Caledonian Railway

Caledonian Railway

Motto: Nemo me impune lacessit

This line provided a service from Carlisle to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenhill (near Falkirk). The company acquired other lines and later the services encompassed Aberdeen, Dundee, Forfar, Perth, Stirling, Oban, Ardrossan, Peebles and a large number of other locations.

The line given here was the original route of the Caledonian Railway before it purchased and built many more lines. Today there are plans to re-open the closed station at Beattock.

Survey	To be entered
Engineers	Joseph Locke
Act	1845
Contractors	To be entered
Opened	1847 to 1848
Closed	No

Abington, looking north.

Line at Abington

Local area

The line runs through southern Scotland passing through an area with little population from Carlisle until it reaches Motherwell. The area is farmed an in the area around Beattock Summit there is forestry. The M74 follows the line for much of its route.

This line runs from Carlisle to near Law. There was a branch to Edinburgh and a further line between the north of Coatbridge and near Larbert which connected the line to other lines running to Stirling, Perth, Dundee and Aberdeen.

Chronology

Description of route

From Carlisle to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Greenhill (near Falkirk). Today the railway is signalled from Carlisle and Motherwell at power signalboxes.

The routes of the Wishaw and Coltness Railway, Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway and Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway were used to reach the Glasgow terminus at Townhead.

At Greenhill the line joined the Scottish Central Railway. Later the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway was by-passed by an extension of the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway to the Wishaw and Coltness Railway.

Also have a look at this map from the Caledonian Railway Tourist Guide.

Carlisle

This was a joint station. The view is taken at the south end of the station, looking north. The train shown is about to run along the Settle and Carlisle line (Midland Railway). The station was formerly known as Carlisle Citadel. The following companies' railway lines were all present at this station;

Maryport and Carlisle Railway
Newcastle and Carlisle Railway (North Eastern Railway)
Lancaster and Carlisle Railway (London and North Western Railway)
Border Union Railway (North British Railway)
Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Settle and Carlisle line (Midland Railway)

Carlisle No 1

Here the lines of the station all joined together running north.

Viaduct Goods

There was a goods yard here - before that there had been locomotive sheds here. The lines approaching Carlisle were re-modelled here a number of times.

Dentonholme North Junction

Here the Dentonholm loop, which ran through to London Road, joined the main line at a north facing junction.

Caldew Junction

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Port Carlisle Junction

Here the Caledonian Railway's branch to Canal Junction (on the Carlisle and Port Calisle Railway & Dock Co) left the line. The junction faced south.

Etterby Junction

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Kingmoor Shed

This was the location of a steam locomotive shed. On closure a new shed was opened on the opposite side of the main line. This shed is also closed.

Kingmoor Junction

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Kingmoor Marshalling Yard

This marshalling yard was planned as part of the 1950s modernisation scheme. The marshalling yard was to replace a number of smaller inconvenient yards scattered all over Carlisle; more or less one per original pre-1923 company. The yard is now mainly dismantled and the sidings face south although they may be reversed into by trains from the north without fouling the main line. The photographs here (taken quite late in the evening) show the partly dismantled yard from the road overbridge at the south of the site.

Rockcliffe

This station is closed.

Floriston

This station is closed but a level crossing over the railway remains open. The photograph looks south from the level crossing. The track furtherest to the left provides access to the Kingmoor Marshalling Yard

Longtown Emergency Connection Junction

This south facing junction gives access to the military establishment at Longtown. The main junction is slightly further north. The line to Longtown is partly along the course of the former Border Union Railway which had a branch from Longtown to Gretna where it had it's own station close by the Caledonian Railway's one.

Mossband Junction

This south facing junction gives access to the military establishment at Longtown. There is an auxilliary junction slightly further south. The line to Longtown is partly along the course of the former Border Union Railway which had a branch from Longtown to Gretna where it had it's own station close by the Caledonian Railway's one.

