Airdrie: Dusk falls on Airdrie as an Edinburgh to Milngavie service calls on 1st November 2017.


David Panton 01/11/2017

Airdrie

Location type

Station

Names and dates

Airdrie South (1861-1952)
Airdrie (1952-)

Station code: ADR National Rail ScotRail
Where: North Lanarkshire, Scotland
Opened on the New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways).
Open on the Edinburgh to Glasgow via Bathgate and Airdrie.

Description

This is the main station in Airdrie with three platforms, one a bay for services to Glasgow. The two main platforms are served by east-west trains from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Bathgate.

To the south of the station was the goods yard and carriage sidings, served from the west. To the north was a scrapyard also served from the west.

On the eastbound through platform, at the west end, was the signal box. This was replaced in 1960.

To the east the line was crossed by the approach to the competing Airdrie [CR] and the short Bellsdyke branch ran south to Bellsdyke Colliery. The eastern approach was protected by a sand drag siding.

The station has a car park, on the site of sidings. One of these survives alongside the bay line.

With the closure of the line east to Bathgate the eastbound platform fell out of use and the station became a terminus, with only the former westbound track continuing east to Moffat Mills (the line was singled in 1979). With the closure to freight the line a buffer was added at the east end of the platform and the track was retained out of use until the passenger service was extended east to Drumgelloch [1st]. With full re-opening to the east, the eastbound platform has been rebuilt and eastbound track relaid.

The signal box building survived its closure in 1991 for the Yoker resignalling (Yoker Signalling Centre) and remained standing on a disused platform until the line to Bathgate reopened and the box demolished and platform rebuilt.

Tags

Station terminus

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map

Facilities

Gaelic name: An t-Àrd-Ruigh




Nearby stations
Airdrie [CR]
Airdrie Hallcraig Street
Commonhead (Airdrie North)
Airdrie [Leaend]
Rawyards
Coatdyke
Drumgelloch [1st]
Cairnhill Bridge
Calder
Kipps
Calderbank
Drumgelloch
Calder Iron Works [Station]
Clarkston (Lanark)
Carnbroe
Ironstone Pit
Airdrie Shed [CR]
Gartlea Foundry
Victoria Engine Works
Ironstone Pit
North West Factory
Airdrie Engine Works
Cairnhill Works [Concrete]
Airdrie Gas Works
Albert Engineering and Boiler Works
Standard Works
Airdrie Junction
Empire Iron Works
Chapelside Boiler Works
Cairnhill Junction
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.


Water supply


When the North British Railway took over the line in 1865 it was found that the water supply for locomotives was connected to the town's water supply. When a locomotive was filled it drained the system and taps ran dry.


Chronology Dates

11/08/1862New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways) Torbanehill and Bathgate Branch (Monkland Railways)
Opened to passenger trains. Stations at Airdrie South, Clarkston [NBR], Caldercruix, Forrestfield and Westcraigs on the new line. New station further east on the Torbanehill line at Armadale.
09/01/1956New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways) Boghead to Cowdenhead Branch (Monkland Railways) Torbanehill and Bathgate Branch (Monkland Railways)
Airdrie to Bathgate Upper to Edinburgh (Bathgate Junction) closed to passengers.
05/11/1960Glasgow North Bank Electrification
Service begins with electric services to termini at; Helensburgh Central, Balloch Pier, Singer Workers Platforms station, Milngavie, Bridgeton Central, Springburn, Airdrie. The new trains (Class 303s) built at Pressed Steel Co Ltd, Linwood, became known as the Blue Trains, these were used in all the Glasgow electrification schemes.
  /02/1982New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways) Boghead to Cowdenhead Branch (Monkland Railways) Torbanehill and Bathgate Branch (Monkland Railways)
Last freight runs between Airdrie and Bathgate Upper. Line lifted between Moffat Mills Junction (excluded) and Bathgate Upper (excluded). Between Moffat Mills Junction and Airdrie the line is singled (eastbound line lifted and eastbound platform at Airdrie closed).
01/01/1986Ballochney Railway
New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways)
Inver House Distillery to Moffat Mills Junction to Airdrie (excluded) closed. The track is left disused from Airdrie to Moffat Mills Junction with a buffer placed at the east end of Airdrie station. South of Moffat Mills Junction is lifted and girders removed from viaduct.
15/05/1989New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways)
Airdrie service extended east to new Drumgelloch [1st] terminus (line beyond to Moffat Mills Junction lifted).
  /07/1989Yoker Re-signaling Scheme
Re-signaling complete. Boxes at Helensburgh Central, Craigendoran, Dumbarton Central, Dalmuir Park, Singer, Milngavie, Westerton, Hyndland, Clydebank Dock, High Street East Junction, Bellgrove, Parkhead, Shettleston, Heatheryknowe Junction, Sunnyside Junction, Airdrie replaced by the new Yoker Signalling Centre.
17/07/2010New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways)
Airdrie closed to allow second platform to be built.
26/07/2010 New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways)
Airdrie re-opened.
18/10/2010New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways) Torbanehill and Bathgate Branch (Monkland Railways)
Opened for driver training between Airdrie and Bathgate.
12/12/2010New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways) Boghead to Cowdenhead Branch (Monkland Railways) Torbanehill and Bathgate Branch (Monkland Railways)
Opened between Airdrie and Bathgate. Stations at Drumgelloch, Caldercruix (delayed opening until 13 February), Blackridge, Armadale.
  /03/2019New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways)
New park and ride car park opened at Airdrie.

News items

22/02/2023Laying track to Levenmouth [Rail Engineer]
29/09/2021Vegetation damages overhead lines sparking commuter chaos on busy Glasgow train route [Evening Times]
23/04/2021Clydebank train services disrupted after lorry strikes bridge between Drumchapel and Drumry [Clydebank Post]
09/07/2019Scotlands Railway marks 150th anniversary of Shotts line [ScotRail]
19/04/2018Calls for new railway station at Parkhead [Scotsman]
23/07/2014Extending and developing Scotland's rail network [Scotsman]
10/05/2012Details of ScotRail train services for Scottish cup final announced [STV]
08/05/2012Signal problems lead to reduced rail services between Edinburgh and Glasgow [STV]
28/03/2012Train disruptions after overhead power line collapses [STV]
19/11/2011Neil calls on Transport Minister to deliver new railway station for Plains [STV]

Books


Vanished Railways of West Lothian