Auchinleck

Location type

Station

Names and dates

Auchinleck (1848-1965)
Auchinleck (1984-)

Station code: AUK National Rail ScotRail
Where: East Ayrshire, Scotland
Opened on the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.
Opened on the Highhouse Colliery Branch (William Baird & Co).
Open on the G and SW Main Line.

Description

This is a two platform station with a small car park.

The main station building was on the southbound platform, with a footbridge and shelter on the northbound.

The goods yard was to the north, approached from the west. On the south side of the station, also approached from the west, was a short mineral line to Highhouse Colliery, with exchange sidings alongside the station on its south side.

To the east was Muirkirk Junction (sometimes referred to as Muirkirk Branch Junction). This was a double track junction. Muirkirk Junction Shed, a two road shed, was in the 'V' of the junction. Directly to the east was Gilmilnscroft Junction, on the Muirkirk line, the branch approached from the east and running north to collieries. The shed's turntable was in the 'V' of the latter junction.

The signal box was at the west end of the northbound platform. Gilmilnscroft box was to the east, at the junction on the Muirkirk line. It was located on the north side of the junction.

Both boxes were replaced with a single box on the northbound platform in 1957. The bridge to the east of the station, over Main Street, was replaced - a four track bridge replaced with a three track. The junction was altered.

The station building survived into the late 1980s, including a long period of closure. Platforms were re-aligned to the east, the station building (while it still stood) being off the end of the platform.

The signal box survived until 1989, although it had been switched out for some time and the windows were boarded up. The goods yard, later permanent way sidings, was taken out of use.

The present footbridge here was moved from Crookston.

Tags

Station

External links

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

Facilities

Gaelic name: Achadh nan Leac




Nearby stations
Commondyke
Dumfries House
Cumnock [2nd]
Cumnock [1st]
Skares
Lugar
Catrine
Ochiltree
Cronberry
Cairntable Halt
Mauchline
Sinclairston (Private)
Mossgiel Tunnel Platform
New Cumnock
Drongan
Muirkirk Junction
Highhouse Colliery
Muirkirk Junction Shed
Quarry
Gilmilnscroft Junction
Coal Pit
Coal Pit
Coal Pit
Gilmilnscroft Colliery Pit No 2
Gilmilnscroft Colliery Pit No 4
Blackston Colliery
Gilmilnscroft Colliery Pit No 3
Gilmilnscroft Colliery Pit No 1
Blackstone Branch Junction
Tourist/other
Dumfries House [House]
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.


Chronology Dates

09/08/1848Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway)
Auchinleck to Muirkirk [1st] opened. The line served the Lugar Iron Works, the Muirkirk Iron Works and various coalmines.
  /  /1894Highhouse Colliery
Colliery sunk by William Baird & Co south of Auchinleck station. Beam engine transferred from the Craigton Pits.
03/07/1950Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Ayr and Cumnock Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Cronberry to Auchinleck closed to passengers (route from Muirkirk [2nd] via Ochiltree and Annbank to Ayr remains open to passengers).
06/12/1976Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Cronberry to Auchinleck closed to freight.
12/05/1984Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
Auchinleck station re-opened.
  /  /2005Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
Work begins on re-instating the Auchinleck to Cronberry to Powharnal Opencast (Gaswater) line. This work was aborted following the survey and pegging out of the centreline of the route.

News items

12/08/2022Tonnes of timber to be moved by sea rather than by road [BBC News]
06/12/2021Girvan, Auchinleck and New Cumnock trains off this morning [Ayr Advertiser]
30/11/2020Outstanding volunteers recognised at ScotRail in the Community Awards [Community Rail Network]
12/05/2009How many? ....Really? [Railscot]
14/01/2002Cronberry Branch to re-open?