Gretna South Junction

This north facing junction is closed and lifted. The line to Longtown is was the former Border Union Railway which had a branch from Longtown to Gretna where it had it's own station close by the Caledonian Railway's one.

Gretna

This station is now closed. The station building remains but the platforms have been cut back.

Gretna Junction

This is the junction for a secondary route from Carlisle to Glasgow. It was not always this way; formerly this secondary line was the main line of the Glasgow and South Western Railway who had close affiliations with the Midland Railway in England.. The line from here to near Kilmarnock was built by the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway. This route now has long sections of single track.

Quintinshill

This station is now closed but loops remain for goods traffic. This was the site of Britain's worst railway accident.

Kirkpatrick

This station is closed.

Kirtlebridge Junction?

This north facing junction was close to Kirtlebridge station. This was the junction for the Solway Junction Railway which crossed the Solway Firth on a viaduct longer than a mile.

Kirtlebridge

This station is closed.

Ecclefechan

This station is closed.

Castlemilk Goods

This goods yard is closed.

Lockerbie

This station remains open. There are some goods sidings and a passing loop. Formerly there was a locomotive shed here. To the north of the station was a south facing junction for Dumfries via the Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Railway. This line and running powers over the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway gave the Caledonian Railway access to Stranraer over the Portpatrick Railway. The Caledonian Railway was in fact to run the line to Stranraer for a considerable number of years despite the fact it was 'within the area' of the Glasgow and South Western Railway.

Nethercleugh

This station is closed.

Dinwoodie

This station is closed.

Wamphray

This station is closed.

Beattock
Top

The tracks to the left are used by maintenance trains. Part of a bay platform remains here and further to the right is a loading bank.

Although the station here is closed, although there are plans to re-open it. There are loops used by freight trains and a number of sidings. Formerly there was a branch for the Moffat Railway. There was a locomotive shed here which provided engines for banking assistance to Beattock summit.

Beattock Summit

This is the summit of the line. Here there are loop sidings which may be used to let fast trains overtake slower or broken down trains. In the days of steam there was a group of "bankers" maintained at Beattock station locomotive shed which were used to assist heavy trains climbing up to Beattock summit. The banking engines would be disconnected from the trains here. The view looks south towards Carlisle. Today the M74 motorway runs parallel to the railway in the field seen on the left side of the picture. on the right hand side

Greskine Box

This box was between Beattock Summit and Elvanfoot. The viewpoint known as "Greenhillfootstairs" overlooks this location. There is an access road to the line here today.

Harthope Viaduct

This viaduct crosses the former route of the A74. The photograph looks east. I was the passenger in this car!

Elvanfoot

This station is closed. There was a junction here for the Caledonian Railway's Leadhills and Wanlockhead Branch which ran from a north facing junction to Leadhills and Wanlockhead where there was much mining activity. Part of this branch has been re-opened as a narrow gauge railway.

Crawford

Little remains of this station other than the approach road. There was a branch from here to Camps Reservoir (to the north) which was used during the construction of a dam.

Abington

The former station at abington has has two loops from the main line and some sidings usually used for maintenance trains. The view looks north.

Wandel Mill Box

This signalbox no longer exists.

Lamington

A freight train heads south at the former Lamington station as the sun sets behind it.

A freight train heads south at the former Lamington station as the sun sets behind it.

A empty limestonte train from the Ravenscraig steelworks runs south with the Clyde by the line and Tinto hill behind.

A empty limestonte train from the Ravenscraig steelworks runs south with the Clyde by the line and Tinto hill behind.

This station is closed. A new hosue occupies the space of the former station building.

Symington

This station is closed. Some small traces of platform remain. This was the junction for the former branch to Peebles. This was the Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway.

Thankerton

This station is closed. A station building remains, but the platforms have been removed.

