News - Beattock
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Overspeed through emergency speed restriction near Beattock, Dumfries and Galloway, 20 December 2020.
(Permalink) Beattock  Beattock: A Voyager heads south shortly after passing through the remains of Beattock station on 27 March 2017. See image [[58903]] |
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Reversing the 1960s closure of the line is one option being taken forward by a transport study. [Also suggested is re-opening the Cairnryan branch and stations at Cumnock, Thornhill, Eastriggs, Dunragit and Beattock.]
(Permalink) Beattock Cairnryan Cumnock Dunragit Eastriggs Port Road Stranraer Thornhill  Newton Stewart: View east at Newton Stewart in September 1973. The old goods shed and yard on the left of the photograph have been put to alternate use by the local council, still the case 35 years on see image [[15528]].  Big Water of Fleet Viaduct: April 1965, just two months before closure of the 'Port Road' direct line from Dumfries to Stranraer. A Stranraer-bound mixed freight train headed by a Stanier 'Black 5' crosses the Big Water of Fleet viaduct westbound against a backdrop of bleak Galloway mountains and moorland. The viaduct still survives as a listed structure, but a 1990s' proposal by Dumfries & Galloway Regional Council for a new Trans European Network rail link to Stranraer, as an alternative to upgrading the A75 road, came to nothing. |
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The head of a transport body has said there is 'great merit' in plans costing up to £37m to reopen three disused stations in south west Scotland.
Andrew Wood chairs the South West Scotland Transport Partnership (Swestrans). It has been looking at the potential of bringing the sites in Beattock, Thornhill and Eastriggs back into use. It said a public consultation had found a 'high level of interest and expectation' in the proposals. (Permalink) Beattock Eastriggs Thornhill  Eastriggs: The former Dornock station (latterly Eastriggs), Dumfriesshire, in 2007. During WW1 the station served the huge wartime munitions complex referred to euphemistically as 'HM Factory, Gretna'. Passenger activity generated by factory workers is well reflected in the old timetables of the day see image [[15332]]. The mix of passengers would also have been interesting, with workers from all parts of the then British Empire. This continues to be reflected today in the Eastriggs village street names, which include Pretoria Road, Melbourne Avenue, Vancouver Drive, Delhi Road...etc..etc.. [Ref query 1667]  Thornhill: Thornhill station still retained its canopy in 1989 and had a 'just closed' feel to it despite its closure to passengers in 1965. The stonework has since been painted red and the building rennovated.  Beattock: An up express hauled by a Standard Clan Pacific runs through Beattock station in July 1962. Beattock was one of several Caledonian stations designed by notable architect William Tite. |
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An action group is meeting Transport Minister Keith Brown to make the case for reopening a station at Beattock.
It is one of four sites in Dumfries and Galloway seeking funding to create new rail links. South of Scotland Lib Dem MSP Jim Hume believes reopening the station would be a huge boost for the local economy, as well as commuters and business. (Permalink) Beattock Keith Brown  Beattock: Crab 42737 stands quietly at Beattock station on 29 March 1964, waiting to return to Glasgow Central with Scottish Rambler no 3. The fuss in the background centres around Beattock shed's BR Standard class 4 no 80001, which is in the process of banking out the down Royal Scot. Beattock: An up express hauled by a Standard Clan Pacific runs through Beattock station in July 1962. Beattock was one of several Caledonian stations designed by notable architect William Tite.  Beattock: 6904 passing north through Beattock station in late 1972 with a down oil train. |
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A campaign to reopen Beattock railway station is being backed by local Labour politicians.
Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray and MP Russell Brown have met members of the station action group. The campaigners believe that bringing the platform back into use would provide significant benefits to the community and the local economy. Mr Brown, the joint chair of the all-party parliamentary group for the West Coast Main Line, backs that view. (Permalink) Beattock Elaine Murray Russell Brown Beattock: Crab 42737 stands quietly at Beattock station on 29 March 1964, waiting to return to Glasgow Central with Scottish Rambler no 3. The fuss in the background centres around Beattock shed's BR Standard class 4 no 80001, which is in the process of banking out the down Royal Scot. Beattock: An up express hauled by a Standard Clan Pacific runs through Beattock station in July 1962. Beattock was one of several Caledonian stations designed by notable architect William Tite. Beattock: 6904 passing north through Beattock station in late 1972 with a down oil train. |
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A bid is to be made to secure funding to build new railway stations across Dumfries and Galloway.
The local authority said it wanted to tap into a £30m fund set up by the Scottish government. The council's Labour-SNP administration has unveiled plans to seek government funding to establish up to four new local train stops. In order of priority, they could be at Thornhill, Eastriggs, Dunragit/Glenluce and Beattock. (Permalink) Beattock Dunragit Eastriggs Thornhill  Dunragit: 156501 passes the old platform at Dunragit as it draws to a halt in the loop for the token exchange. This covers the next single line section to Glenwhilly. The train is the 1005 Stranraer to Glasgow Central. Beattock: An up express hauled by a Standard Clan Pacific runs through Beattock station in July 1962. Beattock was one of several Caledonian stations designed by notable architect William Tite. |
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The Scottish Executive has awarded EWS with £1m for timber traffic. The grant will be broken up as follows;
- £158,000 to partly finance the re-development of the rail freight depot at Beattock for timber. EWS is seeking further funding. - £766,000 for a track access grant for timber sent by rail from Fort William, Crianlarich and Arrochar to Chirk in North Wales. - £143,000 for a track access grant for timber from Kinbrace in Sutherland to Inverness. The project is also supported by the Highland Council, the Forestry Commission, the Highland Rail Partnership and EWS. (Permalink) Arrochar and Tarbet Beattock Chirk Crianlarich EWS Forestry Commission Fort William Highland Council Highland Rail Partnership Inverness Kinbrace Timber West Highland Lines |
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A driver of a Virgin train was injured when part of the overhead catenery struck the windscreen of the cab. The train was travelling south from Glasgow and the accident happened north of Beattock. The driver was taken to Moffat for treatment and the train had to await a locomotive to haul it before continuing south.
(Permalink) Beattock Virgin trains |
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A southbound freight train of 18 oil tank wagons carrying diesel en route from Motherwell to Carlisle stopped at Beattock at 02:00 when one of the wagons caught fire after a leak. Fire engines from Strathclyde and Dumfries and Galloway attended but the fire had burned out on their arrival.
(Permalink) Beattock Fire |
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The West Coast Main Line will be closed for bridge renewal at Float, Lamington and Beattock.
(Permalink) Beattock Float Lamington West Coast Main Line |
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