Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)

Introduction

This line is open. The line runs from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Shotts. Also known as The Shotts line. Opened in 1869. Very much undermined as an Edinburgh-Glasgow route until the line between Mossend and Uddingston opened in 1878.




Dates

  /  /1861Cleland to Morningside Line (Caledonian Railway)
An extension of the Cleland branch to Morningside [CR] is promoted. The branch will serve numerous mines and the Coltness Iron Works, avoiding the Morningside Incline of the existing route to Morningside [1st]. It also provides possible access to Edinburgh over the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway owned Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway. The Morningside [CR] extension of the Cleland branch predates the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) which was required after the Wilsontown route was merged into the North British Railway in 1865.
  /  /1865Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway) Camps Branch (Caledonian Railway) Addiewell Loop (Caledonian Railway) Mouldron Branch (Caledonian Railway) Woodmuir Colliery Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 6). Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway) authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 3). Camps Branch (Caledonian Railway) authorised. Addiewell Loop (Caledonian Railway) authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 7). Bellside Junction to Langbyres Junction authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 2). Mouldron Branch (Caledonian Railway) authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 4). Woodmuir Colliery Branch (Caledonian Railway) (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 5). Muirhouse, Dykes and Chapelton Branch authorised (Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 6).
  /  /1865Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Authorisation to widen the railway at Holytown Junction [1st]. This was around the time of the authorisation of the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway).
  /  /1866Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Waterlands Branch authorised, as part of the Lanarkshire and Midland Branches Act.
  /  /1869Caledonian Railway
Proposed Haywood to Addiewell line abandoned. (Addiewell reached by the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) in 1869).
  /  /1869Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Calderhead branch not built. (The area to north of Shotts already well served by lines now owned by the North British Railway.)
  /  /1869Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Waterland Branch abandoned.
01/01/1869Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Opened to mineral and goods traffic.
01/03/1869Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Bellside Junction to Langbyres Junction (Salsburgh Branch (Caledonian Railway)), the Drumbowie curve, opened to goods and minerals.
09/07/1869Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Line opened for passengers.
30/12/1869Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Minerals branch opened, a branch of the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway), serving collieries.
  /  /1870Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Authorisation to purchase land by Benhar Junction on the Leadloch Estate for a reservoir (Leadloch Reservoir) close to the junction exchange sidings.
01/07/1882Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway).
Addiewell station opened.
01/05/1889Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Hartwood station opened.
01/02/2000Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
Derailment at West Calder.
03/04/2019Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway)
First electric train runs (a return Corkerhill Depot - Edinburgh Waverley).

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This junction was formed in 1869 when the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) opened. It met the much older 1834 Wishaw and Coltness Railway Cleland branch here, built to serve collieries and the Omoa Iron Works (1789-1868).
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Wishaw and Coltness Railway


