Northern




Dates

  /05/1796Worcester and Birmingham Canal
Extended from Selly Oak to Kings Norton Junction to meet the northern part of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal (which was also under construction beginning in 1793 and having reached Hockley Heath by this date).
29/06/1841St Rollox Chemical Works
Foundation works for Tennant's Stalk (or St Rollox Stalk) begins. It was located in the northern part of the alkali department (east side of the works).
23/05/1842Stanhope and Tyne Railway
Northern portion taken over by the newly formed Pontop and South Shields Railway. Southern portion by the Derwent Iron Company. Line divided at Carr House.
31/07/1845Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Act receives Royal assent. Mainline from Burntisland to Perth via Ladybank. Branches from Ladybank to Cupar and Kirkcaldy to the harbour. The Perth station was to be beside the Dundee and Perth Railway station.
  /  /1846Great Northern Railway
London and York Railway incorporated.
  /  /1846Direct Northern Railway
Incorporated.
  /  /1846Great Northern Railway
Great Northern Railway formed by a fusion of the London and York Railway and the Direct Northern Railway.
  /  /1846Scottish Central Railway Scottish Midland Junction Railway Dundee and Perth Railway Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Agreement and authorisation that Perth General station be owned by Scottish Central Railway, Scottish Midland Junction Railway, Dundee and Perth Railway and Edinburgh and Northern Railway jointly.
03/02/1847Scottish Central Railway Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Agreement for use of the Scottish Central Railway between Hilton Junction and Perth General by the Edinburgh and Northern Railway.
27/07/1847Edinburgh, Leith and Granton Railway
Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Edinburgh, Leith and Granton Railway absorbed by Edinburgh and Northern Railway.
17/09/1847Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Opened from Burntisland to Lindores and Cupar. Stations at Burntisland [1st], Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Sinclairtown, Dysart, Thornton, Markinch, Falkland Road, Kingskettle, Ladybank, Collessie, Lindores [1st], Springfield and Cupar.
09/12/1847Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Extended from Lindores [1st] to Glenburnie. Glenburnie opened and Lindores [1st] closed. (Lindores [1st] may also have been known as Abdie?)
  /  /1848Great Northern Railway
Louth to Grimsby opened. Stations at: Grimsby, Waltham, Holton Village Halt, Holton Le Clay, North Thoresby, Ludborough, Utterby Halt, Fotherby Halt, Louth.
  /  /1848East Lincolnshire Railway
Leased by the Great Northern Railway.
18/05/1848Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Extended from Glenburnie to Abernethy Road. Stations at Newburgh [1st] and Abernethy Road opened. Glenburnie closed.
25/07/1848Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Opened from Abernethy Road to Hilton Junction. Stations at Abernethy and Bridge of Earn [1st] opened, Abernethy Road closed. (Alternative date for Bridge of Earn - 18th.)
  /  /1849Great Northern Railway
Peterborough to Doncaster via Lincoln and Boston opened.
  /04/1849Edinburgh and Northern RailwayEdinburgh, Perth and Dundee Railway
The Edinburgh and Northern Railway becomes the Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee Railway.
13/12/1849Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Dunfermline Branch opened from Thornton Junction to Dunfermline. Stations opened at Halbeath.
  /  /1850Fordell Railway
Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Link from Fordell Railway to Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway) opened.
  /  /1850Great Northern Railway
Peterborough to Maiden Lane, London, opened.
  /  /1850Great Northern Railway
Doncaster to York via Askern (immediately north-west of Doncaster on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway) opened. GNR uses L&Y line from 4 miles north of Doncaster to Knottingley.
  /  /1850Earl of Rosslyn's Collieries
Dysart Colliery Randolph Pit mine sunk alongside the Edinburgh and Northern Railway.
17/05/1850Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Opened from Cupar to Ferry-Port-on-Craig for passengers. Stations opened at Dairsie, Leuchars [1st], Ferry-Port-on-Craig opened.
07/08/1850Great Northern Railway
Opened throughout. Route: London Maiden Lane (temporary terminus) to Boston to Lincoln (not via Peterborough to Retford) to Knottingley on North Midland Railway and not York itself.
31/12/1850Railway Clearing House
By this date, Ardrossan Railway, Caledonian Railway, Cockermouth and Workington Railway, Eastern Counties Railway, East Lincolnshire Railway, Fleetwood, Preston and West Riding Junction Railway, Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway, Great Northern Railway, Huddersfield and Manchester Railway (London and North Western Railway), Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway, Maryport and Carlisle Railway, North British Railway, Preston and Wyre Railway, Dock and Harbour, Shrewsbury and Chester Railway, South Staffordshire Railway, Stockton and Darlington Railway, Stockton and Hartlepool Railway, St Helens and Runcorn Gap Railway, Stirling and Dunfermline Railway, Whitehaven Junction Railway and York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway join.
