Mid Lanark, Spireslack and Muirkirk Branch (Caledonian Railway)

Introduction

This line extended the Glenbuck Branch (Caledonian Railway) to Muirkirk [2nd] (Auldhouseburn Junction) on the Muirkirk Branch (Caledonian Railway). The line never opened to through public. The Glasgow and South Western Railway were likely to ask for running powers and the possibility of their running trains in Lanarkshire stopped the Caledonian opening the line.




Dates

10/09/1888Glenbuck Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Glenbuck and Galawhistle branch opened to minerals, extending the line from Bankend south west. Originally a private line. The further portion running west to Muirkirk, the Mid Lanark, Spireslack and Muirkirk Branch (Caledonian Railway), was not opened
  /  /1896Strathaven and Darvel Railway Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway) Mid Lanark, Spireslack and Muirkirk Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Lines authorised for the Caledonian Railway; Darvel to Strathaven Central, Spireslack Colliery No 1 Pit to Muirkirk (Auldhouseburn Junction), Stonehouse [Lanarkshire] and Stonehouse [Lanarkshire] to Lesmahagow [2nd] and Alton Heights Junction. The Glasgow and South Western Railway is granted running powers over these lines in exchange for the Caledonian Railway having running powers from Darvel to Troon and Kilmarnock to Ayr.
  /  /1910Mid Lanark, Spireslack and Muirkirk Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Spireslack Colliery No 1 Pit to Muirkirk (Auldhouseburn Junction) abandoned.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

The Caledonian Railway reached here in 1888 (permission granted in 1889) with their 'Glenbuck Branch'. The same extension from Bankend also served the Galawhistle Colliery.
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This viaduct, north east of Auldhouseburn Junction on the unsuccessful Mid Lanark, Spireslack and Muirkirk Branch (Caledonian Railway), was also known as Tor Hill Viaduct or Crossflatt Viaduct. Track was lifted around 1911.
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This was built as a double track junction for the new line to Coalburn, built in 1898. The original line opened in 1873.
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See also
Muirkirk Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Auldhouseburn Junction at one time had three railways and a canal all in close proximity. This view looks across the course of the canal towards the ...
Douglas Blades 29/09/2022
Approaching Muirkirk, near Auldhouseburn Junction, the Caledonian line from Lanark had to cross the Muirkirk canal twice due to the meandering course ...
Douglas Blades 29/09/2022
Looking towards Muirkirk in September 2022, from the site of a long-demolished miner's row called Bankhead, just to the west of Auldhouseburn ...
Douglas Blades 29/09/2022
Looking up the road to Crossflat farm on the west side of Auldhouseburn Junction. The first pair of abutments is where the Bairds mineral line from ...
Douglas Blades 29/09/2022
4 of 6 images. more