Glasgow and Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway)

Introduction

This line is open and carries a regular passenger service. The line was initially authorised for the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway as the Glasgow and Coatbridge Railway.

This line was then developed by the North British Railway to replace the previously proposed Glasgow, Airdrie and Monkland Junction Railway of 1846 which was not successful (despite having agreed to purchase the then site of the University of Glasgow for a terminus and relocate it to Glasgow's West End land was purchased in preparation - the line was not built and the University moved west at a later date to a different site from the earlier planned site).






Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Glasgow to Coatbridge

This was the terminus of the line east to Airdrie.
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The northern part of College Goods Yard. How are the mighty fallen. View looks east. Airdrie line to left, CGU to right. This location was the west ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
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This is the junction to the east of High Street station where the line east to Airdrie is met with the freight and empty stock movements line from Pollok Junction.
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See also
City of Glasgow Union Railway
High Street Junction looking west. The St Johns link would create a triangle here. Left to right; GSW link to Bridgeton Central (lifted), CGU, College ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
High Street East Junction (now High Street Junction) looking west. Left to right; CGU line, College goods (closed), GCDR and High Street Goods ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
To the east of High Street East Junction looking west. The line to the Barracks mineral yard was to the left, then the High Street signalbox and then ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
334025 on an Edinburgh - Milngavie service begins the descent to High Street station and the low level tunnel section of the line on 24th January ...
Colin McDonald 24/01/2015
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This mineral depot was opened around 1907 as part of the North British Railway's improvements to its goods facilities in Glasgow.
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Remains of the fan out of lines at the former Barracks Mineral Depot looking south-east in 1987. The GSW and NBR links to Bridgeton Central both ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
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This quadruple track tunnel is 220 yards long. Only two tracks presently run through it from High Street Junction to Bellgrove station.
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Looking over the Bellgrove Street parapet towards Bellgrove Tunnel, with the former cattle market above, on 2 August 2020. Double track avoiding lines ...
Bill Roberton 02/08/2020
Just west of Bellgrove the line dives under the Glasgow cattle market (closed). View looks east. ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
Looking west from Bellgrove the line dives under the Glasgow cattle market (closed). The Bellgrove Independent Tunnel, carrying goods only lines, is ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
3 of 3 images.


The Glasgow cattle market moved to Bellgrove in 1817. The market was rebuilt several times and this market dates from around the 1870s.
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This is an island platform station. There was a slim station building at the east end of the station and a canopied at the west end, the slim building outlasting the sizeable canopy into the late 1980s. A shelter now adorns the platform. A heavy brick built retaining wall with recesses borders the north side of the site.
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A Balloch to Airdrie service arrives at Bellgrove on 14 August 2021 with 318253 leading and 320319 on the rear. ...
John McIntyre 14/08/2021
A Dalmuir to Cumbernauld service at Bellgrove on 5 August. There's not really such a place as Bellgrove; it's just the name of a Street here in ...
David Panton 05/08/2017
Looking east along the island platform at Bellgrove as a Milngavie to Springburn service departs on 14 August 2021. ...
John McIntyre 14/08/2021
334021 calls at Bellgrove with a Helensburgh Central to Edinburgh service on 2nd August 2020. The overgrown ground on the left was formerly the course ...
Bill Roberton 02/08/2020
4 of 26 images. more




Sword Street Mineral Depot ...

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Bellgrove East signal box was at Bellgrove Junction, the first version being on the north side of the junction. This was replaced in 1904 when the line was quadrupled. The new box - somewhat narrower than typical boxes - was in the 'V' of the junction and surrounded by lines thanks to the complications of the passenger and goods lines. (To the west the southern of the four through lines were the ...

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See also
City of Glasgow Union Railway
The Dropper has come loose from the Contact Wire. This was noticed just East of Duke Street ...
Colin Harkins 29/08/2006
An unidentified electric multiple unit, sandwiched between two translator coaches, is hauled by 47805 up the gradient towards Eastfield on 23rd ...
Colin McDonald 23/12/2015
The 11:10 service to Cumbernauld passes the SPAD signal see image 33386 on 6 October approaching the single lead Bellgrove Junction. It is about ...
Colin McDonald 06/10/2014
320 321 comes off the Springburn branch at Bellgrove Junction on 26 March 2011 with a Dalmuir service. ...
David Panton 26/03/2011
4 of 10 images. more


This goods yard was on the south side of the Glasgow and Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway), east of East Nelson Street, with lines approaching from the east.
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A Hyndland - Easterhouse train passing Camlachie box on 1 May 1958 behind V1 2-6-2T 67633. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 01/05/1958
V1 67661 at Camlachie on 1 May 1958 with a Hyndland - Shettleston train, with PW work taking place in the goods yard on the left. See image 50798 ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 01/05/1958
26011 shunting scrap wagons in the former Camlachie Goods Yard, here reduced to a single track serving a scrapyard in 1988. See image 51978 ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
3 of 3 images.




