Darvel and Strathaven Railway

Introduction

This was an unusual line, a joint railway operated by the Caledonian Railway (the promoter, as one of the Mid Lanarkshire Lines) and Glasgow and South Western Railway. It linked the G&SWR Darvel branch of 1896 to the CR's Strathaven Central station. Both Strathaven Central and the Darvel and Strathaven Railway opened in 1904. The territory was found over by the two companies, resulting in the joint operation as a compromise. The boundary between the two companies was at County Boundary Junction, between Loudounhill and Drumclog. It was a single track line. Most of the structures were built in concrete. This line closed in 1939. After several years of use for surplus wagon storage the track was lifted in 1951. It was well described by G.H. Robin - 'This ten-mile section of line for the most part passed through wild moorland and took in three rural stations.'






Dates

  /  /1904Darvel and Strathaven Railway
Darvel to County Boundary Junction (east of Loudounhill) authorised to be transferred to the Glasgow and South Western Railway. The Caledonian Railway retains running powers.
11/09/1939Darvel and Strathaven Railway
Darvel (excluded) to Strathaven Central (excluded) closed to all traffic

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This was a fine station. It was an island platform station. The station was to the south of Strathaven. The ticket and parcels office was on Station Road. It was similar to that at Larkhall Central and the remaining building at Hamilton Central. The station was below street level in a shallow cutting. Two bridges from the building crossed the eastbound line to reach the platform - one the ...

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See also
Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Looking east from Lesmahagow Road bridge at Strathaven towards the site of the junction for the High Blantyre and Larkhall lines, in 1986.
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Bill Roberton //1986
Looking west over the site of Strathaven Central station, with the goods shed on the right, in 1986. ...
Bill Roberton //1986
The former goods shed at Strathaven in 1996 [ref query 24722]. ...
Ewan Crawford //1996
Remains of the island platform at Strathaven. ...
Ewan Crawford //
4 of 7 images. more


This was an island platform station. There was a goods yard on the west side approached by a reversing spur at the north end of the station. The signal box was north of the station building on the island platform. Access to the platform was by steps down to the platform from the road bridge at south end.
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Twin arch bridge adjacent to the hamlet of Caldermill, on the former Caledonian route between Strathaven and Ryeland, Lanarkshire, photographed in ...
Ken Browne 21/04/2009
Remains at Ryeland on the Darvel - Strathaven line looking west in 1996, with mysterious recovery of infill material from the former island platform. ...
Ewan Crawford //1996
2 of 2 images.




This was an island platform station opened in an area of farmland. Access to the platform was by a ramp bridge at the north east end of the station. The station building was typical of the line and had canopies on all sides. There was a signal box, opened in 1904, north of the station building on the island platform.
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The rail underbridge on the road running NE to Gilmourton from the A71 north of Drumclog, South Lanarkshire, in June 2013. The old bridge was in use ...
David Pesterfield 15/06/2013
Old railway cutting with evidence of a retaining wall, near Gilmourton, between the former stations of Ryeland and Drumclog, South Lanarkshire. Seen ...
Ken Browne 21/04/2009
A notable skew arch bridge at Gilmourton, near the site of the former Drumclog station in South Lanarkshire, seen in April 2009. Beyond the bridge ...
Ken Browne 21/04/2009
3 of 3 images.




This was an island platform station. There was a goods yard on the east side, approached by a reversing spur south of the station. Access to the island platform was by footbridge. The signal box was south of the station building on the platform.
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The site of Loudounhill station looking to Strathaven in 1996. The goods yard was to the left and island platform (long obliterated) in the ...
Ewan Crawford //1996
Looking East along the trackbed of the Darvel to Strathaven line, farmer's occupation bridge in foreground, Loudoun Hill behind. Trackbed condition ...
Robert Blane 23/05/2009
Looking East towards Loudoun Hill and the site of the viaduct that once crossed the valley off picture to the right. There are still sleeper indents ...
Robert Blane 30/01/2010
3 of 3 images.


This was a 13 arch viaduct built to carry two tracks (although only the westbound was ever laid). It was built in mass concrete but faced with attractive blue brick.
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Looking towards Darvel. ...
John Robin 23/05/1963
1 of 1 images.


This is a disused single track three arch viaduct built in blue brick and concrete. It is 162 ft long and 56 ft high.
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A rather distant view of the isolated railway relic that is the blue brick viaduct over the Glen Water in Darvel. View west in January 2010 from the ...
Robert Blane 30/01/2010
1 of 1 images.


East of Darvel station was a second goods yard opened when the line was extended by the joint Darvel and Strathaven Railway. This yard was on the north side of the line and approached from the east.
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