Hamilton and Strathaven Railway

Introduction

This railway is closed. It ran from Strathaven Junction, Hamilton, initially west, then south, to Strathaven [1st] on the northern edge of the village serving a number of coal mines close to Hamilton and Quarter. Ground was taken to allow the line to be doubled. The summit of the line was at Quarter at 733 ft. The line rose quite steeply and banking could be required the whole way out from Strathaven Junction.

Why built

The original proposal was as a private coal line from the Coalburn line serving the Blantyre Colliery. However, this would be expensive to build and it was proposed as a branch of the Hamilton line. Following this, its extension south to Strathaven was supported by local interests. The Caledonian Railway was a subscriber to shares, worked the line and took it over in 1864.

The line was promoted by William Smith Dixon, the coal and iron master, owner of the Blantyre Colliery. Blantyre Colliery Pit No 2 to Blantyre Colliery Pit No 4 were served by the portion as far as High Blantyre.

Beyond High Blantyre further pits were served, Udston Colliery (of the 1887 disaster), Eddleswood Colliery, Neilsland Colliery, the Quarter Collieries and ultimately Strathaven [1st] was reached.

In 1862 the Chairman was James Dunlop of the Clyde Iron Works, Deputy Chairman William Smith Dixon of the Govan Iron Works, J P Alson of Muirburn, Matthew Dick of Meikle Earnock, Colin R Dunlop of Milton Lockhart, Thomas Tennent banker of Strathaven, Robert Graeme of Wellhall, Jno Meikleham of the Clyde Iron Works.




Dates

  /  /1857Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Act receives Royal assent. Land taken for two tracks and overbridges built to cross double track. The contractor was William Robertson, civil and mining engineer. He was the company's first manager on opening.
  /  /1860Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Extension of time to complete works.
06/08/1860Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Opened as far as Quarter Iron Works for goods and minerals.
  /  /1862Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Authorisation to add further lines at Strathaven Junction.
02/02/1863Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Opened for passengers and goods to Strathaven [Flemington]. Stations at High Blantyre, Meikle Earnock Halt, Quarter Road, Glassford and Strathaven [Flemington].
  /  /1864Hamilton and Strathaven RailwayCaledonian Railway
Hamilton and Strathaven Railway absorbed by Caledonian Railway.
  /  /1869Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Quarter Junction station opened.
  /  /1869Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Quarter Junction station closed.
  /  /1872Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Blantyre curve authorised. This will link Blantyre Junction [CR] on the Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) to Auchinraith Junction on the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway. The curve was not built at this time and would be re-authorised in 1878.
  /  /1872Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Authorisation to add further lines at Strathaven Junction, the Strathaven Junction Yard.
  /  /1872Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Doubling authorised from Strathaven Junction to Quarter Road.
  /  /1873Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
East Drumloch Branch authorised (East Drumloch Farm is 2 miles west of Meikle Earnock). Not built.
  /  /1873Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Earnock Branch, to Earnock Quarry, authorised.
11/01/1875Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Doubled from Strathaven Junction to Meikle Earnock
25/03/1875Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Meikle Earnock to Quarter Road doubled.
  /  /1878Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Authorisation to build the Blantyre West Curve and deviate the Hamilton branch to the north east of its original alignment between Blantyre station and Craighead Junction. This accommodated the Blantyre West Curve - Blantyre Junction [CR] on the Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) to Auchinraith Junction on the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway curve. This was first authorised in 1872 and opened in 1882. The curve at either end of the deviation remains today.
01/05/1882Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Blantyre curve opened from Blantyre Junction [CR] on the Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) to Auchinraith Junction on the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway.
25/03/1884Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Earnock Branch to Earnock Quarry opened. To gain height the line had a change of direction at a reversing spur half way.
  /05/1887Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Quarter Weighs, located at Quarter Junction, closed.
27/07/1893Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Purchase of Earnock Branch approved.
  /  /1896Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Construction of line from Cot Castle Goods (Lesmahagow Railway) to Strathaven Central (Hamilton and Strathaven Railway) begins.
  /  /1896Hamilton and Strathaven Railway Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Whiteshawgate Junction to Strathaven Central construction begins.
01/01/1896Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Fairholm Siding (north of Quarter) to Fairholm Colliery branch now worked by Caledonian Railway.
01/10/1904Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Strathaven [Flemington] closed on 30/09 (becomes Flemington goods station) on opening of extension from Whiteshawgate Junction to Strathaven Central. Stations opened at Strathaven North and Strathaven Central on 01/10.
  /  /1909Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Quarter Road renamed Quarter.
01/10/1945Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
High Blantyre (Auchenraith Junction) to Blantyre Junction [CR] closed to passengers.
01/10/1945Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Strathaven Central to Hamilton West (Strathaven Junction) closed to passengers
21/09/1953Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Strathaven Central to High Blantyre closed to freight.
  /  /1958Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
High Blantyre (Auchenraith Junction) to Blantyre Junction [CR] closed to freight.
31/08/1958Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
Track lifted between Auchinraith Junction (excluded) and Blantyre Junction (excluded).
01/06/1960Hamilton and Strathaven Railway
High Blantyre to Strathaven Junction closed to freight.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Hamilton to Strathaven

In 1860 the first part of the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway opened, climbing from the 1849 Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) to the higher ground to the west at High Blantyre and then turn south, ultimately reaching Strathaven [Flemington]. In particular this line would, for its northern portion between Hamilton and Quarter, serve many collieries en route.
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See also
Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway)


This was the western apex of a triangle of junctions north of Hamilton West and south of Blantyre. The northern apex was Blantyre Junction [CR] and southern Strathaven Junction.
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Looking west to Blantyre with the line from East Kilbride on the embankment to left ...
John Robin /07/1963
1 of 1 images.