Leggatfoot Box

This signalbox is closed

Float Junction

There was a line to the east of Carstairs junction which eased the curve through the junctions - this line is now closed and has reverted to farmland. To the south of the junction the line crosses the Float Viaduct and to the south of this were the Strawfrank watertroughs which allowed locomotives suitably equiped to top up their watertanks without needing to stop.

Strawfrank Junction

This is the south facing junction between the lines to Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Carstairs

The station here consists of a board island platform on the line from Glasgow to Carlisle and Glasgow to Edinburgh. Trains which run from Carlisle to Edinburgh runto the east of the station on a curve which is not served by platforms. Trains which stop here on route to Edinburgh have to reverse to continue their journey.

The station building here has been demolished and a new one has been built. The station building was of a similar style to those which stood at Eglinton Street and remain at Gleneagles. The new station, although much smaller, is probably much more suitable for this station.

The recently demolished building's predecessor consisted of a complete train-shed (in wood?) whith an island platform inside.

Ravenstruther Coal Terminal

This is a coal loading point for coal from the Douglas Basin. It is also known as "Renstrie". The picture above shows the depot under construction.

Lanark East Junction?

This junction faced east and was formerly used by trains from Lanark to Edinburgh. The curve to the Lanark Branch (Caledonian Railway) is now lifted.

Lanark Junction

This junction faces west and is used by trains from Glasgow to Edinburgh. The curve to the Lanark Branch (Caledonian Railway) is still in use.

Cleghorn

This station is closed.

Craigenhill Summit

This was the location of a signalbox.

Braidwood

This station is closed.

Carluke

This station is open.

Carluke Castlehill Junction

This was a junction with a connection from the Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway to the west of Carluke. This line ran from here to Castlehill Ironworks and then on to the main line of the other railway.

Law Junction

This is the junction for the Wishaw Deviation Line which runs from here to near Holytown on the Shotts line. There was a station here but this is closed as is the Cory Distribution Depot by the junction.

Garriongill Junction

This west facing junction was between the original Wishaw and Coltness Railway from Coatbridge to the Coltness Iron Works and the newer Caledonian Railway

Edinburgh Branch

Carstairs East Junction

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Dolphinton Junction

This was the junction for the line to Dolphinton (Dolphinton Branch (Caledonian Railway))

Lampits Junction

This was the north end of a Edinburgh to south avoiding curve which was reputedly only used by one train containing Queen Victoria.

Carnwath

This station is closed and demolished. Some small portions of platform can be found in nearby bushes.

Auchengray

The station house remains standing here on the West side of the line and to the North of the level crossing, which has automatic barriers. The station had two main platforms with a bay platform on the Northbound platform for trains to Wilsontown.

Wilsontown Junction

This junction faced south towards Auchengray. This was the junction for the Wilsontown Line (Caledonian Railway).

Wilsontown North Junction

Wilstontown North Junction, looking north.

This junction faced north towards Edinburgh. This was a junction for the Wilsontown Line (Caledonian Railway). This junction seems to have fallen out of use before the branch was closed and the link retained a siding on the branch.

Cobbinshaw

There have been two stations at Cobbinshaw. There are no stations now.

Harburn

This station is closed.

Midcalder Junction

The line is joined by the Caledonian Railway's Cleland and Midcalder line (Shotts line) at an east facing junction which allowed the Caledonian Railway to compete with the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway's service without having to go via Carstairs. Oddly enough the Carstairs route is now used by many express trains (as the Shotts line is not electrified) but there are plans to electrify the Shotts route.

Kirknewton (Midcalder)

This station is open. There is a level crossing here where road users frequently 'jump the lights'. A traffic camera has been fitted.

Tarmac Econowaste Landfill Site

This siding may be presently out of use. The siding joins the main line at a west facing junction and is to the south of the line.

Ravelrig

This station is closed.

Ravelrig Junction

This was the junction for the Caledonian Railway's Balerno Loop which is now closed. The junction faced west.