  /  /1851Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Ferry-Port-on-Craig renamed Tay Port.
  /  /1852Great Northern Railway
Kings Cross opened (Maiden Lane closed).
01/07/1852Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Leuchars [1st] renamed Leuchars Junction on the opening of the St Andrews Railway.
  /  /1853Great Northern Railway
Doncaster Works opened.
  /  /1853Great Northern Railway
Peterborough to Grantham to Retford line opened. Stations at: Rossington, Bawtry, Ranskill, Barnby Moor and Sutton, Retford, Tuxford North, Crow Park, Carlton-on-Trent, Newark, Claypole, Hougham, Barkston, Grantham, Great Ponton, Corby Glen, Little Bytham, Essendine, Tallington.
  /  /1853Cookstown Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Act passed.
  /  /1856Cookstown Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
The Randalstown branch is extended west and south to Cookstown [BandNCR] with the opening of this branch.
  /  /1857Great Northern and Western Railway
Incorporated. Backed by Lord Lucan and managed from London.
  /  /1858Great Northern Railway
Midland Railway start to make use of the line from Hitchin to London Kings Cross.
  /  /1859Scottish Central Railway Scottish Midland Junction Railway Dundee and Perth Railway Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Limits of Perth General station defined by the joint committee, repealing the agreement of 1846. The Scottish North Eastern Railway is authorised to use Perth General and to form a siding on the east side of the station.
  /  /1859Great Northern and Western Railway
Act authorises Castlerea to Castlebar.
  /  /1859Sligo Branch (Midland Great Western Railway)
Deviation Act for the 1857 Sligo branch Act, for avoidance of mid-Roscommon (Great Northern and Western Railway territory).
  /  /1860Scottish Central Railway Scottish Midland Junction Railway Dundee and Perth Railway Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Rights of access to Perth General of the companies agreed .
  /  /1860Belfast and Ballymena Railway
Renamed Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1860Great Northern and Western Railway
Opened from Athlone [MGWR] (Midland Great Western Railway) to Roscommon.
  /  /1860Great Northern and Western Railway
Extended from Roscommon to Castlerea.
  /  /1861Kinross-shire Railway
Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Kinross-shire Railway absorbed by Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee Railway.
  /  /1861Fife and Kinross RailwayEdinburgh and Northern Railway
Fife and Kinross Railway absorbed by the Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee Railway.
  /  /1861Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston and East Junction Railway
Leased by the Great Northern Railway.
  /  /1861Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway
Absorbed by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1861Great Northern and Western Railway
Extended from Castlerea to Ballyhaunis.
  /  /1861Great Northern and Western Railway
Act authorises Castlebar to Westport Quay.
  /  /1861Londonderry and Coleraine Railway
Leased by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1862Great Northern and Western Railway
Extended from Ballyhaunis to Claremorris and Castlebar.
  /  /1862Ballina Branch (Great Northern and Western Railway)
Act authorises Ballina branch.
  /  /1862Great Northern and Western Railway
Work on Westport extension commenced.
  /  /1864Scottish Central Railway
Authorisation to stop up the level crossings north and south of Dunblane station and replace them with road overline bridges. Additionally permission is granted to extend the Callander [1st] line from the junction (north) into the station (south) over the site of the northern level crossing. (Similar removal of level crossings in Stirling at a later date.)
  /  /1864Belfast Central Railway
Incorporated. Plans included a railway linking the Ulster Railway, Belfast and Northern Counties Railway and Belfast and County Down Railway lines and a central station on Victoria Street.
  /  /1865Leeds, Bradford and Halifax Junction Railway
Amalgamated with the Great Northern Railway.
  /  /1865Cheshire Lines Committee (Midland Railway, Great Northern Railway, Manchester Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway)
Incorporated.
  /  /1866Royston and Hitchin Railway
To Great Northern Railway.
  /  /1866Great Northern and Western Railway
Line extended from Castlebar to Westport.
  /  /1868Doncaster to York (North Eastern Railway)
Construction begins of line to connect to the Great Northern Railway.
  /  /1868Ballina Branch (Great Northern and Western Railway)
Manulla Junction (Great Northern and Western Railway) to Foxford opened.
