Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)

Introduction

This formed a connection between the Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) and the Coalburn Branch (Caledonian Railway). This created the Hamilton Circle and gave the collieries of the Coalburn line an approach to Strathaven Junction, Craighead Junction and the works in the Glasgow area including the Hallside Steel Works, Clydebridge Steel Works, Clyde Iron Works and Govan Iron Works.






Dates

18/07/1872Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Hamilton West to Ross Junction (Ferniegair) authorised. Some deviation of the original line at Ferniegair is required.
29/05/1876Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Hamilton West to Ferniegair opened to freight.
18/09/1876Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Hamilton West to Ferniegair opened to minerals.
02/10/1876Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Hamilton West to Ferniegair opened to passengers. Station opened at Hamilton Central. Hamilton becomes Hamilton West. (Alternative date 14/07/1876 - although unclear, this may be the Haughead to Ross Jncts curve.)
28/04/1903Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Improvements to Hamilton Central agreed with town council.
  /  /1904Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Authorisation to improve Hamilton Central.
  /  /1962Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
The two central roads (bypassing the platforms) removed from Hamilton Central.
01/04/1965Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Hamilton Gasworks line closed.
  /11/1972Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Work to prepare for electrification begins. Line laid through centre of Hamilton Central and new platform begins to be built on its east side. Overall roof removed. Once complete a new station building is built in front of the old, which is demolished.
22/08/1973Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Line singled between Hamilton Central and Haughhead Junction to allow the single track to be slewed to the centre of Barncleuth Tunnel to accommodate the overhead wiring.
  /05/1974Lesmahagow Railway Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway) Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway)
The Hamilton Circle is electrified from Motherwell to Newton.
  /  /2006Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Covered walkway opened between Hamilton Central and car park.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Hamilton to Ross Junction

This is a two platform station with a car park on its west side and entrance from Clydesdale Street, to the south.
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See also
Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway)
A 6 car 318 EMU on a Cumbernauld - Dalmuir service leaves platform 1 on a sunny January morning. ...
Colin McDonald 27/01/2017
A Dalmuir to Cumbernauld service calls at Hamilton West on 22 June 2019. Nobody in their right mind would travel from Glasgow to Cumbernauld this way. ...
David Panton 22/06/2019
334013 on a Dalmuir - Larkhall service draws in to platform 2 on a cold but sunny January morning ...
Colin McDonald 27/01/2017
A Larkhall - Dalmuir train boarding at Hamilton West in August 2006. SPT liveried EMU 318260. ...
John Furnevel 01/08/2006
4 of 11 images. more


This junction was on the Hamilton Circle between Hamilton West and Hamilton Central. It was directly south of Peacock Cross. Hamilton West station is to the north. Several collieries were served to the south.
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See also
Cadzow Colliery Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Peacock Cross station is to the left on the line running left-right taken from an Old Ordnance Survey Map of 1896. The map is almost centred on the ...
Gordon Steel //1896
1 of 1 images.




This is a two platform station with nearby parking and a bus interchange.
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Here is the launch leaflet from the Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership. ...
John Yellowlees 04/06/2017
The Rail 74 Community Rail Partnership was launched today at Hamilton, this CRP covers the line from Hamilton Central to Rutherglen. (Why 74? The ...
John Yellowlees 02/06/2017
Quarry Street Bridge, which crosses the railway at the Motherwell end of Hamilton Central station, is to receive attention. ...
Network Rail /04/2021
318 266 departs west from Hamilton Central on 16 June into the setting sun ...
John Steven 16/06/2009
4 of 34 images. more




This signal box was a little way east Hamilton Central. It controlled access to Silverton Colliery, on the west side of the line, and Barncluith Colliery, on the east side. The box was between the approach to Silverton and the main line, opposite the approach to Barncluith. The collieries were approached from the north west.
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This is a four arch double track masonry viaduct. The viaduct is 66 yards long and 43 ft high. This is an attractive viaduct built near Chatelherault, the Duke of Hamilton's lodge.
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77006 leaving Barncluith Tunnel with Buchanan Street - Hamilton train. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 13/07/1962
1 of 1 images.


70090 climbing from tunnel to Hamilton (Central) with coal train. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 13/07/1962
1 of 1 images.


This is the junction for Larkhall from the Hamilton Circle. Approach is from the west, a single track from Hamilton Central. At the junction the lines to Motherwell (double track) and Larkhall (single track) divide.
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View looking east at Haughhead Junction as the new track is laid in. ...
Ewan Crawford 17/10/2004
Looking west at the former Haughhead Junction before reinstatement work began. This chord from Haughhead to Ferniegair was part of an extension of the ...
Ewan Crawford //1997
A Dalmuir bound train joins the Hamilton Branch Extension (Hamilton West - Ross Junction) at Haughhead Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford 12/12/2005
Haughhead Junction under (re)construction. ...
Ewan Crawford //
4 of 7 images. more




This junction opened in 1876 between the 1856 Lesmahagow Railway and a new line west through Haughhead Junction to Hamilton Central and Hamilton West. This opening created the Hamilton Circle (actually teardrop shaped).
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See also
Lesmahagow Railway





Haughhead Junction to Ferniegair Junction

Note that the modern alignment here does not follow the original course. The new alignment is a little to the south, due to the route of M74, and on a tighter radius. Chatelherault station is more or less on the original alignment.

This is the junction for Larkhall from the Hamilton Circle. Approach is from the west, a single track from Hamilton Central. At the junction the lines to Motherwell (double track) and Larkhall (single track) divide.
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View looking east at Haughhead Junction as the new track is laid in. ...
Ewan Crawford 17/10/2004
Looking west at the former Haughhead Junction before reinstatement work began. This chord from Haughhead to Ferniegair was part of an extension of the ...
Ewan Crawford //1997
A Dalmuir bound train joins the Hamilton Branch Extension (Hamilton West - Ross Junction) at Haughhead Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford 12/12/2005
Haughhead Junction under (re)construction. ...
Ewan Crawford //
4 of 7 images. more


This is a new (2005) single platform station on a single track line, located on the west side of the line. The station has a large car park. To the south is the Allanton Loop.
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See also
Lesmahagow Railway
1331 Dalmuir-Larkhall at Chatelherault ...
Andy Kirkham 12/12/2005
1331 Dalmuir-Larkhall at Chatelherault. ...
Andy Kirkham 12/12/2005
The future site of Chatelherault station looking north. The platform is in preparation and cutting has been cut back. ...
Ewan Crawford 27/3/2005
Southbound 334 020 arrives at Chatelherault on 8 March 2008 with a service for Larkhall. ...
David Panton 08/03/2008
4 of 17 images. more


This junction was formed in 1876 when the 1856 Lesmahagow Railway was met by the a new Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway) line, an extension of the Hamilton branch which also created the Hamilton Circle. Ferniegair was the southern junction of a triangular junction.
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See also
Lesmahagow Railway
View looking south at Ferniegair showing the new passing loop. The crane is loading sleepers for delivery to Merryton. ...
Ewan Crawford 20/03/2005
Looking south at Ferniegair. The new passing loop will be just to the south of here in the distance. ...
Ewan Crawford 2/5/2004
Looking South. Ferniegair Junction. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 12/07/1962
3 of 3 images.