Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway

Introduction

This line is closed. The Caledonian Railway ran the Tinto Express by this line from Peebles to Edinburgh to compete with the North British Railway's Peebles-shire Express which ran via Leadburn. As the route was longer the Caledonian was keen to promote the quality of the service. Certainly for travelers to Glasgow this line was much more direct than the North British route.




Dates

  /  /1847Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Act for a branch to Biggar and Broughton [1st] authorised. Not built at this time.
  /  /1858Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Act receives Royal assent for portion from Symington [2nd] to Broughton [1st].
  /  /1860Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Act authorises extension of the line to Peebles [CR]. This will be opened by the Caledonian Railway who purchase the smaller company in 1861 - Symington, Biggar and Broughton Extension Railway (Caledonian Railway).
05/11/1860Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Symington [2nd] to Broughton [1st] opened. Engine shed opened at Broughton Shed.
  /  /1861Symington, Biggar and Broughton RailwayCaledonian Railway
Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway absorbed by Caledonian Railway.
  /  /1861Caledonian Railway Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Symington station enlargement authorised. (Replacement of Symington [1st] with Symington [2nd].)
  /  /1896Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Caledonian Railway completes laying second line between Broughton [2nd] and Rachan Junction for the Talla Railway.
08/09/1899Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Derailment of Talla Railway locomotive and train at Broughton [2nd]. Locomotive prohibited from the Caledonian Railway.
06/06/1950Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Peebles [CR] to Symington [2nd] closed to passengers.
07/06/1954Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Peebles West to Broughton [2nd] (excluded) closed completely.
01/03/1960Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Causewayend Siding closed.
04/04/1966Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway
Symington [2nd] (excluded) to Broughton [2nd] closed completely.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This was a three platform junction station opened in 1863 with the planned extension of the Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway to Peebles [CR] in 1864. It replaced Symington [1st] around 1000 ft to the south. Between the two stations was the goods yard on the east side of the line.
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See also
Caledonian Railway
DRS 66304 passes milepost 66 and three quarters at Symington on 19 June 2021 whilst on a LE move from Carlisle to Millerhill. ...
John McIntyre 19/06/2021
Approximately half a mile south east of Symington Junction the Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway crossed a bridge over the Clachan Burn. ...
John Furnevel 21/03/2011
DRS 66427 on a light engine movement from Carlisle to Grangemouth on 21 March 2011. The locomotive is about to run through the site of Symington ...
John Furnevel 21/03/2011
The westernmost section of the SB&B seen here 45 years after closure looking towards the junction at Symington. The A72 on the left runs parallel ...
John Furnevel 21/03/2011
4 of 65 images. more


This viaduct, also known as the Coulter Viaduct, crossed the River Clyde directly west of Coulter station and a level crossing. Two large piers in the river itself were large enough to carry a double track bridge, but only single track girders were laid (which would have carried the eastbound track had the bridge been doubled). To the west the girders were carried by four single track piers. ...

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Looking north along the River Clyde at Coulter, South Lanarkshire, in October 2007 showing some of the remains of Wolfclyde Viaduct. The viaduct ...
John Furnevel 26/10/2007
The remains of Wolfclyde Viaduct, photographed looking south west across the river in February 2011, with the former Coulter station just off picture ...
John Furnevel 21/02/2011
Looking west towards Symington at the remains of the viaduct over the River Clyde at Coulter station on 24 August 2018. The station was across a minor ...
John McIntyre 24/08/2018
Islands in the stream. The remains of Wolfclyde viaduct standing in the River Clyde on the approach to the former Coulter station in March 2011. View ...
John Furnevel 21/03/2011
4 of 12 images. more


This was a single platform station to the immediate east of Wolfclyde Viaduct, separated from it by a level crossing. The station was briefly known as Wolfclyde.
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Midway between Symington and Biggar the former Caledonian route to Peebles passed through the wayside station at Coulter. The station lost its ...
John Furnevel 21/03/2011
Entrance to the former goods yard at Coulter, South Lanarkshire in March 2011. View south east, with the River Clyde immediately behind the camera see ...
John Furnevel 21/03/2011
Coulter Station showing platform looking east towards Biggar. ...
Clive Barlow 26/05/2006
Coulter Station showing platform looking east towards Biggar. ...
Clive Barlow 26/05/2006
4 of 8 images. more


This siding was for the transshipment of materials - largely puddle clay - with the 3 ft gauge Culter Waterhead Railway. This narrow gauge line ran south and, like the Talla Railway, was used into the building of the dam which created Coulter Reservoir at Culter Waterhead. The siding was west of Biggar station, Coulter station was a little further to the west.
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To the west of Biggar the line crosses a fairly damp field full of drains and it is all rather overgrown. It is not obvious but there are two former ...
Ewan Crawford 06/01/2013
1 of 1 images.


This was a station to the south of the village of Biggar. Its remains comprise a very complete set of buildings from a countryside Caledonian Railway station.
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The old wooden goods shed at Biggar, with the former goods yard here now taken over by a local construction company. The old station building still ...
John Furnevel 21/03/2011
'I'm still standing ...'
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Colin Miller 18/08/2016
The signal box nameboard now in the Gladstone Court Museum in Biggar. See image 6449 ...
Colin Miller 20/08/2013
This is the former goods shed at Biggar viewed from across the field and former station site to the south in January 2013. Wooden goods sheds don't ...
Ewan Crawford 06/01/2013
4 of 12 images. more


This was a single platform station with a small brick building - not much was spent on the station due to the planned extension of the line shortly afterwards. Station cottages were built to the east on the main road. The station was a little to the south of Broughton itself.
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