is faded and looks like an i.

For some reason I thought BalicohP & Dalreoch was the name of a boat or a company.

There was a station at Balloch Pier to connect with the steamers which were also operated by the railway.

Balloch Pier - RAILSCOT

This was a two platform station, an island platform with a long face which ran onto the pier and a shorter bay platform on the west side. Passenger steamers called on the west side of the pier. The

www.railscot.co.uk

You can do the same rail journey today, but you'd have to start at Balloch station instead.