Wishaw and Coltness Railway

Introduction

This line is largely open. It was initially called the Glenturk and Garion Railway. Today it is a part of the West Coast Main Line between Motherwell and Wishaw. The line was planned to run from Coatbridge to Jerviston to Wishaw. A branch from Jerviston to Cleland was added, which opened first. Further lines went on to Morningside. Closed sections run in Cleland and from Wishaw to Morningside via Coltness.

Why built

The line was built by landowners to serve their estates and the needs of local industry. The Coltness Iron Works was at the south east end of the line and many mines were served en route.






Dates

  /  /1829Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Act receives Royal assent. Line gauge was 4ft 6in and was extended slowly south from Whifflet and Carnbroe Iron Works to the Coltness Iron Works Railway and the Chapel Colliery. A branch was authorised to Newarthill to meet the Omoa Iron Works Railway. Further authorised branches to Rosehall and Law were not built.
  /  /1834Wishaw and Coltness Railway
An extension of time stipulated in the Act for the construction is required.
25/01/1834Wishaw and Coltness Railway
First portion of line opened from Whifflet to Holytown [1st] for minerals. (This portion included the Holytown Tunnel south of Carnbroe.)
31/05/1834Wishaw and Coltness Railway Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway
Cleland Branch, Holytown [1st] to Newarthill, opened for minerals. (Not long afterwards a passenger service from Newarthill with the carriage joining Glasgow Townhead trains at Gartsherrie [GGR] was introduced. It ran from Newarthill in the morning and back in the afternoon/evening.)
  /  /1835Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Company first pays Passenger Duty. This implies that passengers were already being carried and would continue to be carried. Details are inconsistent from different sources. As are opening dates of sections.
  /  /1837Wishaw and Coltness Railway
A further extension of time allowed to complete works. Line authorised to use locomotives through the Jerviston Estate - the company and Houldsworths of the Coltness Iron Works buying the rights.
18/08/1838Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Extension south from Holytown [1st] to Jerviston (the later area of Jerviston Junction) opened to minerals. Opening delayed by the construction of the Jerviston Viaduct.
20/03/1841Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Jerviston (near the later Jerviston Junction) to Overtown Road opened.
  /10/1841Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Line completed to Chapel near the Coltness Iron Works. The iron works used the railway to transport its pig iron.
08/01/1842Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Extended from Overtown Road to Carluke [1st] (later Stirling Road) for minerals. (Date is inconsistent with the Chapel opening of 1841 - Chapel was further on from Stirling Road.)
  /02/1843Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway
Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway extended from Gartsherrie to new Coatbridge [CR], initially a terminus. (This line later extended through to Whifflet South Junction and was used by the Wishaw and Coltness Railway and the Caledonian Railway to avoid the more tortuous Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway route with level crossings through Coatbridge.)
08/05/1843Wishaw and Coltness Railway
A new passenger and goods service started. Called at; Morningside [CR] (from 1844), Carluke [1st], Overtown Road, Wishaw [1st], Motherwell [1st], Holytown [1st], Carnbroe and (after 1845 when its southern approach opened) Coatbridge [CR] (Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway). There was a through coach to Glasgow. An omnibus ran from Carluke [1st] to Lanark.
  /  /1844Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Use of locomotives confirmed.
  /  /1844Rosehall Railway Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Rosehall Crossing at Whifflet authorised.
09/03/1844Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Extended from Carluke [1st] to Morningside [1st].
  /07/1844Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway
With the extension to Coatbridge [CR] in use the line is renamed the Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway. An Act of Parliament authorises the Gartsherrie to Summerlee Iron Works and Coatbridge section along with the extension to the Wishaw and Coltness Railway at Whifflet. Alteration of the gauge is also authorised.
  /  /1845Clydesdale Junction Railway
Act receives Royal assent. The line was authorised from Glasgow, using the Polloc and Govan Railway to reach Hamilton with a branch to Motherwell [1st], the forks dividing at the later Newton station. The line would bring coal from pits in the Hamilton area, owned by the Dixons amongst others, to the Govan Iron Works. The Motherwell branch was authorised to not to be opened until the Caledonian Railway reached the Wishaw and Coltness Railway.
29/03/1845Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway Ballochney Railway Slamannan Railway
At the instigation of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, Ballochney Railway and Slamannan Railway pool their receipts. The Wishaw and Coltness Railway did not get involved.
14/07/1845Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway
Extended from Coatbridge [CR] to Whifflet South Junction. Whifflet [CR] station opened. The Wishaw and Coltness Railway passenger service to Glasgow Townhead ceases to use the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway to reach Gartsherrie and is diverted via Coatbridge [CR].
  /10/1845Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Wishaw and Coltness Railway
The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway agrees to buy the Wishaw and Coltness Railway.
  /  /1846Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Locomotives provided by R. & W. Hawthorn of Newcastle from 1846 to 1848.
