The Loch Doon Aerial Gunnery School and Railway, East Ayrshire

Between 1916 and 1918 an Aerial Gunnery School with associated airfields and a standard gauge railway were constructed at Loch Doon and Dalmellington in the Doon Valley. The 1.4 mile long railway had a short platform at Dalfarson with coal and water supplies. Sidings were present at the Bogton Airfield site and probably at the terminus. The climatic conditions proved unsuitable as predicted by the locals and also aviation and aerial gunnery tactics were developing rapidly, the school had become a white elephant and was abandoned after a cost in todays terms of up to £100,000,000. Much of the remains are covered by the loch's waters following the 1935 hydro-electric scheme dam being built and the water level rising by circa 25 feet..