01/11/1868Extension to Rumney Railway (Brecon and Merthyr Railway)
Northern section opened from Pant to Deri. The Rhymney Railway had running powers from Deri to Fochriew and Pantywaun for freight and had a connection from Fochriew to the Taff Bargoed Joint Line.
  /  /1871Londonderry and Coleraine Railway
Absorbed by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1873Ballina Branch (Great Northern and Western Railway)
Extended from Foxford to Ballina.
19/11/1873Great Northern and Western Railway
Line extended from Westport to Westport Quay.
  /  /1874Londonderry and Coleraine Railway
The original 1852 Londonderry Waterside [1st] station is replaced by Londonderry Waterside [2nd], a new stone built station building with clocktower and trainshed built by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1875Rosehall Railway Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Rosehall Crossing at Whifflet closed and northern portion of Rosehall Railway closed with the opening of a new connection avoiding both the level crossing and Rosehall Tunnel. Rosehall Connections (North British Railway) opened from the Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway.
  /  /1875Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway Dublin and Drogheda Railway
Merged to become The Northern Railway.
  /  /1875Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Incorporated.
  /  /1876Irish North Western Railway
Absorbed by The Northern Railway.
  /  /1876Great Northern Railway [Ireland]
Incorporated.
  /  /1876The Northern Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1876Ulster Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1876Belfast Central Railway
Opened to goods and minerals from Queen's Bridge to Donegall Quay Junction (Belfast Harbour Commissioners Railway) opened, reaching the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway via the BHC tracks. East Bridge Street was crossed on the level.
  /  /1877Banbridge Extension Railway Banbridge Junction Railway Banbridge, Lisburn and Belfast Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1877Dungannon and Cookstown Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1877Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners Belfast and Northern Counties Railway
Opens Londonderry City Goods on the west bank of the Foyle just north of Londonderry Foyle Road, trains crossing by means of the Carlisle Bridge [Londonderry] .
01/12/1877Dublin North Wall [LNWR] London and North Western Railway
First served by Great Northern Railway [Ireland] (ex Dublin and Drogheda Railway) and Midland Great Western Railway passenger trains.
01/06/1878Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Leuchars Junction [1st] closed on opening of the Tay Bridge and Associated Lines (North British Railway) replaced by Leuchars Junction [2nd] to the south at the junction between the lines.
01/12/1878Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Leuchars Junction [1st] reopens as Leuchars Old.
  /  /1879Great Northern and London and North Western Joint Railway
Operated jointly from 1879.
  /  /1879Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway
Act passed.
  /  /1879Dublin and Antrim Junction Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1879Newry and Armagh Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1879Great Northern and Western Railway
Athlone to Roscommon doubled.
  /  /1879Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Opened from Enniskillen [SLandNCR] platform to Belcoo.
12/05/1879Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Tay Port altered to become a through station on the Newport Railway, afterwards known as Tayport.
  /  /1880Fordell Estate
Fordell Colliery Alice Pit sunk next to the Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway) by Fordell Estate near Hill of Beath.
  /  /1880Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Extended from Belcoo to Glenfarne and Manorhamilton.
  /  /1880Ballycastle Railway
Opened from Ballymoney (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway) to Ballycastle.
  /02/1880Derry Central Railway
Opened from Magherafelt (Cookstown Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)) to Macfin (former Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portrush Junction Railway).
  /  /1881Stafford and Uttoxeter Railway
Purchased by the Great Northern Railway.
  /  /1881Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Extended from Manorhamilton to Collooney [SL&NCR].
  /  /1881Ballyclare Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Act passed.
  /  /1882Great Northern and Great Eastern Joint Railway
Line opened.
  /  /1882Sligo Branch (Midland Great Western Railway)
Double track extended from Ballysodare to Carrignagat Junction, in anticipation of the opening of the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1882Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway
Dundalk Works opened by the Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1882Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Extended from Collooney [SL&NCR] to Carrignagat Junction.
  /  /1882Ballyclare Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Second Act passed.
  /  /1883Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1883Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Enniskillen [SLandNCR] platform closed, replaced by access to Enniskillen [DandER].
  /  /1883Draperstown Railway
Opened from Draperstown Junction (Cookstown Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)) to Draperstown. Operated by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
01/01/1883Leicester Belgrave Road Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Opened from Marefield Junctions (Marefield North Junction and Marefield South Junction on the Bottesford to Melton Mowbray and Market Harborough (Great Northern Railway and London and North Western Railway)) to Leicester Belgrave Road. East of the terminus was a rarely used curve to the Midland.
  /07/1883Drumpeller Railway
Northern part of the railway to Cuilhill Canal Basin out of use.