  /  /1846Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Branch authorised to Goodockhill. (Not built. Served by the Legbrannock Railway Extension and later served by the Salsburgh Branch (Caledonian Railway).)
  /  /1846Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Proposed Murdieston branch abandoned.
  /01/1846Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Service from Morningside [1st] to Glasgow Townhead is diverted over the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway to reach Glasgow Queen Street.
  /12/1846Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Wishaw and Coltness Railway
The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway decided not to buy the Wishaw and Coltness Railway, which immediately enters discussions with the Caledonian Railway.
  /  /1847Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Converted to standard gauge.
01/01/1847Wishaw and Coltness Railway Caledonian Railway
The Wishaw and Coltness Railway is leased to the Caledonian Railway. Trains from Morningside [1st] station are diverted from Glasgow Queen Street to Glasgow Townhead.
  /  /1848Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Deviation and improvement, between Garriongill Junction and Whifflet and with new curve at Carnbroe, authorised.
15/02/1848Caledonian Railway
Beattock to Glasgow (Townhead) (via the Wishaw and Coltness Railway and the Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway) and Edinburgh (Lothian Road) branch opened. The stations at Abington and Elvanfoot, on its main line, are used by the lead mines and villages at Leadhills and Wanlockhead.
  /  /1849Wishaw and Coltness RailwayCaledonian Railway
Wishaw and Coltness Railway merged with Caledonian Railway.
  /  /1851Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Caledonian Railway creates Wishaw and Coltness Railway Guarantee Company.
  /  /1854Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Authorisation to open out Carnbroe Tunnel.
  /  /1854Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Authorisation to open out the Holytown Tunnel. (Associated with other improvements such as the Motherwell Deviation (Caledonian Railway) authorised in the same year.)
  /  /1855Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Holytown Tunnel opened out.
08/10/1857Motherwell Deviation Line (Caledonian Railway)
Line opened from Jerviston Junction (Wishaw and Coltness Railway) to Lesmahagow Junction (Clydesdale Junction Railway). The line allowed Motherwell [1st] station to be moved further west to Motherwell atLesmahagow Junction. Motherwell [1st] remained standing and Motherwell was opened in the V of the junction at Lesmahagow Junction. A large viaduct was required, Braidhurst Viaduct.
  /  /1859Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Fully vested in the Caledonian Railway.
01/12/1864Cleland to Morningside Line (Caledonian Railway) Salsburgh Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Extension of the former Wishaw and Coltness Railway's Cleland Branch to Morningside [CR] (Newarthill and Morningside Branch) opened to goods.
  /  /1865Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Authorisation to widen the railway at Holytown Junction [1st]. This was around the time of the authorisation of the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway).
  /  /1872Wishaw and Coltness Railway
New Stevenston Level Crossing authorised to be shut up.
  /  /1874Wishaw and Coltness Railway
New Stevenston Level Crossing closed. This level crossing on Jerviston Street was just west of Holytown station. It was replaced by both a footbridge at the former crossing and a new road bridge further west carrying Stevenston Street.
  /  /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.
01/10/1878Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Sidings laid in to the rebuilt Mossend Iron and Steel Works.
01/06/1880Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Wishaw [1st] re-named Wishaw South.
01/10/1881Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Overtown [1st] closed.
02/03/1891Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Flemington station opened.
  /  /1901Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Whifflet Low Level widening authorised.
  /  /1904Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Motherwell Gas Works siding authorised.
  /  /1909Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Extension of time for Whifflet Low Level widening until 1912.
27/12/1917Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Agreement between the Caledonian Railway and David Colville and Sons over alteration to Park Street Level Crossing entry.
15/09/1958Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Wishaw South closed.
  /04/1970Caledonian Railway
Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Clydesdale Junction Railway
Polloc and Govan Railway
Glasgow Central Station (Caledonian Railway)
West Coast Main Line electrification authorised.
06/05/1974Caledonian Railway Wishaw and Coltness Railway Clydesdale Junction Railway Polloc and Govan Railway Glasgow Central Station (Caledonian Railway)
Glasgow Central to Carlisle electrification complete.
11/08/1981Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Coatbridge Freightliner Terminal to Mossend Marshalling Yard electrified.
  /  /2000Coltness Iron Works Railway
Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Costain's Coltness Concrete Works closed.
  /  /2000Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Works begins to relay the line from Stirling Road Junction to the Watsonhead Loading Pad (near the former Morningside [CR] station) for opencast coal traffic.
  /  /2004Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Traffic ceases about this date at the Watsonhead Loading Pad.
  /  /2015Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Garriongill Junction taken out.
  /  /2018Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Carfin platforms extended.

Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Whifflet to Omoa

This junction is to the south of Whifflet station. It was formed in 1845 when the 1834 portion of the Wishaw and Coltness Railway was met by the Whifflet Extension (Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway).
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Whifflet Extension (Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway)
An aerial view north over Whifflet South Junction. Due to the complexity of the project, the railway between Coatbridge and Motherwell will be closed ...
Network Rail /08/2022
An aerial view looking south over Whifflet South Junction. Whifflet South junction, located between Coatbridge Freight Terminal, and ...
Network Rail /08/2022
66746 in Belmont Royal Scot livery hauling the the North bound Alumina train from North Blyth to Fort William on the 15/12/16 approaching Whifflet ...
Alastair McLellan 15/12/2016
Services terminating at Whifflet have to clear the through line by
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David Panton 17/06/2010
4 of 7 images. more


This was the junction from which the 1828 Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway was extended south in 1834 by the Wishaw and Coltness Railway, leaving the route to Palacecraig on a branch. From the same junction the Rosehall Railway ran south to the Rosehall Colliery.
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Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway
As a result of the flooding which closed the line through Glasgow Central LL between 12/94 and 09/95 services from Lanark were diverted via Queen ...
John Clark //1995
At Whifflet South Junction (in the background) the Gartsherrie North Junction - Coatbridge Central - Whifflet extension of the Garnkirk and Glasgow ...
Bill Roberton //2001
The signal box at Whifflet East Junction, as viewed from Whifflet Street bridge on 7 March 1971, with the RB Tennent works in the background. It ...
Bill Jamieson 07/03/1971
3 of 3 images.


This was a short lived halt by the Carnbroe Iron Works.
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View taken on the A725 southbound under the B7070. At this point the road follows the course of the former GBH&CR south from Coatbridge to Bellshill. ...
Michael Gibb 27/06/2010
1 of 1 images.


