Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal
Introduction
This canal was intended to run from Port Eglinton, south side of Glasgow, to Ardrossan via Paisley. It did not reach Ardrossan. It ran between Glasgow and Johnstone, opened throughout in 1811. The canal was purchased in 1869 by the Glasgow and South Western Railway, which had hoped to develop a new railway along the route with the Caledonian Railway - rejected by the first company's shareholders. In 1881, an Act of Parliament was passed to close the canal. Closure was required as a new railway was to, roughly, follow the canal route. Although for some portions the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow ans South Western Railway) the railway ran along the course of the former canal, for much of the length it crisscrossed over the former route. The new line opened in 1885.
Dates
| / /1791 | Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal Proposed by Earl of Eglinton. (The route between Elderslie and Port Eglinton Basin was later used by the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)). |
| / /1806 | Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal Act for canal receives assent. |
| / /1807 | Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal Construction begins. (The route between Elderslie and Port Eglinton Basin was later used by the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)). |
| / /1811 | Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal Last section built into Port Eglinton Basin, Glasgow. The canal ran from Johnstone to Port Eglinton Basin. An aqueduct across the Clyde to join up with the Forth and Clyde Canal was considered, but not built. (The route between Elderslie and Port Eglinton Basin was later used by the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)). |
| 01/08/1811 | Govan Waggonway William Dixon [Junior] buys land from the Corporation of Glasgow for building a waggonway from the Govan Colliery at Govanhill to the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal at Port Eglinton Basin. |
| / /1820 | Hurlet Colliery Tramway Hurlet Waggonway opened from Hurlet collieries and chemical works (owned by Charles Mackintosh & Co) to Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal. |
| / /1837 | Govan Iron Works William Dixon [Junior] opens the Govan Iron Works ('Dixon's Blazes'), for bar iron. It was built near the Govanhill Colliery on the south bank of the River Clyde near Glasgow and Port Eglinton Basin of the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal. |
| / /1840 | Ardrossan Railway Railway separated financially from the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal (but taking a portion of debt, £29,150). |
| / /1842 | Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway Short branch to Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal opened. (Eglinton Street Goods on the north side of the Port Eglinton Basin). |
| / /1869 | Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal
Glasgow and South Western Railway
The Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal is purchased by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. (Later the route of the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway).) |
| 09/02/1870 | Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal
Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Glasgow and South Western Railway shareholders refused possibility of joint ownership of proposed line. |
| 01/07/1885 | Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Opened from Port Eglinton Junction to Elderslie Junction. The line uses much of the former route of the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal, the line runs skew across a former aqueduct bridge at Paisley Hawkhead. The canal route under the main line at Elderslie was used for a link to the Bridge of Weir Railway so that Greenock Princes Pier [1st] bound trains did not have to cross the track used by Ayr to Glasgow trains. The former Port Eglinton Basin becomes the Port Eglinton Goods depot. |
Locations along the line
These locations are along the line.
The basin was the eastern extreme of the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal. It opened in 1811. The Glasgow and South Western Railway owned the canal from 1869.
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See also
Polloc and Govan Railway
This stone built converted canal aqueduct crosses the White Cart Water between Hawkhead (to the east) and Paisley Canal (west) by means of a single 84 ft arch.
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See also
Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 05/05/1953
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 05/05/1953