  /  /1884Edinburgh Northern Tramways Company
Formed by Dick Kerr and Co Ltd to operate tramways in the hillier parts of the city where horse drawn trams were unsuitable.
  /  /1884Ballymena, Cushendall and Red Bay Railway
Absorbed by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1884Ballyclare Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Opened from Kingsbog Junction (Belfast and Ballymena Railway) to Ballyclare [BNCR].
  /  /1885Portpatrick Railway Wigtownshire Railway
The Caledonian Railway's lease expires - the Portpatrick Railway and Wigtownshire Railway become jointly run as the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway - controlled by the Caledonian Railway, London and North Western Railway, Glasgow and South Western Railway and Midland Railway. The stock was owned by all four companies and operated by the two Scottish companies. The Joint company also owned 4/5 of the Larne and Stranraer Steamship Joint Committee, the remaining 1/5 owned by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1885Belfast Central Railway
To Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
01/11/1885Great Northern Railway
Abbotts Ripton opened.
  /  /1886Newry, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1886Town of Newry Connecting Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1888Edinburgh Northern Tramways Company
Tramway opened in Hanover Street with cable haulage.
03/09/1888Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Paisley Gilmour Street's new northern half opened on the Greenock route. The southern platforms become Ayrshire route only.
  /  /1889Ballymena and Larne Railway
Absorbed by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1889Great Northern and Western Railway
Westport Quay sees only seasonal use.
  /  /1889Coleraine Harbour Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
A short goods branch is opened from the former Belfast and Londonderry Railway south to a quayside on the east bank of the River Bann, south of the River Bann Viaduct.
12/12/1889City of Dublin Junction Railways
Opened to mail traffic from Kingstown Harbour to the Great Northern Railway [Ireland]. Contractor M Mead & Sons.
  /  /1890Edinburgh Northern Tramways Company
Tramway opened at Comely Bank with cable haulage.
  /  /1890Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Absorbed by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1890Claremorris and Swinford Railway Collooney and Swinford Railway
Light railway companies created for the Waterford and Limerick Railway to complete from Claremorris (Great Northern and Western Railway)to Sligo Collooney Junction (Midland Great Western Railway). Initially proposed by the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1890Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
In receivership.
01/02/1890Edinburgh and Northern Railway
New further west Bridge of Earn [2nd] station opened to serve both the Perth to Ladybank and Perth to Cowdenbeath lines. Bridge of Earn [1st] closes.
01/07/1890Great Northern and Western Railway
Absorbed by Midland Great Western Railway.
  /  /1892Great Northern and Western Railway
Claremorris rebuilding commences, enlarging the station from one platform to have a loop and sidings.
  /  /1892Ballinrobe and Claremorris Light Railway
Line opened from Claremorris (Great Northern and Western Railway) to Ballinrobe.
  /  /1892Ardee Branch (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Act passed for branch.
  /  /1892Coleraine Harbour Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Opened to goods.
  /  /1893Stamford and Essendine Railway
Leased by the Great Northern Railway.
  /  /1893Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway
Incorporated.
  /  /1893Killala Extension (Great Northern and Western Railway)
Line opened from Ballina (Ballina Branch (Great Northern and Western Railway)) to Killala.
  /  /1894Great Northern and Western Railway
Claremorris further expanded in anticipation of the Waterford and Limerick Railway supported Claremorris to Sligo route opening.
  /  /1894Westport and Mullaranny Railway
Railway opened from Westport (former Great Northern and Western Railway) to Newport [Mayo] and Mullaranny [1st].
  /  /1894Athenry and Tuam Extension to Claremorris Railway
Opened from Tuam (Athenry and Tuam Railway) to temporary terminus at Claremorris South near the Great Northern and Western Railway.
  /  /1895Draperstown Railway
Absorbed by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
  /  /1895Claremorris and Swinford Railway Collooney and Swinford Railway
Sligo branch of the Waterford and Limerick Railway opened from Claremorris South terminus (Athenry and Tuam Extension to Claremorris Railway) to Claremorris (Great Northern and Western Railway) and on to Collooney Junction (Midland Great Western Railway), Sligo.
  /  /1895Collooney and Swinford Railway
Connection under the Midland Great Western Railway to the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway near Collooney Junction opened to goods.
  /  /1896Ardee Branch (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Opened from Dromin Junction (Dublin and Belfast Junction Railway) to Ardee.