This siding was on the south side of the line, accessed from the west. By reversal a line south west to the site former Omoa Iron Works and on to Ravenshall Colliery Pits Nos 35 and 40 and Omoa Junction.
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This junction opened with the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway) in 1869. It linked that line via a curve (the Drumbowie Branch) from west to north to meet the 1864 Salsburgh Branch (Caledonian Railway) at Langbyres Junction.
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Salsburgh Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Bellside Junction signal box seen in early 1976. The track behind the box was the branch which ran to Chapelhall but had closed to goods in 1966. At ...
John Clark 04/01/1976
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This is two platform station with a car park, footbridge and permanent way siding on its north side, approached from the east.
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The morning Voyager from Polmadie to Edinburgh passes through Cleland at first light on 4th October 2018.
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Iain Teaz 04/10/2018
A GBRf Class 66 takes a Millerhill to Kingmoor engineering train through Cleland station on 27th September 2018.
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Iain Teaz 27/09/2018
68006 passing east through Cleland with the Motherwell to Waverley empty stock for the Fife Circle commuter train on 11th March 2019.
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Iain Teaz 11/03/2019
156502, on the 0713 Glasgow Central to Waverley stopping service, calls at Cleland on 27th September 2018. ...
Iain Teaz 27/09/2018
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This is a ten arch double track masonry viaduct. It is east of Cleland station, formerly Omoa.
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A clear pre-electrification view from Cleland station as 156462 on a limited stop service from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh via Shotts crosses the ...
Colin McDonald 26/08/2016
The impressive Cleland Viaduct, seen here looking north from Bellside Road in March 2006. Cleland station stands approximately 200m to the west of ...
John Furnevel 20/03/2006
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This signal box, east of Cleland Viaduct and station, controll access to Bellside Brick Works and Bellside Quarry.Later it gave access to Bellside Colliery.
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This is a two platform station. It was opened in the countryside to the south east of Hartwood Hospital. A small village has grown around the station site.
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Eastbound 477 to the east of Hartwood on E&G diversion. ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
A 477 rounds the curve as it leaves Hartwood heading east on an E&G diversion. ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
HST 43157 round the curve as it leaves Hartwood heading east on an E&G diversion. ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
Eastbound 47 hauled train to the east of Hartwood on E&G diversion. ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
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This was the signal box for Curryside Colliery, to the south of the line and with a trailing siding approached by reversal from the west. The box was on the south side of the line by the connection.
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This is a two platform station, the station for which the Cleland to Kirknewton line is known as the Shotts line. The station has a car park on its south side (westbound platform) and ramp access via a long bridge on its north side (eastbound platform). An original stone built station building survives on the westbound platform.
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A slightly delayed Edinburgh - Glasgow service passes under the new Station Road overbridge opened to traffic a few days previously. Some landscaping ...
Colin McDonald 18/08/2017
Temporarily functioning as a modernist art installation set in the platform 1 garden, this OHLE mast base gives evidence of progress of the ...
Colin McDonald 03/08/2017
A Glasgow - Edinburgh service departs from platform 2 passing under the new Station Road overbridge which is due to open to traffic in a few days ...
Colin McDonald 03/08/2017
A Glasgow - Edinburgh service calls at Shotts in late August 2016. It is about to pass under the Station Road overbridge (left background) which will ...
Colin McDonald 31/08/2016
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This signal box controlled the Caledonian Railway's access to the Shotts Iron Co's works railway from the Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway). The works opened in 1801.
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This junction was between Shotts and Fauldhouse. From the junction a mineral line ran north to the Benhar Colliery and, latterly, north east to Polkemmet Colliery. Approach to the branch was from the west.
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Benhar Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Benhar Junction with the Polkemmet Colliery branch diverging. The colliery closed in the year this photo was taken, 1986.
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Bill Roberton //1986
Benhar Junction frame in 1978 with hairy Motherwell secondman! ...
William Barr //1978
Pat Swift learning the frame at Benhar Junction as the signalman nervously looks on (1978). ...
William Barr //1978
Benhar Junction where the Caledonian's Benhar Branch joined the Shotts line. View looking east in 2000. The Benhar Branch, which ultimately served ...
Ewan Crawford //2000
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This is a two platform station. There is a very small car park on the north side.
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Fauldhouse Moor Branch (William Dixon Ltd)
Replacement of the footbridge has provided clearance for electrification. ...
John Yellowlees 28/04/2016
Pre-electrification view from the new footbridge at Fauldhouse on 31st August 2016. The Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway passed under the ...
Colin McDonald 31/08/2016
A Glasgow to Edinburgh service pulls into Fauldhouse on an icy 17 January 2019. The building in the background is the store for Scottish prisons. I ...
David Panton 17/01/2019
A rather faded totem from Fauldhouse North. The only other station in town was Fauldhouse & Crofthead which I believe closed to passengers in 1932. ...
David Panton //
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This goods yard was east of Fauldhouse station. The goods yard was on the north side of the line and approached from the east. The yard consisted of sidings and a loading bank.
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This is a double track viaduct east of Fauldhouse station.
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A DMU crosses the viaduct over Greenburn golf course shortly after leaving Fauldhouse station on 15 September with a Glasgow Central - Edinburgh ...
John Furnevel 15/09/2009
The 0823 Edinburgh Waverley - Glasgow Central crosses Greenburn golf course on Fauldhouse Viaduct as it slows for the Fauldhouse stop. Photographed on ...
John Furnevel 15/09/2009
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This junction was east of Fauldhouse station and Fauldhouse Viaduct. It was the junction for the Mouldron Branch (Caledonian Railway) (authorised as Cleland and Midcalder Railway No 4). The branch was on the south side of the main line and trains leaving the branch would head west.
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A late afternoon Glasgow Central - Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts service crossing Greenburn golf course, half a mile east of Fauldhouse station on 15 ...
John Furnevel 15/09/2009
Looking to Mouldron Junction from the former branch which ran to Levenseat Quarry and Mouldron Colliery. In the distance the line runs off to ...
Ewan Crawford 06/12/2003
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This was the junction for the lime workings south east of Fauldhouse. (Nearby, to the west, was Mouldron Junction for the iron ore mines to the south of Fauldhouse.)
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Breich is a two platform station on the former Caledonian Railway's Edinburgh and Glasgow line via Bellshill, Shotts and Kirknewton. The station formerly had a building, typical of the line, on the westbound platform. The station has relatively low platforms and an old footbridge. It is a very quiet station - often, in statistics, shown to have the fewest passengers in Scotland.
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.An Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Central DMU passing through the old station at Breich, West Lothian, in April 2018, some five months after notice of ...
John Furnevel 26/04/2018
An Edinburgh bound DMU heads past Breich on a sunny but cold morning in January 1981. In the background the white building to the left of the road ...
John Clark /01/1981
EE 86638 on the first live run Westbound Mid Calder Jct to Holyton Jct on the approach to Breich Station on a beautiful sunny morning ...
Gordon Steel 24/02/2019
A quick chase grab shot of EE 86638 on the first live Westbound test run between Mid Calder Jct and Holyton Jct just after leaving Breich Station. ...
Gordon Steel 24/02/2019
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This was a double junction. Two mineral lines began here:
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Woodmuir Colliery Branch (Caledonian Railway)
Addiewell Loop (Caledonian Railway)