Calder Iron Works signal box controlled the southern approach to the Calder Iron Works from the Wishaw and Coltness Railway. The works approach was on the east side of the line and approached from the south. The junction was located on a bridge over the North Calder Water. The signal box was on the east side and just to the south of the junction.
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This signal box was on the west side of the Wishaw and Coltness Railway. It controlled access to Calder Iron Works and Carnbroe Iron Works and replaced both Calder Iron Works Signal Box [CR] and Carnbroe Iron Works Signal Box in 1914.
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This signal box was on the east side of the Wishaw and Coltness Railway to the south of where the sidings of the Carnbroe Iron Works joined the main line. The works was approached from the south.
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This signal box was between Carnbroe North Signal Box and Burnhouse Weighs Signal Box. It was on the west side of the line. Just to the east was Orchard Farm. It opened in 1900 (earlier than the north box which opened in 1914).
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Approaching Mossend Marshalling Yard from the north is a 47 hauled passenger train. It is about to pass under the A8. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
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This tunnel was in the Carnbroe Estate and was opened out in 1855. It was on the Wishaw and Coltness Railway between, using modern references, the M8 (to the north) and Mossend Marshalling Yard (to the south). The tunnel may have been twin bore. Known as either Holytown or Carnbroe Tunnel.
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Mossend Marshalling Yard (Caledonian Railway)
A northbound Motorail service leaves Mossend Yard behind in 1987, seen from the Carnbroe Road overbridge. It has just passed the site of the former ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
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This junction and signal box was at the north end of what became Mossend Marshalling Yard.
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37423 heading north out of Mossend light engine. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
37423 heads south to Mossend with an oil train. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
Busy little 08s shunting at the north end of Mossend Marshalling Yard. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
Busy little 08s shunting at the north end of Mossend Marshalling Yard. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
4 of 4 images.


This large yard spans both sides of the railway at Mossend. Today the yard consists of loops on either side of the line with freight depots on the west side and a fenced Euroterminal depot on the east side.
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Mossend Marshalling Yard (Caledonian Railway)
This NTS/DRS Class 68, seen stabled at Mossend, was renamed 'Pride of the North' at Mossend Yard on the 10th November. 68006 was used until last year ...
John Yellowlees 09/11/2021
303080 passes Mossend Yard with a service for Coatbridge Central in 1992.
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Bill Roberton //1992
On 9th November 90039 was named 'Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport', at a ceremony performed by Bill Reeve, Rail Director Transport ...
John Yellowlees 09/11/2021
A Class 26 passes Mossend Yard with a couple of open wagons in 1990. A Class 85 electric, probably also in its final days of service, can be seen in ...
Bill Roberton //1990
4 of 16 images. more


A pair of EE Type 3s, led by 37019, pass Mossend Yard with a long van train in 1992.
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Bill Roberton //1992
68006, on the empty coaching stock movement from Edinburgh to Motherwell, passing through Mossend Yard on 6th March 2019. It is very difficult to get ...
Alastair McLellan 06/03/2019
A 156 heads south through Mossend Yard in 2001. ...
Ewan Crawford //2001
A class 37 brings a freight into the south end of Mossend yard in the summer of 1996. ...
John Furnevel 01/07/1996
4 of 4 images.


This station was at the south end of Mossend Marshalling Yard. Holytown [1st] station closed when this station, just to its north, opened with two platforms on the line south and east and a further two platforms on the west to north curve of the Mossend junctions.
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Mossend Marshalling Yard (Caledonian Railway)
Uddingston Junction to Fullwood Junction (Caledonian Railway)
A class 26 heads south from Mossend Down Yard in 1990, hauling empty flat wagons. ...
Bill Roberton //1990
Extract from the Scottish Region timetable for winter 1960-61, showing services through Mossend station which closed in 1962. In this period even the ...
David Panton 12/09/1960
Iron ore from Hunterston Terminal to Ravenscraig Steelworks is hauled out of Mossend Yard by 37099, 37010 and 37210 on 7 June 1990. ...
Bill Roberton 07/06/1990
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This is a double track junction between the line north to Coatbridge Central and south to Motherwell and the line east to Shotts. It is just to the south of the Mossend Marshalling Yard. This the the northern of the Mossend junctions.
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A 1987 view south at Mossend North Junction with the Clydesdale Steel Works in the left background. The building on the right was left over from the ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
Looking south over Mossend North Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
2 of 2 images.


