Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway

Introduction

This line is open. ScotRail operates a service between Edinburgh and Bathgate and on to Airdrie and Glasgow. Until recently occasional freight trains carrying cars made use of the line to run to a car distribution terminal in Bathgate.



Dates

  /  /1846Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway
Act receives Royal assent
12/11/1849Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway
Line opened from Newbridge Junction to Bathgate [1st].
  /  /1850Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway
Longridge to Bathgate (Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway)
Morningside line extended from Longridge [2nd] to Bathgate where a connection was made to the Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway. Stations opened at Longridge [2nd] and Whitburn. With the opening of the extension, the Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness Railway is re-opened to passengers.
01/01/1923North British Railway
Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway
Great North of Scotland Railway
Forth and Clyde Junction Railway
Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Railway
Gifford and Garvald Railway
Newburgh and North Fife Railway
Lauder Light Railway
Great Central Railway
Grouped into London and North Eastern Railway.
12/06/1934Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway
A road tanker crashes into a overbridge by Uphall station killing a man and injuring a youth
08/01/1956Glasgow City and District Railway Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway) Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway New Monkland Line (Monkland Railways) Boghead to Cowdenhead Branch (Monkland Railways) Torbanehill and Bathgate Branch (Monkland Railways) Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Last regular Glasgow Queen Street Low Level to Edinburgh Waverley via Shettleston, Coatbridge Sunnyside and Bathgate Upper service runs.
24/03/1986Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway
Re-opened to passengers with stations at Uphall, Livingston North, and Bathgate.
  /06/2006Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway
Bathgate LMD, a light maintenance depot, proposed as part of the Airdrie-Bathgate re-opening.
16/10/2010Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway
Bathgate [4th] closed, replaced by Bathgate two days later.
18/10/2010Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway
Bathgate station opened, a through station, replacing the Bathgate [4th] terminus

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

Bathgate Junction was created with the opening of the Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway line west to Bathgate [1st] in 1849. It met the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway of 1842.
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Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
ScotRail 170408 runs east through a pre-electrification Newbridge Junction on 29 June 2008. The train is the 0845 Glasgow Queen Street - Edinburgh ...
John Furnevel 29/06/2008
Anti-graffiti artwork at Newbridge Junction.
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John Yellowlees 30/05/2017
Newbridge junction's original name, carried on as a location in 1995. ...
David Panton //1995
A ballast train from the Bathgate area joins the E&G main line at Newbridge Junction on 28 June 2008. EWS 66184 is about to run east below Harvest ...
John Furnevel 28/06/2008
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This double track eight arch masonry viaduct is west of Newbridge Junction on the Bathgate line. It is 121 yds long overall and 50 ft high.
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This was the junction for the Newliston Shale Mines. These mines were on either side of the Brox Burn. The junction was east of Drumshoreland station and west of Bathgate Junction (now Newbridge Junction).
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Newliston Shale Mine Branch


This bridge is east of the former Drumshoreland station. The former Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway crosses over the Union Canal by a skewed double track bridge.
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This was a two platform station just under a mile south of Broxburn. The main building was on the eastbound platform.
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Broxburn Branch (North British Railway)
There was never much to Drumshoreland itself and unlike its neighbour Uphall no real community built up around the isolated station. The buildings on ...
David Panton 13/05/2021
47152 climbs away from Drumshoreland with a car train for Bathgate on 23 May 1990. In the background is the Almond Viaduct on the E & G main line. ...
Bill Roberton 23/05/1990
NBR 256 Glen Douglas with Scottish Rambler no 3 during a photostop at Drumshoreland station on 30 March 1964. Originally opened as ...
John Robin 30/03/1964
A pair of 334 units head for Edinburgh past the remains of Drumshoreland Station. ...
Bill Roberton 02/11/2010
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This was not a true junction. The double track line from Newbridge Junction, to the east, singled here as it continued west. A temporary panel box opened in 1986, closing when taken over by the Edinburgh Signalling Centre.
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Although in an area full of mineral lines there was no junction here until it became the location of the points where the 1986-2010 version of the ...
David Panton 05/05/2021
Cawburn Junction looking west to Bathgate. From here the passenger line is single track. ...
Ewan Crawford 18/02/2006
Looking west from Cawburn Junction showing the track doubling approaching the point where the track singled. ...
Ewan Crawford 27/01/2008
3 of 3 images.


