Rutherglen East Junction

Location type

Junction

Names and dates

Rutherglen Junction (1865-1974)
Rutherglen East Junction (1974-)

Station code: National Rail
Opened on the Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway).
Opened on the Clydebridge Steelworks Railways.
Opened on the Clydesdale Junction Railway.

Description

This junction is east of Rutherglen. It is the junction between the main line to the south out of Glasgow Central and the line east to Coatbridge Central and Whifflet.

The west end of the 1865 Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway) joined the 1849 Clydesdale Junction Railway here.

Both lines were double track, but further lines were laid to make this a complicated junction.

By the 1890s the Coatbridge route had a loop on either side of the line, the eastbound loop continuing west of the junction to be the eastbound slow line to the west, serving the nearby Rutherglen Goods. The westbound loop ceased at the junction. The main line had a goods line on its south side which ran to Cambuslang Goods. West of the junction there was a westbound slow line.

The signal box was on the north side.

To allow expansion of the junction Ballochmill Road was relocated a little to the north, authorisation to stop up the original route was given in 1910.

The junction was rebuilt in 1906. In particular a new approach to, and yard for, the Clydebridge Steel Works to the east was added. This was on the north side of the Coatbridge route. Further lines were added and there were signal bridges to the west of the junction. The signal box was replaced with another on a similar site.

The signal box was closed in 1973, replaced by Glasgow Central Power Box. This was in preparation for electrification.

Around this time the junction was renamed 'Rutherglen East Junction'.

The Clydebridge Steel Works sidings were greatly reduced by 1990, around which time these were removed having not been used for some time.

Both lines are now electrified. Going east from the junction both lines are double track. Rutherglen Goods is now Rutherglen Permanent Way Depot. Going west there are four lines.

Tags

Junction
02/07/2020


Chronology Dates

  /  /1872Clydesdale Junction Railway
Authorisation to widen the line between Gushetfaulds Junction and Rutherglen Junction. The line was increased from double track to at least quadruple track between the junctions.
  /  /1880Clydesdale Junction Railway
Power to widen the line between Rutherglen Junction and Cambuslang granted to the Caledonian Railway. An additional line, northbound slow, would be added.
  /  /1910Clydesdale Junction Railway Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Stopping up and relocation of Ballochmill Road authorised, to allow expansion of Rutherglen East Junction.
07/11/1966Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Coatbridge Central to Rutherglen East Junction closed to passengers (alternative date).
01/05/1972Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Coatbridge Central to Rutherglen Junction re-opened for Glasgow Central to Perth workings
04/05/1974Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Coatbridge Central to Rutherglen Junction ceases to be used for Glasgow Central to Perth workings.
05/11/1979Glasgow Central Railway
The Argyle Line; Stobcross to Strathclyde Junction and Rutherglen Junction re-opened to passengers. Stations at; Finnieston [2nd], Anderston, Glasgow Central Low Level, Argyle Street, Dalmarnock and Rutherglen.
04/10/1993Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Local passenger service established between Glasgow (Rutherglen East Junction) and Whifflet. Trains interconnect with services to Motherwell and Coatbridge Central. 'Heritage' Diesel Multiple Units were used.