Location type

Junction

Name and dates

Alloa West Junction (1885-1970)

Opened on the Stirling and Dunfermline Railway.

Opened on the Alloa Railway.

Opened on the Alloa Marshalling Yard (British Railways).

Description

This was the junction between the Stirling and Dunfermline Railway of 1852 and the Alloa West to Longcarse (North British Railway) of 1885 which connected to the Alloa Railway. This was a junction between two double track lines immediately west of a level crossing ('Grange Crossing').

East of the level crossing were four sidings, two on either side of the line. Those on the north side approached from the east and those on the south side approached from the west.

The signal box was west of the level crossing and on the south side of the junction itself. In 1955 original box was closed, and a temporary box opened until 1957 when a new box opened at a similar location to the original. This was on the opening of Alloa Marshalling Yard to the west, the box controlling access to the east end of this yard.

The line west to Stirling closed to passengers in 1968. The Alloa Railway line south over Alloa Bridge (the swing bridge) closed completely in 1970, the connection from Alloa West being taken out, but retained closer to the junction for access to Alloa Marshalling Yard.

The line west to Cambus Junction was singled in 1973. After 1974 the box was responsible for Alloa East Junction, with the closure of the box there (a ground frame remained).

From around 1980 (closure of the Dunfermline Upper route) the double track to the east of the level crossing became two single lines. The southern of these, the line to Kincardine, closed in 1981 but was left in place. The line west, bypassing Alloa Marshalling Yard, closed in 1985. Finally the line from the yard east to Alloa Co-op Coal Siding closed in 1987 (although last use was around 1982). The line to the Co-op siding was lifted not long afterwards but the disused Kincardine line retained. The box was demolished around 1988/9.

The line was reinstated as a single track line in 2007 and re-opened in 2008. There is no longer a junction or level crossing here although there is a substantial footbridge. The old track and trackbed had deteriorated and the line was completely rebuilt.

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