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The Darvel Branch was an extension of the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway in Scotland built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway to allow trains to travel between Kilmarnock and Darvel.
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The Darvel Branch was an extension of the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway in Scotland built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway to allow trains to travel between Kilmarnock and Darvel.
The line was built in stages, and originally opened as far as Galston on 9 August 1848. [1] The branch was extended to Newmilns on 20 May 1850, [1] and finally reached Darvel much later on 1 June 1896. [1] Shortly after, on 1 May 1905, the line ceased to become a branch and became a through line to Strathaven and beyond when the Glasgow and South Western Railway and the Caledonian Railway opened a jointly run line. [1] However, despite being a through line, no trains ever ran between Kilmarnock and Strathaven, [2] instead the two companies took it in turns to run the line between Darvel and Strathaven every six months. [2]
The line east of Darvel was never successful and closed in 1939, [1] with the rest of the line closed to passengers on 6 April 1964. [2] Little evidence of the line still exists today, aside from the occasional embankment and cutting along the route. One notable landmark is a 26-arch viaduct in Newmilns, part of which crosses the River Irvine, and most of which cuts through the middle of the town. [3]
Kilmarnock railway station is a railway station in Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is served by trains on the Glasgow South Western Line.
The Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway was the section of railway line between Glasgow Bridge Street railway station and Paisley, in the west of Scotland. It was constructed and operated jointly by two competing railway companies as the stem of their lines to Greenock and Ayr respectively, and it opened in 1840. The Joint Committee, which controlled the line, built a branch to Govan and later to Cessnock Dock, and then Prince's Dock.
The Dalry and North Johnstone Line was a branch of the Glasgow and South Western Railway (G&SWR) in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, Scotland, connecting the stations in Elderslie and Dalry via a route running parallel to the existing line built by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway. This provided additional line capacity for Ayrshire Coast and Kilmarnock services. The loop line was used for passenger services until the mid-1960s, when it was closed by the Beeching Axe. The majority of the line's trackbed has since been absorbed into the Sustrans National Cycle Network.
Elderslie railway station was a railway station serving the west of Elderslie, Scotland, originally as part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.
The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway (GPK&AR) was a railway in Scotland that provided train services between Glasgow, Kilmarnock and Ayr. It opened its first line, between Glasgow and Ayr, in stages from 1839 to 1840. The section between Glasgow and Paisley was made jointly with the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway. Later it built a line from Dalry via Kilmarnock to Cumnock, linking there with the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway, and together forming a through route from Glasgow to Carlisle. The two companies merged to form the Glasgow and South Western Railway.
Springside railway station was a railway station serving the village of Springside, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.
Dreghorn railway station was a railway station serving the village of Dreghorn, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway. The line forms part of National Cycle Route 73, and the site of the station is marked by signs at the junction with Station Brae, Dreghorn.
Drybridge railway station was a railway station serving the village of Drybridge, North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Gatehead railway station was a railway station serving the village of Gatehead, East Ayrshire, Scotland.
The Ardrossan Railway was a railway company in Scotland built in the mid-19th century that primarily ran services between Kilwinning and Ardrossan, as well as freight services to and from collieries between Kilwinning and Perceton. The line was later merged with the Glasgow and South Western Railway, and is today part of the Ayrshire Coast Line.
The Ayr to Mauchline Branch was a railway line in Scotland and ran services between Ayr and Mauchline as part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway.
The Paisley and Barrhead District Railway was a railway in Scotland that ran between the towns of Paisley and Barrhead. It was intended to serve industrial premises and develop local passenger and goods business.
Riccarton and Craigie was an unopened railway station serving the village of Riccarton and the distant hamlet of Craigie, both in East Ayrshire, Scotland. Built in 1902 and originally just called Riccarton, it was renamed in 1905.
The Darvel and Strathaven Railway linked, with the Darvel Branch to the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway in Scotland to allow trains to travel between Kilmarnock and Lanarkshire.
Loudounhill was a railway station on the Darvel and Strathaven Railway serving a rural area that included the landmark of Loudoun Hill in the Parish of Galston, East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Drumclog was a railway station on the Darvel and Strathaven Railway serving a rural area that included the village of Drumclog in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Ryeland was a railway station on the Darvel and Strathaven Railway serving a rural area in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
Strathaven Central or Strathaven was a railway station on the Darvel and Strathaven Railway serving the town of Strathaven in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The station opened as an extension of the line from Stonehouse and in 1904 was connected with the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway via a link to Strathaven North. It was renamed as 'Strathaven' a few months before closure.
The Glasgow and South Western Railway operated a number of cross-country lines in Ayrshire.
This article traces the Caledonian Railway branches in South Lanarkshire.