Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)

Introduction

This railway is closed. A portion of the trackbed is now used by the Glasgow Underground (formerly the Glasgow District Subway) for a test track.





Dates

  /  /    Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Locomotive shed, Govan Shed, opened at Govan.
  /  /1864Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Line and side branch (west to north curve) authorised.
  /  /1868Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
West to north curve used as a siding.
01/05/1868Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Govan branch opened to goods from triangular junction at Ibrox.
02/12/1868Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Opened to passengers with one station, Govan, at the terminus.
  /  /1871Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Vale of Clyde Tramways (portions 16 and 16A) grant access over tramways to shipyards to the Caledonian Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway. Use of locomotives is restricted.
  /  /1875Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Branch closed to passengers.
  /  /1876Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Access to Fairfield Shipyard (from Govan) and Linthouse Shipyard (originally from Govan later from Shieldhall Goods) over the Vale of Clyde Tramways using locomotives approved - if approved by Board of Trade (it was approved).
  /  /1880Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Re-opened to passengers.
  /  /1894Glasgow District Subway
Agreement between the Glasgow District Subway and the Caledonian Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway companies (owners of the Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)) over purchase of land for Broomloan Depot [Subway] by Govan station.
  /  /1899Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Re-closed to passengers.
  /  /1902Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Re-opened to passengers.
  /  /1906Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Re-closed to passengers.
  /  /1911Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Re-opened to passengers.
09/05/1921Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Timetabled passenger trains cease, unable to compete with direct tram routes.
14/06/1966Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway)
Closed.
  /  /1970Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway) Princes Dock Joint Railway (Caledonian Railway, North British Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Track lifted.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Ibrox Junction to Govan

A double track passenger and goods line ran from Ibrox Junction to Govan to serve various engine works and shipyards in the Govan area.

This junction opened in 1868 between the 1840 Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway and the Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway). Ibrox station re-opened at the junction in 1871.
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See also
Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway


There were two curving platforms on the Govan Branch at the junction with the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway, just before when Ibrox station opened on the main line (1870) on the site of Bellahouston [1st]. The two lines met at Ibrox Junction, immediately to the east.
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This was the originally northern apex of a triangular junction at the south end of the Govan branch allowing trains to enter the branch from either west (Paisley direction, Craigton Junction) or east (Glasgow direction, Ibrox Junction). The west to north and east to north curves were double track.
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This was the works of D Drummond & Son and Glasgow Railway Co which merged in 1901 to become Glasgow Railway Engineering Co Ltd. The works was on the west side of Govan station and approached from the south.
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This was a single platform terminus on the south side of Govan Road. The platform was on the west side of a loop and there was a large goods yard on the east side.
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HR 103 is running round its train at Govan (note the Ibrox gasometer) as part of Easter Rambler No 4 on 17 April 1965. (See also 21246). It was ...
Colin Kirkwood 17/04/1965
HR 103 at Govan with the Scottish Rambler in 1965 ...
G W Robin 17/04/1965
At Govan. CR type 4.6.0 54634. The Stephenson Locomotive Society Renfrew District Tour. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 03/05/1952
Approaching Govan. CR type 4.6.0 54634. The Stephenson Locomotive Society Renfrew District Tour. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 03/05/1952
4 of 5 images. more


Harland and Wolff created this yard by merging, rebuilding and re-purposing several yards. The former yards were smaller in scale. The yard was on the south bank of the River Clyde just north of Govan station. It was bound to the west by Govan Old Parish Church and Govan Graving Docks to the east.
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The remains of the slipways of the Govan Shipbuilding Yard seen across the River Clyde in 1991. This yard changed hands several times and was latterly ...
Ewan Crawford //1991
1 of 1 images.





Moorepark Junction to Craigton Junction

This curve completed the triangular junction at Ibrox for the Govan branch, although Craigton Junction with the Paisley line may not have been laid in. OS Maps show the curve being served from Moorepark Junction but not connected at Craigton. This curve was later used to approach the Govan Destructor.

This was the originally northern apex of a triangular junction at the south end of the Govan branch allowing trains to enter the branch from either west (Paisley direction, Craigton Junction) or east (Glasgow direction, Ibrox Junction). The west to north and east to north curves were double track.
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Clyde Foundry Branch

A short branch ran south from Govan station and then west to the Clyde Foundry.

This was a single platform terminus on the south side of Govan Road. The platform was on the west side of a loop and there was a large goods yard on the east side.
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HR 103 is running round its train at Govan (note the Ibrox gasometer) as part of Easter Rambler No 4 on 17 April 1965. (See also 21246). It was ...
Colin Kirkwood 17/04/1965
HR 103 at Govan with the Scottish Rambler in 1965 ...
G W Robin 17/04/1965
At Govan. CR type 4.6.0 54634. The Stephenson Locomotive Society Renfrew District Tour. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 03/05/1952
Approaching Govan. CR type 4.6.0 54634. The Stephenson Locomotive Society Renfrew District Tour. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 03/05/1952
4 of 5 images. more


This large foundry, owned by the Harland & Wolff, was known as 'The Glass House'. It was served by a branch of the Govan Branch (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway).
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