This was the Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway rebuilt to standard gauge to meet the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway at Kilwinning. Formation of the Ardrossan Railway Company separated the railway from the Glasgow and Ardrossan Caal.
Note that the names Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Railway, Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway and Ardrossan Railway were used interchangeably for this railway. For clarity the name Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway has been adopted for the line prior to conversion to standard gauge and Ardrossan Railway afterwards.
/ /1819 | Ardrossan Railway Proposed by the 12th Earl of Eglinton. |
/ /1827 | Kilwinning Waggonway Absorbed by Ardrossan Railway. |
/ /1839 | Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway Reformed as the Ardrossan Railway for conversion to standard gauge. The change of name may be artificial. |
/ /1840 | Ardrossan Railway First locomotive used. The line was to grow to own ten locomotives. |
/ /1840 | Ardrossan Railway Railway separated financially from the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal (but taking a portion of debt, £29,150). |
27/07/1840 | Ardrossan Railway Stevenston, Saltcoats [1st], Ardrossan Pier stations opened. |
20/08/1840 | Glasgow, Paisley Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway Glasgow to Ardrossan trains start running, with connections to Liverpool steamers. The Ardrossan Railway was re-built to standard gauge for its connection to the main line. |
/ /1844 | Ardrossan Steam Navigation Co Company formed, backed by the Ardrossan Railway, and the Earl of Eglinton (owner and developer of Ardrossan), to operate between Ardrossan and other locations, such as Belfast. |
/ /1845 | Eglinton Ironworks Opened (re-opened?), this leads to an expansion of the Ardrossan Railway. |
/ /1854 | Ardrossan RailwayGlasgow and South Western Railway The older Ardrossan Railway was merged with the Glasgow and South Western Railway. The older line was re-gauged earlier to provide a through connection to Ardrossan Harbour. |
01/07/1858 | Ardrossan Railway Saltcoats [1st] station re-sited further west at Saltcoats [2nd]. |
/ /1882 | Ardrossan Railway Saltcoats station re-sited between Saltcoats [1st] and Saltcoats [2nd] stations. |
01/01/1883 | Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan South Beach opened. |
02/06/1924 | Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan Pier re-named Ardrossan Winton Pier. |
30/06/1952 | Ardrossan Railway Saltcoats re-named Saltcoats Central. |
02/03/1953 | Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan re-named Ardrossan Town. |
06/04/1964 | Glasgow, Paisley Kilmarnock and Ayr RailwayArdrossan Railway Irvine (Byrehill Junction) to Stevenston (Dubbs Junction) closed to passengers. Ardrossan to Kilmarnock service via Crosshill withdrawn. |
04/02/1965 | Ardrossan Railway Saltcoats Central re-named Saltcoats. |
01/01/1968 | Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan Town closed. |
/ /1987 | Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan Winton Pier closed when line is cut back to a replacement station; Ardrossan Harbour. |
19/01/1987 | Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan Town re-opened. |
24/08/2001 | Ardrossan Railway A Class 318, on approach to Ardrossan Harbour, struck a Stagecoach bus at the ungated level crossing just south of the station. |
These locations are along the line.
This spartan single platform terminal station replaced the terminus of the line immediately to the north and closer to the harbour, Ardrossan Winton Pier. Trains run to Glasgow Central.
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This was a terminus on a steamer pier in Ardrossan Harbour. The pier and station were not part of the original Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway but opened with the Ardrossan Railway, replacing Ardrossan Town as the passenger terminus in the town. With the opening of this station further goods lines also opened on the neighbouring piers.
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This was the junction between the Doura Branch of the Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway and the curve onto the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.
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This is the junction between the line to Ardrossan Harbour and the Glasgow to Ayr line which allows a train from the Ayr direction to run to Ardrossan. It is largely used for goods and empty stock movements. The main line is double track and the Ardrossan approach single.
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