Freightliner heading east and about to turn south at Mossend East Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford //2001
Approaching Mossend East Junction from the east. In the left background is the Fullwood Steelworks. Clyde Cranes was off to the left. ...
Ewan Crawford //2001
Freightliner-hauled container train passing Mossend East Junction in 2001. ...
Ewan Crawford //2001
Freight at Mossend East Junction in 2001. ...
Ewan Crawford //2001
4 of 5 images. more




This is a minimal two platform station. There is a car park on the north side.
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156 511 speeds through with a Glasgow Central - Edinburgh semi-fast. 28 September. ...
Bill Roberton 28/09/2018
DB Cargo no.66103 passes Holytown working 4E99 from Mossend Euroterminal to Tees Dock BSC Export Berth ...
Ken Browne 09/03/2017
68007 passes with empty stock from Motherwell to Edinburgh to form the evening Cardenden commuter service. ...
Bill Roberton 28/09/2018
Scotrail 156439 slows to call at Holytown on an Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Central stopping service on 3rd May 2019. ...
Alastair McLellan 03/05/2019
4 of 25 images. more


This junction is east of Holytown station. The lines to Edinburgh via Midcalder Junction and Carlisle via Law Junction divide here, the latter being a Motherwell bypass, ideal for limited stop trains and freight from the Mossend Marshalling Yard.
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Wishaw Deviation (Caledonian Railway)
Virgin Trains 11-car Pendolino at Holytown Junction on 3rd May 2019 forming the 1S37 London Euston to Glasgow Central service.
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Alastair McLellan 03/05/2019
1S34 Virgin Voyager brings the early morning Crewe to Glasgow Central service across Holytown Junction on 3rd May 2019.
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Alastair McLellan 03/05/2019
Looking east to Holytown Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
3 of 3 images.




This is a two platform station with a car park on the south side. the car park was formerly the goods yard and featured a large double height loading bank with two faces.
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Carfin at 0835 today, taken by a colleague, with 86638 running light locomotive. ...
Iain Teaz 24/02/2019
A road-cone relaxes on the embankment on the curved section of the Wishaw Deviation line just south of Holytown Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
Carfin looking east in 1987. Noted for its Grotto. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
A Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley service, formed by 156 478 calls at Carfin on 17 September 2008. ...
David Panton 17/09/2008
4 of 6 images. more


This junction was formed in 1869 when the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) opened. It met the much older 1834 Wishaw and Coltness Railway Cleland branch here, built to serve collieries and the Omoa Iron Works (1789-1868).
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Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)







Mossend to Morningside

This is a double track junction between the line north to Coatbridge Central and south to Motherwell and the line east to Shotts. It is just to the south of the Mossend Marshalling Yard. This the the northern of the Mossend junctions.
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A 1987 view south at Mossend North Junction with the Clydesdale Steel Works in the left background. The building on the right was left over from the ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
Looking south over Mossend North Junction. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
2 of 2 images.


This station was located close to today's Mossend North Junction and the Mossend Marshalling Yard.
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A class 08 shunter heads north at Milnwood Junction, heading for Mossend Yard, in 1988. Clydesdale Steelworks is on the left.
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Bill Roberton //1988
Looking south at Mossend South Junction. The former Clydesdale Steelworks are on the left. ...
Ewan Crawford //
View over Milnwood / Mossend South Junction with lines diverging to Holytown, Coatbridge Central and Bellshill. In the background is British Steel ...
Bill Roberton 01/05/1991
Aerial view of the junctions to the south of Mossend Yard looking west. Note the Freightliner on the north to east curve. ...
Ewan Crawford //
4 of 4 images.


This junction was north of Jerviston Viaduct. It was the junction between the Wishaw and Coltness Railway and a colliery branch to a coal pit at Cleekhimin.
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Motherwell New Lines (Caledonian Railway)
A view taken from the bing a short distance down the out of use branch from Jerviston Junction (New) to the former BSC Ravenscraig Number 3 Sidings. ...
Ewan Crawford 10/05/2008
1 of 1 images.