15/06/1896Forth and Cart Canal
In Clydebank the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway line makes use of some of the former route of the Forth and Cart Canal between Clydebank [CR] and Kilbowie. This swing north under the North British Railway to pass through Kilbowie Road station and then pass back over the NBR was planned to avoid the northern part of the Clyde Bank Iron Shipyard [2nd] and serve the Singer Works. A portion of the canal was left at either end, the southern part on the east side of the Clyde Bank Iron Shipyard [2nd].
  /07/1896Claremorris and Swinford Railway Collooney and Swinford Railway
Connection under the Midland Great Western Railway to the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway near Collooney Junction opened to passengers.
  /  /1897Edinburgh Corporation
Buys Hanover Street and Comley Bank cable hauled tramways from Edinburgh Northern Tramways Company. Both leased to Dick Kerr.
  /  /1897Edinburgh and District Tramways Co Ltd
Formed by Dick Kerr to run trams on the Edinburgh Northern Tramways Company and Edinburgh Street Tramways Company routes. Due to objections about overhead electric wires the majority of lines are converted to cable haulage.
  /  /1897Enniskillen, Bundoran and Sligo Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1897Portstewart Tramway
Absorbed by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway
  /  /1897Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Leaves receivership.
  /  /1898Great Northern Railway [Ireland]
Adelaide and Windsor opened.
  /  /1899Great Northern Railway [Ireland]
Purchases hotel at Bundoran, renamed the Great Northern Hotel. (Opened 1894 part built in concrete.)
  /  /1899Great Northern Railway [Ireland]
Buys hotels in the Warrenpoint [2nd] area, the Beach Hotel, Great Northern Hotel and Woodside Hotel (Rostrevor).
  /  /1900Castlewellan Branch (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Great Northern Railway [Ireland] Act allows extension from Ballyroney (Banbridge Extension Railway) to beyond Castlewellan where the Belfast and County Down Railway will be met. GNR had powers to reach Newcastle [Down] and the B&CDR to reach Ballyroney.
  /  /1901North Eastern Railway
Carlton curve installed to Leeds Northern route between Eaglescliffe and Stockton. Plan to open route to Wellfield as secondary mainline.
  /  /1901Derry Central Railway
Absorbed by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway.
17/06/1901Hill of Howth Line (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Sutton to Summit opened. Power station at depot at Sutton.
01/08/1901Hill of Howth Line (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Summit to Howth opened.
  /  /1902North Eastern Railway
Carlton curve for Leeds Northern route between Eaglescliffe and Stockton lifted. Route only used briefly for express goods traffic due to pressure between Stockton and West Hartepool both of which were bypassed.
  /  /1903Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Midland Railway
Purchase of the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway by the Midland Railway approved.
  /  /1903Belfast and Northern Counties Railway
Absorbed by Midland Railway (Northern Counties Committee).
  /  /1903Midland Railway (Northern Counties Committee)
Incorporated.
  /  /1904Strabane, Raphoe and Convoy Railway
Renamed Strabane and Letterkenny Railway. Although a 3ft line it was supported by the Great Northern Railway [Ireland], whose support allowed extension of its proposed route to go beyond Convoy to reach Letterkenny [SandLR].
  /  /1906Donegal Railway
Renamed County Donegal Railways Joint Committee, jointly owned by the Great Northern Railway [Ireland] and Midland Railway. The Londonderry Branch (Donegal Railway) ownership was transferred to the Midland Railway as the GNR already owned a route to Londonderry.
  /  /1906Castlewellan Branch (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Banbridge Extension Railway extended from Ballyroney to Newcastle [Down] (Belfast and County Down Railway).
  /  /1906Downpatrick, Dundrum and Newcastle Railway
Newcastle [Down] station re-built to accommodate the newly opened Castlewellan Branch (Great Northern Railway [Ireland]) line trains.
13/08/1906Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Newburgh [2nd] opens west of Newburgh [1st] which closes.
  /  /1907Limavady and Dungiven Railway
Absorbed by Midland Railway (Northern Counties Committee).
  /  /1909Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Laharna Hotel, Whitehead, purchased by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. The railway also created a beach by transferring sand from Portrush, built a clifftop path on Black Head and a promenade and small pier.
  /  /1912Castleblayney, Keady and Armagh Railway
Absorbed by Great Northern Railway [Ireland].
  /  /1912Great Northern and Western Railway
Closed to regular traffic.
30/06/1913Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Leuchars Junction burned down by suffragettes.
  /  /1914Belfast Central Railway
Great Northern Railway [Ireland] opens Maysfield Cattle Depot on the line.
  /  /1914Bann Viaduct (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Authorisation to built a new Bann Viaduct and improved alignment straightened north west from Coleraine station.