Curriehill

This is a re-opened station. Nothing remains of the original station. The station is provided with two bus-shelters (one on each platform), bicycle lockers and a generous carpark.

Wester Hailes

This station is built at the back of a shopping centre in Wester Hailes.

Kingsknowe

This is an older station. To the west of the station is a level crossing. A stationmaster's house remains on the North side of the line by the level crossing.

Balerno Junction

This junction for Balerno faced east towards central Edinbugh. There were some refuge sidings on the south side of the main line which were accessable via the Balerno Loop (Caledonian Railway) line.

Slateford

This station is open.

Slateford Junction (New)

This junction faces West. It provides a link to the Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Railway and was built by British Railways.

Exhibition

This was a temporary station built on a short branch for an exhibition held here. After the exhibition finished the station was removed.

Gorgie (East)

This station is closed.

Slateford Junction (Old)

This junction faces west; away from Edinburgh towards Carstairs. Here the Edinburgh Station and Branches (Caledonian Railway) (connects to Haymarket on the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway) line meets the main line from Carstairs to Edinburgh Princes Street. The junction also gave access to the Granton Branch (Caledonian Railway) which branched off the line to Haymarket.

Today there is no longer a junction as the line to Princes Street has closed and all traffic takes the line to Haymarket. The trackbed between Slateford and Princes Street is covered by roads. At Merchiston is the road access to Slateford yard.

Slateford Yard

This yard is open and is located to the south of the line and is accessed from the west end. The old signalbox still stands here, but is today a signalling training centre for First Engineering.

Merchiston

This station is closed. The trackbed here carries the access road to Slateford yard.

Dalry Locomotive Sheds

These are closed. The trackbed carries the Western approach road.

Dalry Junction

This junction is closed. The junction faced East towards central Edinburgh. The trackbed carries the Western approach road. The Dalry Road Line (Caledonian Railway) connected the line to the Granton Branch (Caledonian Railway) and the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway.

Morrison Street Goods

This is closed.

Lothian Road Goods

This is closed.

Edinburgh Princes Street

This is closed. The station hotel, The Caledonian, remains open.

Castlecary Branch (& Hayhill Branch)

Gartsherrie North Junction

This south facing junction with the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway is now closed. The signal box has been removed to Bo'ness where it forms the station signalbox. The Caledonian Railway ran briefly over the metals of another company on it's main line from Carlisle to Aberdeen between Gartsherrie North and South Junction. It considered its own route between the two, and had an Act of parlament to approve it, but did not open its own route.

Garnqueen Junction

Here the Hayhill Branch (running from Gartcosh on the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway) joined the Caledonian's Castlecary branch. This branch was built by the Caledonian to save Glasgow to Stirling (and other destinations) trains from having to make inconvenient reversals at Gartsherrie.

Glenboig

The station has been demolished. The signalbox here has been closed. The once world famous Glenboig Brickworks Company was located by the station, however the site is now derelict.

Greenfoot box

This signal-box has been demolished. [Approx 28/04/1999]. There is a level crossing here.

Greenfaulds

This is a relatively new station serving the south of Cumbernauld.

Cumbernauld

This is the terminus for services from Glasgow (via Springburn and Stepps) and Motherwell (via Mossend yard). There is a down refuge siding here which the terminating passenger trains run into while the points and signals are set for the train to run into the Southbound platform.

At my last visit the Signalbox was still extant (the oldest in Scotland) but was shortly to become out of use and be demolished. The box was subsiding at the rear.

Greenhill Lower Junction

At Greenhill Lower Junction the Caledonian Railway (on the left) is joined by a spur from the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway (Right) and then continues on to Carmuirs west Junction (route of the Scottish Central Railway). At Greenhill Lower Junction the line has an end-on junction with the Scottish Central Railway.

The Bonnybridge Canal line started from here. The junction faced west and the line curved north to the station.

Page created on 14/04/1997
Page last edited on 26/01/2006
E-mails to: Ewan Crawford