Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway)

Introduction

This mineral branch from the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) ran north from Benhar Junction to a series of collieries. The branch opened in 1869 along with the main line. It was to ultimately, following extension, serve Polkemmet Colliery.

It directly competed with the Benhar Branch (North British Railway) which served the same area.






Dates

  /  /1865Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway) Camps Branch (Caledonian Railway) Addiewell Loop (Caledonian Railway) Mouldron Branch (Caledonian Railway) Woodmuir Colliery Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 6). Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway) authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 3). Camps Branch (Caledonian Railway) authorised. Addiewell Loop (Caledonian Railway) authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 7). Bellside Junction to Langbyres Junction authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 2). Mouldron Branch (Caledonian Railway) authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 4). Woodmuir Colliery Branch (Caledonian Railway) (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 5). Muirhouse, Dykes and Chapelton Branch authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 6).
30/12/1869Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Minerals branch opened, a branch of the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway), serving collieries.
17/07/1986Greenrigg, Cultrigg and Polkemmet Collieries Railway (William Dixon Ltd)
Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Polkemmet Colliery line out of use.
  /04/1990Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Greenrigg, Cultrigg and Polkemmet Collieries Railway (William Dixon Ltd)

Polkemmet Colliery to Benhar Junction (excluded) officially closed.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This junction was between Shotts and Fauldhouse. From the junction a mineral line ran north to the Benhar Colliery and, latterly, north east to Polkemmet Colliery. Approach to the branch was from the west.
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More details

See also
Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Benhar Junction with the Polkemmet Colliery branch diverging. The colliery closed in the year this photo was taken, 1986.
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Bill Roberton //1986
Benhar Junction frame in 1978 with hairy Motherwell secondman! ...
William Barr //1978
Pat Swift learning the frame at Benhar Junction as the signalman nervously looks on (1978). ...
William Barr //1978
Benhar Junction where the Caledonian's Benhar Branch joined the Shotts line. View looking east in 2000. The Benhar Branch, which ultimately served ...
Ewan Crawford //2000
4 of 6 images. more






9T26 coal empties from Ravenscraig No 2 for Polkemmet October 1978 on the Benhar branch. ...
William Barr /10/1978
9T26 empties for Polkemmet on Benhar branch. Oct 1978. ...
William Barr /10/1978
20063 and 20078 cross a minor road on Polkemmet Moor heading for the colliery exchange sidings, on 26 May 1982. See image 25094 ...
Bill Roberton 26/05/1982
3 of 3 images.




20078 + 20063 with coal from Polkemmet Colliery bound for Ravenscraig Steelworks crossing Polkemmet Moor on 26 May 1982. See image 25094.
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Bill Roberton 26/05/1982
20078 + 20063 on Polkemmet Moor heading towards Polkemmet Colliery to pick up a coal train on 26 May 1982. See image 28250 ...
Peter Todd 26/05/1982
2 of 2 images.




A pair of class 20s approaching Polkemmet Colliery off the moor on 26 May 1982. The locomotives are 20078+20063 (nearest). Given the poor state of the ...
Peter Todd 26/05/1982
1 of 1 images.