14/04/1914Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Collision at Burntisland East Junction between London to Aberdeen Joint express and Carlisle to Dundee goods.
01/04/1916Leicester Belgrave Road Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Marefield West Junction to Marefield South Junction closed to passengers with withdrawal of passenger trains due to the Great War.
01/01/1917Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Sinclairtown, Halbeath, Kingskettle closed.
  /  /1918Aughabehy Extension Railway
Construction begins, partly along the former tramway route by the Arigna River (which formerly ran north west from the Arigna Iron Works to pits at Aughabehy). Constructed by the Great Northern Railway [Ireland] for the Board of Works.
01/05/1919Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Sinclairtown, Halbeath, Kingskettle re-opened.
  /  /1921Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Finances desperate following the Partition of Ireland, traffic which would have flowed over the line to Belfast hugely reducing.
19/08/1921Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Burntisland Harbour vested into the North British Railway.
03/10/1921Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Leuchars Old station closed.
  /  /1923London, Midland and Scottish Railway (Northern Counties Committee)
Formed.
  /  /1923Midland Railway (Northern Counties Committee)
Absorbed by London, Midland and Scottish Railway (Northern Counties Committee).
01/07/1923Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Thornton renamed Thornton Junction.
  /  /1924Ballycastle Railway
Closed. Taken into London, Midland and Scottish Railway (Northern Counties Committee). Re-opened.
21/03/1924Bann Viaduct (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
New Bann Viaduct (with lifting section) and alignment opened.
  /  /1929Whitemoor Marshalling Yard (London and North Eastern Railway)
Whitemoor Yard, a hump yard, opened. It was laid out on either side of the Spalding to March Line (Great Northern Railway).
  /11/1929Leicester Belgrave Road Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Marefield West Junction to Marefield South Junction out of use and points taken out at Marefield South Junction.
  /  /1930Great Northern and Western Railway
Athlon West Junction to Knockcroghery singled.
  /  /1930Sierra Leone Development Co Ltd
Following discovery of iron ore in Sierra Leone DELCO is formed by William Baird & Co Ltd, Northern Mercantile & Investment Co and a minority share owned by United Africa Co Ltd. DELCO is formed to develop the iron ore field at Marampa Mine and a railway of just over 50 miles which ran west to a port Pepel Island Pier, Tagrin Bay.
10/01/1930Leicester Belgrave Road Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Marefield South Junction formally closed. Disused curve to Marefield West Junction taken out subsequently (1930?). Marefield North Junction renamed Marefield Junction around this time.
22/09/1930Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Halbeath station closed.
  /  /1931Killala Extension (Great Northern and Western Railway)
Regular trains withdrawn.
  /  /1931Great Northern and Western Railway
Knockcroghery to Roscommon singled.
  /  /1933Hill of Howth Line (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Closed by strike.
  /  /1933Dundalk, Newry and Greenore Railway
Great Northern Railway [Ireland] takes over operation for the London and North Western Railway.
  /07/1933Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Bridge of Earn Junction to Newburgh [1st] singled and Glenburnie Junction to Ladybank singled. Newburgh [2nd] to Glenburnie Junction becomes a long loop.
  /  /1934Killala Extension (Great Northern and Western Railway)
Line closed.
  /  /1934Ardee Branch (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Closed to passengers.
  /  /1934Portpatrick Railway Carrickfergus and Larne Railway
Further consideration of the tunnel from Portpatrick, Scotland, to Whitehead, Northern Ireland.
  /  /1935Belfast and County Down Railway
Road services taken over by the Northern Ireland Road Transport Board.
  /  /1938Great Northern Railway
Abbotts Ripton renamed from Abbots Ripton.
  /  /1938Ballyclare Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Closed to regular traffic.
  /  /1940Polloc and Govan Railway
Northern part of the Polmadie Mineral Sidings (Shawfield Yard) traffic sidings incorporated into Polmadie Shed during re-construction of the shed. A new coaling plant was erected.
  /  /1940Ballyclare Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Re-opened as a long siding to serve the army depot at Ballyclare.
15/07/1946London to Peterborough (Great Northern Railway)
London Kings Cross to Aberdeen service derails south of Hatfield due to the condition of the track. 11 are injured.
  /  /1947Great Northern Railway [Ireland]
Border customs stops are finally removed, allowing the 'Enterprise Express' to be initiated between Dublin and Belfast.
  /  /1948London, Midland and Scottish Railway (Northern Counties Committee)
Becomes Railway Executive (Northern Counties Committee).
