Shortage of cash meant that the original intention of linking Oban to the railway network was to be deferred for now.

Gavin Campbell, 1st Marquess of Breadalbane was anxious to develop the area, and under his chairmanship the first meeting of the local railway took place on 19 August 1882, in Killin.

Making a branch to join the Callander and Oban at its "Killin" station would involve an impossibly steep gradient, but a line was planned to meet the C&OR further west and at a lower altitude.

As no-one was objecting to the line, a Parliamentary hearing for incorporation was unnecessary, only a Board of Trade certificate being required; this was permitted under the Railway Constructional Facilities Act, 1864.

[note 1][5] On 8 September 1885 Major Marindin, the Board of Trade inspector, was due to assess the line for passenger operation.

The cloud had a silver lining, for the Callander had a considerable amount of coal to deliver in the Killin area, by road cartage, which could not operate.

The coaches then ran back to the platform under the force of gravity, controlled by the guard using the brake, and the engine was coupled at the junction end.

Loch Tay station had a single platform also, but there was a small engine shed there and goods facilities.

In 1921 the Caledonian Railway acquired the Loch Tay Steamboat Company which owned two steamers on the loch; the company was loss-making, and the Caledonian wished to continue the tourist trade over the Callander and Oban line; the Killin Railway obviously benefitted also.

As the local dignitary he had taken a benevolent interest in the success of the Killin Railway, often funding its shortages of money.

In fact the technicalities of finalising the accounts of numerous small concerns caused the detail of the process to overrun.

Persistence paid off, and the LMS gradually raised its offer, eventually reaching £8, which the Killin Railway accepted.

In the 1950s a hydro-electric power generating station was built on the Loch, and the railway and its pier were used for bringing in materials for the construction.

With the decline in the usage of local railways after World War II, the goods service on the branch was discontinued on 7 November 1964.

[2] Killin station buildings were demolished shortly after closure, and the site is now occupied by a car park and council premises.