Stranraer



Dates

  /  /1780Stranraer to Ballantrae Military Road
Construction commences.
  /  /1782Stranraer to Ballantrae Military Road
Road complete.
17/08/1857Portpatrick Railway
Act receives Royal assent for line from Castle Douglas to Stranraer Town with branches to Stranraer Harbour and Portpatrick.
11/03/1861Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer to Castle Douglas (on the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway) formally opened. (Alternative date 12/02/1861.)
12/03/1861Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer to Castle Douglas opened to the public. Most of the line was single track. Stations at; Stranraer, Glenluce, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart, Creetown, New Galloway, Parton and Crossmichael.
28/08/1862Portpatrick Railway
Portpatrick to Stranraer opened. New stations at; Colfin and Portpatrick.
01/10/1862Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer Harbour opened. The Stranraer and Larne Steamboat Company starts a service between the ports in its title.
  /  /1863Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer and Larne Steamboat Company services are suspended as too expensive.
  /  /1864Portpatrick Railway
Deviation to Stranraer Harbour branch authorised.
  /  /1865Portpatrick Railway
Caledonian Railway experiments with a Stranraer Harbour to Belfast service.
  /  /1872Portpatrick Railway
Larne and Stranraer Steamboat Company commences running between the ports in its title. The Portpatrick Railway owned part of the company. The company operated a steamer Princess Louise.
  /  /1872Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Portpatrick Railway
The Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway is authorised to use the Portpatrick Railway from Challoch Junction to Stranraer Harbour and Portpatrick.
  /  /1874Portpatrick Railway
Portpatrick to Donaghadee boat stops running. This is in part due to the unsuitability of Portpatrick Harbour. The Stranraer Harbour to Larne Harbour service replaces the abandoned service. Portpatrick to Stranraer remains open.
  /  /1876Portpatrick Railway
Larne and Stranraer Steamboat Company operates second steamer Princess Beatrice.
  /  /1877Portpatrick Railway
Purchases the Stranraer Harbour Pier.
  /  /1877Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Authorised to use Stranraer Harbour Pier and Challoch Junction to Stranraer and Portpatrick
07/02/1882Girvan and Portpatrick Junction RailwayPortpatrick Railway
Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway trains banned from Stranraer and Portpatrick by the Portpatrick Railway. Line closed temporarily from Girvan to Challoch Junction.
  /  /1885Portpatrick 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.
  /  /1935Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer Shed numbered 12H under Carlisle Kingmoor Shed.
  /  /1935Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer to Portpatrick starts to be operated as one engine in steam. Portpatrick signal box is moved to Barrhill on the former Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway.
  /  /1948Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer Shed classed 68C. The sheds were rebuilt with girder joists instead of arches for entries.
06/02/1950Portpatrick Railway
Portpatrick to Stranraer closed to passengers. Portpatrick and Colfin stations closed. Portpatrick to Colfin (excluded) closed to all traffic.
02/03/1953Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer re-named Stranraer Town.
  /  /1959Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
DMUs introduced on Glasgow to Stranraer workings.
  /  /1959Maybole and Girvan Railway
DMUs introduced on Glasgow to Stranraer workings.
  /  /1959Portpatrick Railway
DMUs introduced on Stranraer to Glasgow workings.
01/04/1959Portpatrick Railway
Colfin to Stranraer Town (excluded) closed to freight.
  /  /1962Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer Shed classed 67F under Glasgow Corkerhill Shed.
23/06/1962RCTS Railtour
Excursion train hauled by Caledonian Railway 123 and Great North of Scotland Railway 49 from Ayr to Stranraer.
  /  /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.
07/03/1966Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer Town to Stranraer Harbour Junction closed to passengers. Stranraer Town station closed and given over to goods.
  /10/1966Portpatrick Railway
Stranraer Shed closed.
  /  /1984Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Glasgow Central to Stranraer DMUs withdrawn and replaced with locomotive hauled 'SEALINK' slam-door stock.
  /  /1990Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Portpatrick Railway Maybole and Girvan Railway
Stranraer to Euston sleeper withdrawn.
  /11/2011Portpatrick Railway Stena Line
Stena Line ceased operating ferries to Stranraer Pier, running instead to Old House Point, north of Cairnryan. This slightly reduced the journey but took the ferry service away from the railway, passengers now needing to use a connecting bus service.