Irongray railway station

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Irongray
Irongray Station - geograph.org.uk - 702588.jpg
The site of Irongray railway station
General information
LocationDunscore, Dumfries and Galloway
Scotland
Grid reference NX917803
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original company Cairn Valley Light Railway
Pre-grouping Glasgow and South Western Railway
Post-grouping London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Key dates
1 March 1905Opened
3 May 1943Closed to passengers
4 July 1949Closed to freight

Irongray was one of the principal stations on the Cairn Valley Light Railway branch, from Dumfries. It served a rural area in Dumfries and Galloway The line was closed to passengers during WW2. [1] Cairn Valley Junction lay to the east.

Contents

History

The CVR was nominally independent, but was in reality controlled by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. [2] The line was closed to passengers on 3 May 1943, during WW2 [1] and to freight on 4 July 1949, [3] and the track lifted in 1953.

The station cost £212 to build in red brick with cream painted poster boards and chocolate-coloured framing. The extension over the front was covered with red tiles, as was the main roof. A booking office and waiting room was provided. [4] A station master's house was provided, designed by the company with a pyramid roof truncated by a central chimney stack. [4] The shelter had been demolished by 1949. [4] The stationmaster's house survives as a private dwelling.

An accident took place at Irongray in 1911 when a passenger train ran into a goods train that was sitting in the passing loop. No serious injuries were incurred. [5] After 1936 the passing loop was not necessary as the line was operated on a 'one engine in steam' principle; it was removed, however the signal box remained. [6] A level crossing with gates was nearby, interlocked with the signals so that trains could not enter the station unless the gates were closed against road traffic. [7] A electrical ground disc signal controlled the movement of trains from the siding onto the main line. [8]

Trains were controlled by a 'lock and block' system whereby the trains operated treadles on the single line to interact with the block instruments. [2]

See also

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Dunscore (NX858840) was one of the four principal stations on the Cairn Valley Light Railway (CVR) branch, from Dumfries. It served the rural area of Dunscore in Dumfries and Galloway. The line was closed to passengers during the war in WW2.

Kirkland railway station (NX810897) was one of the minor stations on the Cairn Valley Light Railway branch, from Dumfries. It served the rural area around Kirkland as a request stop, close to the terminus at Moniaive in Dumfries and Galloway The line was closed to passengers during WW2.

Stepford (NX864815) was one of the minor request stop stations on the Cairn Valley Light Railway branch from Dumfries. It served a very rural area in Dumfries and Galloway The line was closed to passengers during the Second World War. Cairn Valley Junction lay to the east.

Newtonairds (NX877801) was one of the principal stations on the now closed Cairn Valley Light Railway branch from Dumfries. It served a very rural area in Dumfries and Galloway.

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Kirkpatrick railway station was a station which served the rural area around Kirkpatrick Fleming, north of Gretna in the Scottish county of Dumfries and Galloway. It was served by local trains on what is now known as the West Coast Main Line. The nearest station for Kirkpatrick Fleming is now at Gretna Green.

Wanlockhead railway station was opened on 1 October 1902 as the terminus on the Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway and served the lead mining area, farms and the village of Wanlockhead. Elvanfoot railway station in South Lanarkshire was the junction for the branch and was located on the west coast main line. It remained open until 2 January 1939 for passengers and freight. When Wanlockhead station opened in 1902, a year after Leadhills station, it became the highest standard gauge adhesion station in the United Kingdom at 1,413 ft (431 m), seven miles and 24 chains from Elvanfoot.

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 Awdry, page 64
  2. 1 2 Sanders, page 50
  3. Thomas, page 203
  4. 1 2 3 Kirkpatrick, Page 21
  5. Kirkpatrick, Page 49
  6. Kirkpatrick, Page 69
  7. Kirkpatrick, Page 91
  8. Kirkpatrick, Page 89
Sources
Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Dumfries   Glasgow and South Western Railway
Cairn Valley Railway
  Newtonairds

Coordinates: 55°06′22″N3°41′54″W / 55.1060°N 3.6983°W / 55.1060; -3.6983