This junction was east of Uphall and directly east of Camps Junction [NB] with which it shared the signal box (essentially it was the same junction but on the north side of the railway instead of the south). It provided access to the Hopetoun and Uphall Oilworks Railway.
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East of Uphall station was the junction for the Camps Branch (North British Railway). It was on the south side of the main line opposite Uphall Junction (slightly to the east). The junctions shared a signal box. The branch ran south to Camps Quarry and the Pumpherston Oil Works.
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Camps Branch (North British Railway)


This is a two platform station with a car park alongside each platform. Uphall itself is to the north and the station is in the village of Uphall Station, which developed after the station opened.
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An Edinburgh service calls at Uphall on 5 May 2021. Uphall village has expanded over the decades (to merge with Broxburn) but has not advanced much ...
David Panton 05/05/2021
An Edinburgh service approaches Uphall on 26 May 2021. Uphall station opened as Houston, named after a 'big hoose' some way off; a tiny Uphall village ...
David Panton 26/05/2021
A Helensburgh to Edinburgh service pulls into Uphall on 5 May 2021. Uphall itself is a bit away and the early station (called Houston) was rather ...
David Panton 05/05/2021
October 1974 with a Sunday diversion of trains from the E&G via Bathgate. A Queen Street - Edinburgh working passes Uphall signal box which was ...
John Clark /10/1974
4 of 40 images. more


This was the junction for the short Bangour [Hospital] branch. A box opened here in 1903 in preparation for the branch opening. The branch was from the Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway, on the north side and approached from the east.
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Uphall and Bangour Asylum Railway
Shortly after leaving Uphall station (visible in the background) on 18 August, a Waverley - Bathgate 158 service is about to run past the site of ...
James Young 18/08/2008
View west towards Livingston as an Edinburgh - Bathgate service passes the site of the former Bangour Junction on 18 August 2008. ...
James Young 18/08/2008
Bathgate - Edinburgh train approaches the site of Bangour Junction on the single line branch in June 2007. ...
James Young 26/06/2007
With redoubling and bridge alterations complete, a Bathgate - Waverley service approaches the site of Bangour Jct on 18 March 2009. Electrification is ...
James Young 18/03/2009
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This station was east of the present Livingston North station. It was probably built for the Dechmont estate (no direct road to Dechmont House, but a road north to Dechmont Village). It was an early closure (not directly replaced by Dechmont [2nd]).
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This is a modern two platform station. The original Livingston [1st] station was further west.
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A Milngavie service enters Livingston North on 17 August 2018. If you want to get to the centre of Livingston from here I'd get the bus as it is two ...
David Panton 17/08/2018
An Edinburgh service pulls into Livingston North on 13 May 2021. Six carriages are more usual and with the reduced timetable there surely can't be a ...
David Panton 13/05/2021
Platform scene at Livingston North on 28 January 2008, with redoubling work in full swing. About to arrive at the single platform is a Waverley - ...
John Furnevel 28/01/2008
Work on the redoubling of the Bathgate line is apparent in this November 2007 view over Livingston North station. A Waverley - Bathgate DMU is about ...
John Furnevel 11/11/2007
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The single track line from Cawburn Junction divided here into two single track lines, running parallel and with the appearance of a double track railway, which ran west for over two miles to Bathgate [4th]. The northern line ran to the passenger station and southern to the car distribution sidings. The layout opened coinciding with the opening of the station in 1986.
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Carmondean looking west. The left track is the freight track for car trains and the right track is the passenger line. ...
Ewan Crawford 18/02/2006
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This was the original station in Livingston closed in 1948 along with other stations between Airdrie and Newbridge Junction. It was a two platform station. There was a dock at the east end of the westbound platform, the line serving this coming from a long siding on the south side of the line, approached from the west. The signal box was to the west of the station and on the south side of ...

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Approximately a quarter of a mile further on towards Bathgate from Livingston North is the site of the original Livingston station, seen here in July ...
James Young /07/2007
The brave new world of Livingston new town makes for a strange contrast with a traditional North British Railway building at the former Livingston ...
Frank Spaven Collection (Courtesy David Spaven) 23/02/1965
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An abortive turnout was installed here for an STVA depot (the original site having been taken over for the site of Bathgate LMD. The turnout remains in place (2020) but is unlikely to be used. There is a facing crossover and approach is from the east.
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This junction opened in 1875 to serve the Seafield Oil Works near West Calder. The branch, North British Railway owned, was single track. The junction made a trailing connection with a trailing crossover to the west. The signal box was to the north of the junction.
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West Calder Branch (North British Railway)
''Ehhhh... Thats all Folks!''. Preliminary trackwork in connection with the planned relocation of the Bathgate STVA car terminal in August ...
John Furnevel 14/08/2006
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West Calder Branch Junction was moved further west in 1920, this brought it closer to Bathgate Shed and Bathgate Yard which now had looped sidings rather than sidings only approached from the west. The new box controlled their eastern approach. The new connection was trailing but with a facing crossover. The West Calder Branch Junction box was replaced with a new box 'Bathgate East' at ...