This was a ten arch single track wooden viaduct over the South Calder Water. The piers were stone. The viaduct was on the course of the Wishaw and Coltness Railway. Also known as the Camp Viaduct or Germiston Viaduct.
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This station was located on the Wishaw and Coltness Railway where it was met by the Clydesdale Junction Railway. The station was just east of the junction.
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Clydesdale Junction Railway




The first, and short lived, station in Motherwell was on the Wishaw and Coltness Railway close to Merry Street, on a section of line now closed which was to the north of the present main line alignment.
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This signal box was to the south east of Motherwell Junction station (closed 1885) and located on the north side of the line.
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The Dalzell Steel Works was developed alongside the existing Dalzell Malleable Iron Works of 1871, the West Coast Main Line (just south of Motherwell station and close to Motherwell Junction) by David Colville and Sons. The malleable iron works were just to the south and now part of the steel works site.
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The fine office building of David Colville and Sons' Dalzell Steel Works on Park Street seen in 1992.
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Bill Roberton //1992
An early afternoon arrival of concast slabs at BSC Dalzell in 1988. In the background left are the cooling towers and gasometers of BSC Ravenscraig ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
Dalzell Steelworks, Motherwell, viewed over the West Coast mainline. This works has a long association with railways. By the time I knew it, in the ...
Ewan Crawford 29/03/2004
DH9 between jobs at Dalzell Steelworks in 1988. This gritty location was a lunchtime favourite of mine. The line to the left ran to the extensive ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
4 of 6 images. more


This box was on the south side of the West Coast Main Line at the point where the lines to the Dalzell Steel Works branched off to the north west. It replaced Colville's Sidings Signal Box (see entry for main details).
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Network Rail welcomed Central Scotland MSP, Graham Simpson, to the site of a new bridge that will be installed under the West Coast Main Line at ...
Network Rail /10/2022
This is the line south east of Motherwell station where a 'box' has been inserted under the line where the Dalzell works headshunts and short branch ...
Network Rail //2023
An overview looking south of the West Coast Main Line by the Dalzell works (bottom right with its siding) showing the new underline bridge. ...
Network Rail /04/2023
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This signal box replaced Windmillhill box (the name of the area to the immediate south) in 1890. The box was just north west of Flemington station and controlled access to two branches.
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This two platform was to the east of Motherwell in an area of rapid industrialisation.
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Flemington Coal Yard. Ahead the line ran to Shieldmuir. The bridge has been removed. In the background from left to right is Ravenscraig. ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
Flemington Coal Yard. Ahead the line ran to the buffer stops and behind the branch ran to a south east facing junction at Shieldmuir. ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
The removed bridge over the B754 for the Flemington coal yard. ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
View from the removed bridge over the B754 for Flemington Coal yard. Two (!) 8Xs head south with the limestone empties from Ravenscraig for Shap. ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
4 of 4 images.


This steel works was opened by the Lanarkshire Steel Company Ltd in the 1890s and gradually expanded. The site had an open hearth furnace and rolling mills. It was served by two sets of sidings. From the north were sidings coming from the Motherwell New Lines (Caledonian Railway), built around the same time. That line, before its extension north, was essentially a double track headshunt ...

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This was a large junction and west end of a yard which commenced at Shieldmuir Junction to the east.
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Ravenscraig Steelworks (David Colville and Sons)
Motherwell New Lines (Caledonian Railway)
The sign read 'Exit from Ravenscraig by this route is strictly forbidden', although judging by the footpath this wasn't much of a deterrent. ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
With the WCML out of sight off to the left and BSC Dalzell in the distance on the right this view looks west at the former six tracks wide bridge over ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
2 of 2 images.


This is a minimal modern two platform station. The platforms are linked by a footbridge which predates the station. To the east is Shieldmuir Junction where the connection to Wishaw station leaves the line through Motherwell and the west end of the Royal Mail Scottish Distribution Centre loop connects to the main line.
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On the last day of 2003, the 13.29 Dalzell - Lackenby headed by 60024, gathers speed as it passes Shieldmuir station. ...
John Clark 31/12/2003
37423, and a classmate, take three flasks through Shieldmuir on 26th October 2012. ...
Jim Prentice 26/10/2012
Class 90 on test run at what was to become Shieldmuir station. ...
Ewan Crawford //
A 6-car 334 set pulls into Shieldmuir with the hourly Lanark direct service on 29 April. A new housing development is now underway on land off to the ...
David Panton 29/04/2009
4 of 10 images. more