This was the junction for Blantyre Colliery Pit No 4 which was north west of the junction, between Blantyre and High Blantyre on the former Hamilton and Strathaven Railway.
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Hunthill Junction was immediately north of High Blantyre, which unfortunately was not served by it. Just west on the East Kilbride route was the Rotten Calder Viaduct.
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See also
Blantyre to East Kilbride Line (Caledonian Railway)


This was a two platform station on a double track line. The station buildings were typical Caledonian Railway style with a footbridge at the north end. Hunthill Junction was not far to the north.
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This was the signal box for Udston Colliery. The colliery was on the west side of the line and the signal box on the east side at the point of connection.
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This signal box was located between Udston Box (to the north, a box south of High Blantyre) and Earnock Junction (to the south, a box north of Meikle Earnock). There was a loading bank served by sidings north and south off a short loop on the west side of the line. The box was on the south of Wellhall Road, on the east side of the line.
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This was the junction for the mineral line to Earnock Quarry, Stewartfield Quarry and Hartfield Quarry. From the junction the siding ran north east, passed through a loop, swung over the main line and ran west to a reversing spur with a loop near Udston. From there it continued to the quarries.
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This was a two platform station to the south west of Meikle Earnock village itself. A number of mines opened nearby. Both platforms had buildings, a waiting shelter on the northbound and small station building on the southbound.
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This was the junction for the Eddlewood Colliery and Neilsland Colliery. Both were on the east side of the line and the branch ran north from the junction to serve the collieries.
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This was the site of a short lived station around 1869. It was located at Quarter Iron Works Junction.
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This was a single platform station west of the village of Quarter. The platform was on the east (village) side of the single track line. There was a small goods yard on the east side, approached from the north. The signal box was at the south end of the station, west side of the line, just north of a level crossing.
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Fourth District Lanarkshire Map from 1913 of Quarter area, note the station was a wee walk from the village. Map is part of a book rescued by myself ...
Gordon Steel 18/04/2021
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This station was a mile west of the village of Glassford. The station had a platform on the east (village) side of a single line.
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Site of the former Glassford station, South Lanarkshire, in 1996, looking south through the road bridge towards Strathaven. Glassford lost its ...
Ewan Crawford //1996
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This junction was north of Strathaven. It was formed between the 1863 Hamilton and Strathaven Railway and the 1904 Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway), a set of lines and connection made to link together the Caledonian Railway's lines in the area. Part of this was an extension west from Stonehouse [Lanarkshire] to Darvel. The line from Whiteshawgate would connect to this ...

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Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Looking south towards Strathaven at Whiteshawgate Junction in July 1953. To the left is the route for Strathaven Central and right for Strathaven ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 07/07/1953
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This was the terminus of the line from Hamilton. The station was at Flemington, just to the north east of Strathaven.
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Blantyre Curve

This junction was directly south of Blantyre station. It was between the 1849 Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) and a curve opened in 1882 to allow coal trains from the 1860 Hamilton and Strathaven Railway direct access to Glasgow without reversal at Strathaven Junction. The far end of the curve was at Auchinraith Junction (also spelled Auchenraith).
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See also
Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway)


This was the western apex of a triangle of junctions north of Hamilton West and south of Blantyre. The northern apex was Blantyre Junction [CR] and southern Strathaven Junction.
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Looking west to Blantyre with the line from East Kilbride on the embankment to left ...
John Robin /07/1963
1 of 1 images.





Auchinraith Colliery Branch

This was the western apex of a triangle of junctions north of Hamilton West and south of Blantyre. The northern apex was Blantyre Junction [CR] and southern Strathaven Junction.
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Looking west to Blantyre with the line from East Kilbride on the embankment to left ...
John Robin /07/1963
1 of 1 images.


This junction on the North British Railway's Blantyre branch gave access to Auchinraith Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2. To the east was Birdsfield Siding and the connection to the main NBR Hamilton branch at Blantyre Junction [NBR].
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See also
Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway





Blantyre No 4 Branch

The Blantyre Colliery was owned by William Smith Dixon. ...

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This was the junction for Blantyre Colliery Pit No 4 which was north west of the junction, between Blantyre and High Blantyre on the former Hamilton and Strathaven Railway.
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Blantyre Pits Branch

This was a two platform station on a double track line. The station buildings were typical Caledonian Railway style with a footbridge at the north end. Hunthill Junction was not far to the north.
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The Blantyre Colliery was owned by William Smith Dixon. The 1877 mining disaster was an explosion at nos 2 and particularly 3 pits leaving an appalling 207 dead. ...

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The Blantyre Colliery was owned by William Smith Dixon. The 1877 mining disaster was an explosion at nos 2 and particularly 3 pits leaving an appalling 207 dead.
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Udston Colliery Branch

This was the signal box for Udston Colliery. The colliery was on the west side of the line and the signal box on the east side at the point of connection.
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Earnock Quarry Branch

This was the junction for the mineral line to Earnock Quarry, Stewartfield Quarry and Hartfield Quarry. From the junction the siding ran north east, passed through a loop, swung over the main line and ran west to a reversing spur with a loop near Udston. From there it continued to the quarries.
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Eddlewood Colliery Branch

This was the junction for the Eddlewood Colliery and Neilsland Colliery. Both were on the east side of the line and the branch ran north from the junction to serve the collieries.
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Quarter Iron Works Branch

This was the site of a short lived station around 1869. It was located at Quarter Iron Works Junction.
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This junction was north of Quarter station and was the start of a branch to the Quarter Iron Works. The branch was approached from the north.
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This iron works was located at the former mining village of Quarter, just to its north. The site of the furnaces has been built over in recent years. Portions of the partly landscaped remains of the mineral railways approaching the site remain.
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Fairholm Colliery Branch