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ScotRail EMU 334029 passing below the A7066 at Boghall on the eastern approach to Bathgate on a wet 19 December 2019, with what appears to be major ...
John Furnevel 19/12/2019
The 0826 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh Waverley accelerates east away from a gloomy Bathgate through light rain on the morning of 19 December 2019. ...
John Furnevel 19/12/2019
A Bathgate - Edinburgh ScotRail service, photographed shortly after passing Bathgate East Junction on 14 August 2008. The line that once diverged at ...
John Furnevel 14/08/2008
A Milngavie - Edinburgh Waverley service runs past the site of Bathgate East Junction on a wet and misty morning in late December 2019. View is west ...
John Furnevel 19/12/2019
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To the immediate west (the west side of Blackburn Road) of the former Bathgate East Junction [2nd] is the turn out for Bathgate LMD.
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Recent tracklaying half a mile east of Bathgate in August 2008 during work on the Airdrie - Bathgate reopening. View north across the formation ...
John Furnevel 14/08/2008
A ScotRail service for Newcraighall runs through a sea of fresh ballast shortly after leaving Bathgate terminus in July 2008. The Bathgate route was ...
John Furnevel 31/07/2008
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This is a Light Maintenance Depot to the east of Bathgate station and on the south side of the line. It was opened in connection with the electrification of the line and re-opening west to Airdrie (and Drumgelloch).
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The 1126 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh Waverley, shortly after leaving Bathgate station on 26 April 2018. A location much changed in the past 10 ...
John Furnevel 26/04/2018
The light maintenance and stabling bays forming part of the ScotRail facilities on the south side of Bathgate station, photographed on 15 May 2015. As ...
John Furnevel 15/05/2015
View west towards Bathgate on 25 July 2008. ...
John Furnevel 25/07/2008
Bathgate east end on 4 October 2009. ...
Bill Roberton 04/10/2009
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Bathgate shed was east of Bathgate Upper and on the north side of the line. This six road shed was replaced in 1954 with a new four road shed on the same site. Approach was from the east. It was the third shed in Bathgate.
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The end is nigh. View between the advertising hoardings fronting Edinburgh Road on 28 August 2009, showing part of the remaining skeleton of Bathgate ...
John Furnevel 28/08/2009
Dereliction at Bathgate in the summer of 2008. View north east across the front of the old running shed with the former shed offices in the background ...
John Furnevel 31/07/2008
The former Bathgate shed (latterly BR code 64F) photographed looking north west on 23 September 2008, with Edinburgh Road off picture to the right. At ...
John Furnevel 23/09/2008
J36 0-6-0 no 65345 enjoying the sunshine in the yard at Bathgate in the summer of 1966. ...
K A Gray //1966
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The western approach to Bathgate LMD is immediately east of Bathgate station.
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This is a new two platform station which occupies a site east of the Bathgate [4th] terminus. The large car park to the north of the station is built on the site of Bathgate Shed.
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At first glance this shot looks back to front, but in 2005 when it was taken the double track section into Bathgate was still being operated as two ...
John Clark 05/03/2005
This is the 'Memory wall' at Bathgate Station. ...
John Yellowlees 09/05/2017
A ScotRail 158 DMU on a shuttle service to Waverley photographed during turnaround at Bathgate on 20 October 2010. The new station had opened two days ...
John Furnevel 20/10/2010
A Helensburgh service draws to a stop at Bathgate on 18 June 2019. Unusually the station signs here do not bear a Gaelic version of the name even ...
David Panton 18/06/2019
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This junction was created in 1850 when the 1849 Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway was met by the Longridge to Bathgate (Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway) line just east of Bathgate [1st] station. The connection faced Edinburgh, allowing goods and minerals to run through whereas passenger trains would need to reverse to reach Bathgate station.
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Longridge to Bathgate (Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway)
NBR J36 0-6-0 65345 with the Scottish Rambler No 5 railtour at Bathgate on 11th April 1966. ...
Robin McGregor 11/04/1966
An Edinburgh service approaches Bathgate on 18 June 2019. ...
David Panton 18/06/2019
Winter sunlight catches J36 65243 'Maude', approaching the signalbox for Bathgate Yard, with a trainload of coal from a local colliery on 8th January ...
Robin McGregor 08/01/1965
An afternoon train for Newcraighall via Waverley leaving the single line terminus at Bathgate during heavy rain on 19 August 2008. To the right of the ...
John Furnevel 19/08/2008
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This was the fourth station to be opened in Bathgate and, when opened, the first in the town for twenty years following the closure of Bathgate Upper in 1956.
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A promotion-rate ticket for the (re)opening day of Edinburgh to Bathgate services in March 1986. A representative of a fantastic new Class called a ...
David Panton 24/03/1986
Sunshine on Bathgate. A recent arrival at the 1986 single line terminus stands at the buffer stops on 11 September 2009. ...
John Furnevel 11/09/2009
A ScotRail service for Newcraighall waits to leave Bathgate terminus on a December afternoon in 2004. ...
John Furnevel 05/12/2004
The word 'compact' probably best describes the 1986 single line terminus at Bathgate, seen here in August 2008 with a recently arrived service from ...
John Furnevel 19/08/2008
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This was the first station in Bathgate. It appeared in working timetables as Bathgate E&G as that company operated the independent Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway.
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Cars and vans unloaded in the sidings which were located next to the Bathgate terminus. This site is now a retail estate. The closed terminus station ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
Bathgate goods depot - 1980s. Note the Cartics in the background. ...
Jim Peebles //
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