Westburn Junction

Location type

Junction

Name and dates

Westburn Junction (1904-1966)

Opened on the Glasgow Central Railway.
Opened on the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway.

Description

This junction was to the south of the Westburn Viaduct. Here the Glasgow Central Railway of 1896 (the portion between Carmyle Junction and Steel Company of Scotland Works Junction, now Newton West Junction) was met by the 1904 Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway branch from Kirkhill Junction.

A signal box, on the west side of the junction and sitting high at the top of the embankment approaching the viaduct, opened with the junction.

The Kirkhill Junction to Westburn Junction to Carmyle Junction route allowed iron ore imported through Ardrossan to approach the Clyde Iron Works reception sidings from the east (and also the Govan Iron Works).

By reversing spur, approached from the north and on the west side of the Westburn Junction to Kirkhill Junction line, the Clydesmill Power Station to be reached.

The Westburn Steel Works was located on the curve to Newton.

The Kirkhll Junction to Westburn Junction section closed in 1966.

Westburn Junction box closed in 1973, replaced by the Motherwell Signalling Centre.

Carmyle Junction to Newton West Junction closed in 1983 although track remained at the southern end until 1988.

This location is now a footpath.

Tags

Junction footpath

Chronology Dates

  /  /1897Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Giffen Junction to Newton, Lugton L and A Junction, Clarkston West Junction to Clarkston East Junction, Muirend to Clarkston East Junction, Kirkhill Junction to Newton, Kirkhill Junction to Westburn Junction, Cathcart West Junction to Cathcart, two single track Cathcart East Junction to Cathcart North Junction links. Railways 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 authorised to be made by the Caledonian Railway.
20/06/1904Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Westburn Junction to Kirkhill Junction opened to goods. This was probably largely opened to carry imported iron ore for Govan Iron Works (Dixon's Blazes) and the Clyde Iron Works.
01/08/1904Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Mount Florida and Cathcart to Newton and Kirkhill Junction to Westburn Junction opened for passengers. Burnside and Kirkhill stations opened.
17/06/1957Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Kirkhill (Kirkhill Junction) to Carmyle (Westburn Junction) closed to passengers.
01/08/1966Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Kirkhill (Kirkhill Junction) to Carmyle (Westburn Junction) closed to freight.

Books


Forgotten Railways: Scotland