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Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway
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British Ports - Port of Troon
This was the first railway in Scotland to run (albeit briefly) a locomotive. Most of this railway is still open (the termini have been closed and replaced). The line ran from Kilmarnock to Troon. The line is open for both freight and passengers.
| Local area Chronology Description of route Troon Harbour Troon Harbour Junction Barassie Junction Barassie Meadowhead Caledonian Paper Mill Hillhouse Quarry Shewalton Coup Shewalton Moss Drybridge Crosshouse Branch ? Gatehead Earlston Branch ? Caprington Junction ? Grange Junction ? St. Marnock's Depot Ordinance Survey Grid References Bibliography | Outstanding work
Check junction names Photographs Maps Current services Local area Links |
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| 1807 | William Jessop surveys route on the instructions of the Duke of Portland |
| 1808, 27 May | Act received |
| 1812, 6 July | Railway opened |
| 1817 | Trials of a Stephenson's locomotive (first railway engine in Scotland) |
| 1839, 5 August | Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway opened from Ayr to Irvine. |
| 1846, 16 July | Line leased to the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway and re-gauged for locomotives |
| 1899, 16 July | Line bought by Glasgow and South Western Railway |
| 1969, 3 May | Kilmarnock No 2 to Barassie Junction closed to Passengers |
| 198? | Kilmarnock to Barassie re-opened to Passengers |
| 198? | Meadowhead Caledonian Paper Mill opened |
Description of route
From Troon Harbour to St Marnock's, Kilmarnock.
The track has been lifted and much of the formation
removed. One or two broken sleepers can be found in the harbour area. Sidings
ran round both the south-west and north-east sides of the harbour. There
was a locomotive shed at the harbour.
Troon Harbour Junction
The track has been lifted and much of the formation
removed. At this location the original line from Barassie to the harbour
was joined by a spur running from the Troon (New)
loop. The junction faced the harbour and the spur allowed the harbour
access to the south without running round at Barassie..
Barassie Junction
Originally this is the location where the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway crossed over the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway.
This was a complicated junction at its height. To the North lines approached from Kilwinning and Kilmarnock. To the south lines approached from Troon Harbour, Troon Goods (on the original course of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway) and Troon (New).
The Kilwinning line is still double track and is now electrified. The Kilmarnock route is now singled. The Harbour line is now lifted. Troon Goods is closed to through traffic, and on my last visit some sidings remained in the vicinity of the junction and for a further mile or so. The Troon (New) route is double track and electrified.
This station was built by Barassie junction such that it had four platforms; two on the Kilwinning line (Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway) and two on the Kilmarnock line. The original station here was on the Kilmarnock line and may have been slightly closer to Kilmarnock.
Two platforms are still open on the Kilwinning route.
Meadowhead Caledonian Paper Mill
Opened in 198?. This short branch has three exchange loops and the junction faces Barassie. The branch runs to the North of the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway.
This is a short branch from the Shewalton Moss ground frame. There are three exchange loops, the junction faces Kilmarnock. The branch is to the South of the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway.
This is a set of sidings lying to the North of the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway. The junction faces Kilmarnock.
This is a ground frame giving access to the Hillhouse Quarry and Shewalton Coup sidings.
This station is closed. The goods yard at this station has given way to a scrap yard. To the west of the B730 the station building stands with partial platforms.
A branch once ran from the West end of Gatehead station to collieries in the Crosshouse and Muirhouse district. The junction faced Kilmarnock.
This station is closed. A platform remains at this location on the West side of the A759 level crossing.
This was a branch running from the East end of Gatehead station to collieries in the Earlston district. The junction faced Troon.
For the closed line through Riccarton to Hurlford and Kay Park Junction.
This provided a connection to the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.
This depot is closed. This was the original Kilmarnock
terminus of the line from Troon. A bowling green exists in the likely viscinity
of the terminus.
Ordinance Survey Grid References
1. NS 310 315 Troon Harbour
2. NS 317 312 Troon Harbour Junction
3. NS 328 328 Barassie Junction
4. NS 328 329 Barassie
5. NS 340 353 Meadowhead Caledonian Paper Mill
6. NS 345 343 Hillhouse Quarry
7. NS 345 352 Shewalton Coup
8. NS 346 350 Shewalton Moss
9. NS 359 365 Drybridge
10. NS 390 380 and NS 394 374 Crosshouse Branch
terminii
11. NS 392 375 Gatehead
12. NS 395 350, NS 414 348 and NS 418 353 Earlston
Branch terminii
13. NS 412 367 Caprington Junction ?
14. NS 417 374 Grange Junction ?
15. NS 422 375 St. Marnock's Depot
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Page last edited on 14/11/97
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