 The route was opened in stages between 1901 and 1905; raising finance was a serious difficulty, but in the end the Caledonian Railway took over.The through goods traffic never materialised and the tourist trade never provided enough income for the line to be profitable, and it closed in 1951.The large tract of country in the Western Highlands of Scotland was penetrated by the Callander and Oban Railway which intended to open up the area and regenerate the port of Oban.