  /  /1949Railway Executive (Northern Counties Committee)
Becomes Ulster Transport Authority.
24/09/1949Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Crossgates closed to passengers.
  /  /1950Ballyclare Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Closed.
  /  /1950Cookstown Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Closed to passengers.
16/03/1951Great Northern Railway
14 are killed when a York to London King's Cross express derails at Doncaster on badly a maintained crossover.
  /  /1952Great Northern and Western Railway
Due to rising pilgrimage traffic, a third platform is provided by converting the westbound platform into an island.
  /  /1953Great Northern Railway [Ireland]
Great Northern Railway Board takes over.
  /  /1953County Donegal Railways Joint Committee
Great Northern Railway [Ireland] owned share of the committee transfers to the Coras Iompair Eireann (CIE) and Ulster Transport Authority (UTA).
07/12/1953Leicester Belgrave Road Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Closed to regular public passenger trains.
20/09/1954Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Dairsie closed.
  /  /1955Banbridge Junction Railway Castlewellan Branch (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Closed to passengers from Scarva to Banbridge [2nd], Castlewellan and Newcastle [Down].
  /  /1955Cookstown Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Closed from Cookstown [BandNCR] to Magherafelt.
19/09/1955Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Bridge of Earn Junction to Ladybank closed to passengers. Stations at Abernethy, Newburgh [2nd] and Collessie closed.
09/01/1956Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Tayport (excluded) to Leuchars Junction [2nd] (excluded) closed to passengers. Leuchars Old (excluded) to Morton Siding (excluded) closed to all traffic.
28/04/1957Leicester Belgrave Road Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Closed to workmen's trains, replaced by a bus service.
01/10/1957Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway
Line closes with the withdrawal of Stormont Government support of the Great Northern Railway [Ireland]. The line cannot operate with closure of Dundalk to Enniskillen [D&ER] and Omagh, and Portadown to Clones and Cavan.
01/10/1957Ulster Railway
Passenger trains from Portadown to Monaghan withdrawn. Closed from south of Brownstown Crossing to Glaslough. Northern portion kept as a siding and for access to the Brownstown Metal Box Factory.
  /  /1958Great Northern Railway Board
Divided between Coras Iompair Eireann and Ulster Transport Authority.
  /  /1958Lithgows Ltd
MV Dalhanna completed by Lithgows Ltd for Northern Merchantile & Investments Corporation Ltd. Chartered to British Iron & Steel Corporation (BISCO) and managed by Campbell’s (Newcastle) Ltd.
15/09/1958Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Falkland Road station closed
15/09/1958Great Northern Railway
Abbots Ripton closed.
  /  /1959Sligo Branch (Midland Great Western Railway)
Ballysodare to Sligo singled following the closure of the Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties Railway in 1957.
  /  /1959Cookstown Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Closed from Magherafelt to Randalstown.
01/06/1959Hill of Howth Line (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Closed, replaced by buses.
13/05/1960Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Newburgh [2nd] to Glenburnie Junction singled.
10/09/1962Leicester Belgrave Road Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Holiday passenger trains to Mablethorpe and Skegness withdrawn.
  /  /1963Coleraine Harbour Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Falls out of use.
01/06/1964Leicester Belgrave Road Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Spur reinstated from the Midland Railway allowing access to Leicester Belgrave Road in order to close the line to the east to goods.
  /  /1965Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway
Troop trains for Northern Ireland make use of the line. These ran from Woodburn to Stranraer Harbour.
  /  /1965Portpatrick Railway
Troop trains run over line (Stranraer Harbour - Woodburn (Wansbeck Railway)) for Northern Ireland.
  /  /1965William Baird Mining Ltd
William Baird Mining Ltd, which did not generally own vessels, buys the ore carrier MV Dalhanna (built by Lithgows Ltd 1958) from Northern Merchantile & Investments Corporation Ltd.
  /  /1966Coleraine Harbour Branch (Belfast and Northern Counties Railway)
Closed.
  /  /1966Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Foulford Junction (excluded) to Lumphinnans Central Junction (excluded) closed. Foulford Junction retained as headshunt for the National Coal Board Central Works Fife, Cowdenbeath.
11/01/1966Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Bridge of Earn Junction to Ladybank closed by rockfall at Clatchard Craig Quarry.
22/05/1966Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Tayport, now a terminus from Wormit, closed.
23/05/1966Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Tayport to Spinning Mill Siding closed to goods.
  /  /1967Ulster Transport Railways
Becomes Northern Ireland Railways.
16/01/1967Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Line re-opened between Bridge or Earn Junction and Ladybank after clearing rockfall at Clatchard Craig Quarry and re-instating line.
