Embankment of electric railway, from east. Formerly used to convey bauxite and other raw materials to the aluminium works and aluminium to ships.

Description Embankment of electric railway, from east. Formerly used to convey bauxite and other raw materials to the aluminium works and aluminium to ships.

Date 9/4/1991

Catalogue Number B 48264

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 717003

Scope and Content Embankment of electric railway from the east, Aluminium Works, Kinlochleven, Highland The aluminium works at Kinlochleven was built between 1904 and 1909 by the British Aluminium Company Limited. By 1911 the works were producing about 7,112 tonnes of aluminium per annum which was around 87% of the total output of the company at that time. The works closed in June 2000. This shows the embankment of the electric railway. Raw materials for making aluminium were transported along the railway to the works. The line also transported aluminium out of the works. The embankment is built of rubble and the railway tracks have been lifted. Aluminium is a lightweight metal which is strong and anti-corrosive. Approximately 2032kg of alumina and 508kg of carbon products are needed to make 1016kg of aluminium in a smelter. The metal was widely used for domestic utensils in the late 19th century. Today, aluminium is used mainly in aircraft manufacture. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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