“Harry Potter” line anniversary commemorated from lineside Norway spruce saved from being felled
A wooden sculpture to commemorate the thousands of navvies who built the Fort William-Mallaig line since beloved by Harry Potter fans has been carved from a tree stump to mark its 125th anniversary.
Many hundreds of the workers were injured during construction of the 41-mile route between 1897 and its opening on April 1 1901.
Lithuanian artist Justina Kasponyte, who is based in Glasgow, used chisels and chainsaws to create The Navvy on the 5m-high stump of a Norway spruce at Glenfinnan Station whose top had been lopped for a Christmas tree in the 1960s.
The project was completed by the West Highland Community Rail Partnership, Glenfinnan Station Museum, ScotRail and the Friends of the West Highland Lines “to commemorate the work of the thousands of itinerant navvies who built the line, and whose gruelling work enabled today’s train travel to Mallaig”.
The idea came after Network Rail took a further 4m off the trunk two years ago because the upper branches were dying and there were fears it could fall onto the line.
Hege Hernæs, museum manager and partnership secretary, said: “This left the station with a tall, bare stump - visible from far and wide.
“Justina’s beautiful sculpture is an eye-catching, fitting tribute to the men whose back-breaking work made sure the area got its railway back in 1901.
“We are over the moon that they have got their monument at long last’.
The line, which will be closed for engineering work from November 9-17, has soared in popularity thanks to the Harry Potter films which were filmed there, including the Hogwarts Express crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
The Jacobite steam train, which uses similar carriages, operates on the route until October 23.
ScotRail communications director Paul McKay said: “ScotRail is proud to support this amazing project.
“The sculpture is a fantastic tribute to workers whose bravery and determination helped shape one of the world’s most iconic railway lines.
“The partnership we have with the community has transformed this historic tree into a work of art, celebrating the rich heritage of the line.
“It will sprinkle even more magic onto the West Highland Line, and we look forward to welcoming tourists and travellers as they experience this classic part of Scotland’s Railway at first hand.”
Ms Hernæs, also the author of Building the Mallaig Railway, said: “The navvies came from every part of Britain and beyond, although the majority were from Ireland and the Scottish Lowlands.
“Their living conditions were dire - up to 40 men would share accommodation in wooden shacks.
“Morale was often low due to swarms of midges and incessant rain in summer, freezing temperatures and harsh winds in winter.
“However, only the heaviest of downpours would stop work, for the men were on piecework so any extended pause was unpopular and often caused them to seek work elsewhere.
“There were numerous accidents with blasting accidents the most severe, but there were also fatal falls from cuttings or viaducts.
“Crushing was another frequent injury, caused by falling rocks or toppling plant and machinery.
“Hypothermia was a recurring problem, as workers fell over in a drunken stupor on their way back to the hut on a Saturday night.”