Dazzling views and a boy wizard keep magical rail route on track

Robin McKie takes a trip on the West Highland line as it marks its 125th anniversary. While tourists flock to the Harry Potter locations on the way, what future do locals see for the service? A sign at Corrour rail station informs passengers there are no buses or taxis to help them with onward journeys. Given there are no roads here, the warning seems unnecessary. Corrour is Britain’s highest, most remote station and is surrounded by Rannoch Moor, a vast, desolate peat bog that stretches for tens of miles in every direction. The public can walk or camp here but they most certainly cannot drive. Only the train can get you to Corrour – on the West Highland line which stretches through some of the UK’s most difficult terrain and which forced engineers – in the case of Rannoch Moor – to float their track on brushwood mats to get their rails over the boggy, watery soil. Continue reading...