This is the junction where the single track to Wishaw leaves the main line south east of Motherwell station. The main line is double track, the connecting line is single track.
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Wishaw, Cambusnethan and Coltness Line (Caledonian Railway)


This was at the junction for the Wishaw Iron Works. This was one of the entries into the Wishaw Estate Railway. The works was served by that line from the north east.
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Wishaw Estate Railway






This was a two platform station. It was the first station in Wishaw.
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This signal box was on the south side of the line between Wishaw South station (west) and Overtown [1st] station (east).
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This was a two platform station. It was just to the north of Overtown itself. (Much closer than Overtown [2nd], to the north, which replaced this station and was closer to Waterloo.)
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This junction was the location where the Wishaw and Coltness Railway (this portion opened around 1842) was met by the Caledonian Railway in 1848. The Caledonian used the W&C as part of its approach to Glasgow and to the north.
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Caledonian Railway
66087 approaches Garriongill Junction with a load of opencast coal from Watsonhead in 2000, destination n/k. As far as I know coal loading at ...
John Clark //2000
This was Garriongill Junction (1848), the start of the Caledonian Railway, seen in a view looking west in 1987. The Caley met the older Wishaw and ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
Aerial view of Garriongill Junction. Bottom left to top centre (Stirling Road); W&CR. Low left to centre right (Law Junction); Wishaw Deviation. ...
Ewan Crawford //
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This signal box was located at the east end of loops, which began at Garriongill Junction (formed with the Caledonian Railway in 1848), and was at the incline foot of the single track Morningside Incline which ran uphill to the East North East.
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The Costain branch is seen in this view south west towards Garriongill Junction overlooking the foot of the Morningside Incline. There was a signal ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
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View up the Morningside Incline towards Carluke [1st] / Stirling Road station in 1987. This was the Wishaw and Coltness Railway's line to Morningside ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
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This station was on the west side of Stirling Road. The station may only have ever been called Carluke (or Carluke and Lanark), whether it remained open or re-opened after 1848 (the opening of the Caledonian Railway which actually reached Carluke) is in doubt. The Caledonian Railway, having subsumed the Wishaw and Coltness Railway called the goods station here Stirling Road.
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This junction is closed. It was formed between the Wishaw and Coltness Railway and the line to the Coltness Iron Works. Serving this works was one of the main reasons for the building the Wishaw and Coltness Railway.
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Coltness Iron Works Railway
Looking west from Stirling Road Junction towards the WCML connection. The line to the left had been laid in for the Watsonhead Loading Pad (on the ...
Bill Roberton //2001
The site of Stirling Road Junction in 1993, with a 37 engaged in making up its train from Costains Concrete at Newmains. This traffic ceased circa ...
John Clark /08/1993
Looking east towards the Watsonhead coal loading pad with the Coltness branch diverging to the left at Stirling Road Junction in 2001. ...
Bill Roberton //2001
New line laid in at Stirling Road for Watsonhead. Line to Costain in background. The new line occupies the former route east to Morningside. ...
Ewan Crawford //
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A short section of line was relaid from Stirling Road Junction on the course of the former Wishaw and Coltness Railway in 2011 (this portion of line had closed in 1974 with the closure of Kingshill Colliery No 1).
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This station was on the west side of Morningside Road. It was effectively a terminus although a bridge over the road connected the line to the North British Railway's Morningside [NBR] station on the east side of the road. The station probably opened in connection with the new line to Newmains opened in 1864, passengers 1867.
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Not far from Morningside (behind the camera) looking to Stirling Road on a December evening in 1987. The Coltness Iron Company (later Costain) line ...
Ewan Crawford /12/1987
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The Wishaw and Coltness Railway reached Morningside around 1844 from Carluke [1st] (reached 1842) - a short distance of around 2/3 of a mile. The extension was probably driven to reach the under construction Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway rather than a desire to reach Morningside itself. It did service the Chapel Colliery in passing.
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Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway