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Location notes
Located in highland Perthshire, Blair Atholl is a village resting on the Highland main line between Perth and Inverness. The nearest main town in Pitlochry.
Railway type and traffic
The main passenger traffic is provided by First Scotrail, though not all trains stop here. East Coast Highland Chieftain train passes through, though on Sundays, the southbound one stops here. The Caledonian Sleeper, to Inverness, passes through here as well.
Freight traffic consists of Safeway containers going to Inverness, and DHL vans, both hauled by DB Schenker class 66s or 67s
Environment
The station is located in Highland Perthshire, and as such, even on a sunny day, the weather can change suddenly. The station is located in a semi open location, and the whole area is safe, even after dark.
Next to the northbound platform is the disused goods yard, with the track still in situ : Members of the public are not permitted to enter the disused goods yard. It is still railway property, and thus comes under railways rules.
Road directions
Blair Atholl is well signposted off the A9 in both directions. The station is located at the north end of the village, and is well signposted. Look for the red bookshop, and this is where the station is.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location Blair Atholl map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a small station car park, which is very rarely used. In the unlikely event that it is full, you can park your car in the car park of the book shop, just in front of the station car park.
Do not block the access to the house above the station, as this is a driveway for the residents of the house, and access is required at all times.
Public transport
Amenities
Blair Atholl station is unstaffed, and the only facilities are a waiting shelter on the northbound platform, and a canopy on the southbound line. There is a pub next to the station, and a little walk away, turn right, and head up the street to the level crossing. Here there is a local shop, and over the level crossing is a windmill, which houses a small coffee shop.
The nearest public toilets are 100 metres away, but are signposted.
The bookshop in front of the station sells second hand books, sometimes about railways!
There is a chip shop half a mile away, heading southbound.
Accommodation
Best contact tourist information in advance. There is a hotel in Blair Atholl, but as this is a popular spot for coaches with foreign tourists, it may be busy.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Blair Atholl
Googly map
Streetmap links
Blair Atholl general view map
Blair Atholl close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Blair Atholl
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
As there is semaphore signalling, and a signal box, you will receive plenty of notice of an oncoming train. Do stand back if the train is a non stopper; the line speed was increased in 2003 to 75mph, and passing trains do cause turbulence.
A footbridge connects both platforms, as well as the road at the south end of the northbound platform. The bridge can be used as a frame in shots.
For videographers, it is possible that there will be noise interference from the nearby A9 road, which travels on a hill above the area.
General views - All photographs © Robert Clarke unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking south
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