The September 2023 issue of Steam Days included the article ‘Interesting Carson-Rail services of the past’, which in Scotland included the Strathcarron to Kyle of Lochalsh operation that bypassed the Strome ferry; it was operating by 1910 and continued through to 1957. Further south, about 62 miles as the crow flies (113 by road, and a staggering 293½ miles by rail in steam days, and even longer now) there is another carson-rail local service to consider, albeit very short-lived, and really in this case the larger story of a railway bridge across Loch Etive gives us a wider perspective worthy of study. The location is Connel Ferry in Argyll, and its bridge was provided for the Ballachulish branch line, a much-loved route that has enjoyed a fair amount of coverage…