Haughhead Junction

Location type

Junction

Names and dates

Haughhead Junction (1876-1968)
Haughhead Junction (2005-)

Opened on the Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway).

Description

This is the junction for Larkhall from the Hamilton Circle. Approach is from the west, a single track from Hamilton Central. At the junction the lines to Motherwell (double track) and Larkhall (single track) divide.

This junction opened in 1876 when an extension of the 1849 Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) was built to join the 1856 Lesmahagow Railway. The lines were originally double track. The curve from Haughhead to Ross Junction, for Motherwell, joined the older line alongside the north end of Ross Yard. The curve to Ferniegair Junction burrowed under the south end of Ross Yard, a fly-under, to reach the junction.

The signal box was to the west of the junction. It was replaced in 1899 with a new building very slightly to the north.

In 1965 the curve to Ferniegair Junction was singled. The Ross Junction to Ferniegair Junction line was closed allowing the M74 to be built.

In 1969 the remains of the Coalburn line, which ran south to Auchlochan Colliery No 1 closed and the box closed.

In preparation for electrification the line west to Hamilton Central was singled around 1973.

The closed trackbed became overgrown, was partly landscaped, was used for dumping and was altered due to its proximity to the M74 which cut directly across the Ferniegair Junction to Ross Junction alignment when built in 1969.

Haughhead Junction to Ferniegair Junction was rather steep and banking was available for passenger trains. For goods or mineral trains banking might be the whole way from Hamilton to Stonehouse.

In 2005 a new curve was prepared between Haughhead junction]] and the site of the former Ferniegair Junction. This new curve takes a slightly more southern course but close to Ferniegair rejoins the course using the former Coalburn line as far as Merryton Junction and the course of the former Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway) to reach Larkhall. The re-opened line is electrified.

Tags

Junction




Chronology Dates

04/10/1965Lesmahagow Railway Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Coalburn to Hamilton (Haughhead Junction) closed to passengers. Stations closed: Coalburn, Lesmahagow [2nd], Blackwood [2nd], Stonehouse [Lanarkshire], Larkhall Central. Additionally Strathaven Central to Stonehouse [Lanarkshire] closed to passengers.
04/11/1968Lesmahagow Railway Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Larkhall Central to Haughhead Junction (excluded) closed to freight.
22/08/1973Hamilton to Ferniegair (Caledonian Railway)
Line singled between Hamilton Central and Haughhead Junction to allow the single track to be slewed to the centre of Barncleuth Tunnel to accommodate the overhead wiring.
04/07/2005Lesmahagow Railway Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Signalling switched on for the re-opening of the Hamilton (Haughhead Junction) - Larkhall branch. The contractor for the reinstatement of the line was Carillion.
17/07/2005Lesmahagow Railway Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Overhead Line Equipment (overhead wires) energised for the re-opening of the Hamilton (Haughhead Junction) - Larkhall line.
12/12/2005Lesmahagow Railway
Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Line opened from Haughhead Junction via Chatelherault and Merryton to terminate at Larkhall. Total cost was £35M.

News items

24/10/2004Masts going up on Larkhall Branch
17/10/2004Progress; Larkhall-Hamilton
10/10/2004Hamilton-Larkhall reinstatement progress; Haughhead Junction