01/05/1967 Leicester Belgrave Road Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Complete closure.
04/09/1967Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Kingskettle station closed.
06/10/1969Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Sinclairtown, Dysart, Thornton Junction stations closed.
  /02/1970Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
National Coal Board Central Works Fife to Foulford Junction to Cowdenbeath (Old) (excluded) closed. The line serving the works and running west to Cowdenbeath Colliery Pit No 7's Cowdenbeath Colliery Shed closed.
  /04/1970Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Closure of Thornton Shed [2nd] (62A).
  /04/1970Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Closure of Dunfermline (62C) shed, Townhill wagon repair shops stabling point becomes 62C and gains allocation of locomotives
16/02/1972Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Tokenless block introduced between Ladybank and Hilton Junction. Bridge of Earn Junction signal-box closed.
  /05/1972Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Newburgh [2nd] loop extended and each track signalled for bi-directional working.
08/01/1973Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Withdrawal of direct daily Kirkcaldy to Glasgow Queen Street working.
21/04/1973Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Trackwork at Ladybank Works removed, but building not demolished.
  /  /1974Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Cowdenbeath (Old) to Dora Opencast Loading Pad opened.
  /  /1975Ardee Branch (Great Northern Railway [Ireland])
Closed.
06/10/1975Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Hilton Junction to the former Bridge of Earn Junction to Ladybank re-opened for passengers (after closure of the Glenfarg Line (North British Railway)).
06/10/1975Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Some Perth to Edinburgh Waverley workings diverted from via Stirling to via Newburgh [2nd].
06/10/1979Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Newburgh [2nd] sidings removed pending removal of loop.
  /  /1981Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Signaling from Dalmeny to Cupar, Dunfermline and Cowdenbeath transferred to the new Edinburgh Signalling Centre.
  /  /1982Spalding to March Line (Great Northern Railway)
Closed.
  /  /1984Stirling and Dunfermline Railway
Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Comrie Colliery to Oakley to Dunfermline Upper closed. Dunfermline Upper to Townhill Junction closed.
  /  /1984Great North of Scotland Railway Keith and Dufftown Railway
Introduction of the twice weekly 'Northern Belle' which ran from Aberdeen to Dufftown
  /  /1987Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Dora Opencast Loading Pad to Cowdenbeath South Junction (excluded) closed.
  /  /1988South of Scotland Electricity Board
Kincardine Power Station sidings in northern yard disconnected at both ends. Southern sidings used for coal loading for Longannet Power Station.
  /  /1992Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Glenrothes with Thornton opened.
18/01/1998Todmorden to Burnley Branch (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway)
Line closed to allow relay track and rebuild of Horsefall Tunnel's northern portal (£5M cost).
08/07/1998Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Derailment at Burntisland.
  /  /2000Forth Bridge Railway
Painting of the Forth Bridge's northern approach spans begins.
26/08/2000Peterborough to Doncaster Line (Great Northern Railway)
Bridge over Newark Dyke, Newark, replaced.
  /09/2000Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Kinghorn wins ScotRail Station of the Year.
  /12/2001Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Railtrack withdraws £800,000 of its funding towards the proposed £1.8m Markinch interchange.
  /03/2004Edinburgh Airport Rail Link
Proposed scheme would have a station under Edinburgh Airport served by a link off the Forth Bridge Connecting Lines (North British Railway) and the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway and the Forth Bridge lines. The layout would be southern approaches (both approached from the east) from South Gyle and Gogar combining and passing under Edinburgh Airport before dividing with a western link to Humbie Signal Box and northern link to Dalmeny South Junction. This layout would allow trains from Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street High Level to serve the station and the line to the north from Edinburgh to Fife, Aberdeen and Inverness over the Forth Bridge. The estimated cost was £500M.
17/12/2007Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Accident involving a car which came off the A92 north of Ladybank on the Perth route. The car was empty and was struck by a Class 170.
20/05/2010London to Peterborough (Great Northern Railway)
Platform 0 opened at London Kings Cross.
  /05/2011Grangemouth Railway (Forth and Clyde Canal)
Siding at Fouldubs Junction looped at its northern end to connect with the dock line.
  /05/2011Edinburgh and Northern Railway
Siding lifted at Kirkcaldy.
  /07/2017Dunfermline Branch (Edinburgh and Northern Railway)
Halbeath station, with a park and ride, is proposed to serve a large area of new housing north east of Dunfermline. Estimated cost £7M.
  /05/2019Derbyshire Branch (Great Northern Railway)
Colwick Oil Siding closed.