This is a two platform station. It has a small car park on the north side.
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The 1M44 postal from Shieldmuir Mail Terminal to Warrington passes Addiewell, diverted via the Shotts line because of the Carstairs remodelling, on ...
Bill Roberton 11/04/2023
156502 leaves heading east at Addiewell in March 1991. ...
Roger Geach Collection /03/1991.
The footbridge at Addiewell was installed in 2018 for electrification. It was 'lift ready' 66579 as constructed but the lifts took a little ...
Bill Roberton 11/04/2023
New footbridge at Addiewell, raised for electrification, seen on 11th April 2018. ...
John Yellowlees 11/04/2018
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This signal box was located east of the present day Addiewell station. It was on the north side of the line at the point where the exchange sidings for Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company's 1865 Addiewell Chemical Works, (a shale oil works) were located. These were on the north side of the line, approached from the east. Access into the works was by running to the west and ...

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This is a two platform station. A stone station building still stands on the westbound platform. This is the best preserved station building on the line. Mei Hua Platform is based in the station building. There is a car park south of the station. The goods shed remains at the west end of the station, south of the line, in other uses. The lattice ...

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390130 passes West Calder with the 10.30 from Euston to Glasgow Central on 21 April 2023. It had been diverted via Midcalder Junction due to the ...
Bill Roberton 21/04/2023
390005 passes West Calder with the 13.40 from Glasgow Central to London Euston on 21 April 2023.
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Bill Roberton 21/04/2023
385043 calls at West Calder with the 13.17 from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh on 21st April 2023. ...
Bill Roberton 21/04/2023
385024 nears West Calder, with the 14.28 from Edinburgh to Glasgow Central, on 21st April 2023. ...
Bill Roberton 21/04/2023
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This was the eastern end of the 1871 Addiewell Loop (Caledonian Railway) (or West Calder loop). The loop was on the north side of the 1869 Cleland and Midcalder Line (Caledonian Railway). Approach to the single track loop was from the east. There were several sidings in the 'V' of the junction. The signal box was on the north side of the junction. The loop was to serve several works and ...

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Addiewell Loop (Caledonian Railway)




This was a two platform station on the Shotts line. There was a goods yard on its north side, approached from the east and a siding on the south side, east of the station, approached from the west. The signal box was a the east end of the westbound platform.
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Provender store at the former Newpark Station, closed on 14 September 1959. ...
Bill Roberton //1994
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This is a modern minimal two platform station which opened in 1984 on an embankment. The station has a car park on the north side.
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A Glasgow Central semi-fast photographed during a lengthy stop at Livingston South on 9 September 2020. A lot of extra time is built into this ...
David Panton 09/09/2020
Station rebuild in progress at Livingston South in April 2018. View is west, with ScotRail 158734 calling on its way to Glasgow Central via Shotts. ...
John Furnevel 16/04/2018
Avanti Pendolino 390008 drops towards Livingston South with the 07.30 from Euston to Glasgow Central on 20 March 2023. The train had reversed at ...
Bill Roberton 20/03/2023
This braille-imprinted sign is all of 15cm square and must be the smallest station name sign ever produced. I find it hard to see how the braille ...
David Panton 01/08/2019
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This is a six arch double track viaduct.
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With Contentibus bing in the background a Glasgow Central to Edinburgh DMU approaches Midcalder Junction in March 1979. The line into the former ...
John Clark /03/1979
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This signal box was west of Midcalder Junction and controlled the approach to the junction of both the Caledonian Railway main line from Carstairs and the Shotts line.
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Caledonian Railway


This is the junction between the Caledonian Railway's Carlisle to Edinburgh Princes Street main line of 1848 and its Edinburgh and Glasgow railway, via Shotts, of 1869.
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Caledonian Railway
On 24th March 2023 many WCML Glasgow services were reversing at Midcalder Junction because of the Carstairs closure. However, this Trans Pennine Class ...
Duncan Ross 24/03/2023
1M14 Glasgow Central to Euston at Midcalder Junction on 24th March 2023. WCML services to and from Glasgow were reversing here because of the ongoing ...
Duncan Ross 24/03/2023
The rebuilding of Carstairs Junction led to some unusual workings. This included this Pendolino, on 1M14 GLC to EUS, reversing at Midcalder Junction ...
Duncan Ross 24/03/2023
On 26th February a Cross Country Voyager passes just beyond Midcalder Junction on its way from Glasgow to Plymouth. This is a cross-country journey ...
Malcolm Chattwood 26/02/2016
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