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Location notes
The first station north of Perth, on the Highland Main Line, Dunkeld and Birnam is in mid Perthshire, and serves the two villages it is named after. The station is a passing loop, although all passenger trains that call here will stop on platform one, whether they are heading north or south.
Railway type and traffic
Passenger diagrams are First Scotrail 170s on Edinburgh/Glasgow - Inverness duties, both stopping and non stopping, and the Caledonian Sleeper, with an DB Schenker 67 hauling. The East Coast Highland Chieftain is not scheduled to stop and pick up or set down here though I have seen one northbound HST waiting in platform 2 at the station, but this was to await a southbound 170 to come into the station, and clear the section ahead.
Freight is exclusively in the hands of DB Schenker locos, both 66 and 67, and there is a DHL parcels working, always hauled by a 67.
Freight is exclusively in the hands of DB Schenker locos, both 66 and 67, and there is a DHL parcels working, always hauled by a 67.
Environment
Located just next to the main A9 road, the station is in a semi sheltered location, though the weather can change without warning. There is a shelter on platform 1 and a canopy as well. The station is well away from the villages it serves, and so you are unlikely to face any trouble. CCTV does cover part of the station.
Road directions
The station car park is straight off the main A9 Perth - Inverness road, and is signposted. When leaving the station, if you are turning right, to head southbound, take care, as the road is a 60mph road, though some vehicles will be doing more than that.
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Dunkeld and Birnam map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Dunkeld and Birnam map co-ordinates
Parking
The station has a car park, which is well lit. Space is not a problem, and your car will be safe at all times.
Public transport
First Scotrail serves the station, with trains from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness.
For bus times, call traveline on 0870 608 2 608, or visit Citylink or Stagecoach Perth
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
For bus times, call traveline on 0870 608 2 608, or visit Citylink or Stagecoach Perth
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Although the station building is still standing, the station is unmanned; the station building is offices, rented out from Network Rail. Nearest facilities will be in the villages of Birnam, or more likely Dunkeld. Otherwise, you will need to go into Perth (8 miles) or Pitlochry.
Accommodation
Go to the Visit Scotland Website for details. As this is a tourist area, there should be a plentiful supply of accommodation.
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.
Dunkeld and Birnam
Streetmap links
Dunkeld and Birnam general view map
Dunkeld and Birnam close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Dunkeld and Birnam
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Dunkeld and Birnam
Googly map
Dunkeld and Birnam general view map
Dunkeld and Birnam close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Dunkeld and Birnam
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Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
The semi sheltered nature does help prevent the sun spoiling pictures. The semaphore signals should tell you when a train is coming. There is also a signal box, fully staffed. The line speed is 55mph, though trains both stopping, and passing through, will be going a bit slower.
Videographers beware, the main A9 road passes next to the station car park, and this is a busy road, so noise levels can be huge.
Videographers beware, the main A9 road passes next to the station car park, and this is a busy road, so noise levels can be huge.
General views - All photographs © Robert Clarke unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking north
Fig 2 - Looking south
Fig 3 - Looking north - © Photo by Marcus Dawson
Fig 4 - Looking north - © Photo by Ewan Tait
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