This signal box was to the west of Parkhead North station and controlled its western approach. The box was on the north side of the line. The Switchback (Caledonian Railway) crossed overhead just to the east.
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This forge in Parkhead, north east Glasgow, was built around 1837 for Reoch Brothers & Co. The oldest part was on the south side of New Road by the junction with Old Edinburgh Road. In 1841 David Napier took over the Parkhead Forge.
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See also
The Switchback (Caledonian Railway)


This was a two platform station. To the south were two goods lines, and a yard. To the east was Parkhead Shed and Parkhead Junction [NB].
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Looking north east from the car park of The Forge shopping centre towards the junction of Duke Street and Shettleston Road in the spring of 2007. The ...
John Furnevel 25/03/2007
Between the Bridges ... old and new. ...
Colin Harkins 29/08/2006
The disused railway bridge over Duke Street across from the Forge Shopping Centre. ...
Colin Harkins 29/08/2006
Looking underneath the disused bridge at Duke Street, Glasgow ... is it me or does picture have movement?? ...
Colin Harkins 29/08/2006
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The lines from Bellgrove and Alexandra Parade met here. The junction was east of Parkhead North station. The signal box was on the north side of the junction. Opposite on the south side of the line was Parkhead Shed and to its east a goods yard. On the north side of the line was Parkhead Railway Wheel and Axle Works.
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See also
City of Glasgow Union Railway
British Rail Subsiduary marking on bridge... BRB site quote Glasgow: Former Haghill Branch from Todd Street to Cumbernauld Road G-HHB-577-1A. ...
Colin Harkins 29/08/2006
Underneath the Parkhead branch line of the City of Glasgow Union Railway. ...
Colin Harkins 29/08/2006
Half a mile north west of Parkhead Junction the CGU line to Haghill crossed two major roads near their meeting point. Photograph taken in April 2009 ...
John Furnevel 02/04/2009
Remains of overbridge to path below at Parkhead looking toward Haghill. ...
Colin Harkins 29/08/2006
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This shed was south of the Glasgow and Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway) and east of Parkhead North station. It was a double ended shed and access was from the west and east.
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J36 0-6-0 No. 65211 was withdrawn in 1962 and is enduring the hard winter at
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Colin Kirkwood 23/02/1963
J37 0-6-0 64588 photographed on Parkhead shed in September 1961. ...
K A Gray 25/09/1961
J37 no 64561 stands in the shed yard at Parkhead around 1963. ...
Jim Peebles //1963
Photograph taken in the shed yard at 65C Parkhead on 3 April 1961. Locomotives present include Gresley V3 2-6-2T 67611, stabled alongside classmate ...
K A Gray 03/04/1961
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This is a two platform station elevated above surrounding streets.
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An Edinburgh service pulls into Carntyne on 5 August. ...
David Panton 05/08/2017
An Edinburgh to Milngavie service calls at Carntyne in the east end of Glasgow on 8 September 2018. The unlovely area around the station is nothing ...
David Panton 08/09/2018
Carntyne station, looking west. ...
Ewan Crawford //
New ScotRail branding seen at Carntyne station on 14 May 2010, with the station name in Gaelic now added. ...
John Yellowlees 14/05/2010
4 of 19 images. more


This signal box was at the west end of Shettleston station. In addition to the line it controlled access to various works.
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A Hyndland - Shettleston train passes Shettleston West signal box on final approach to its destination on 28 April 1958. The locomotive in charge is ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 28/04/1958
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This is a two platform station on the former North British Railway's Glasgow to Coatbridge line. The main station building is on the westbound platform with a car park to the south.
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Hidden away at the east end of Platform 1 at Shettleston, this rather fine station garden goes almost unnoticed by many daily commuters. April 2018. ...
Colin McDonald 21/04/2018
An Airdrie to Balloch service calls at Shettleston on 13 July 2019. The curse of the mystery red barrier strikes again. ...
David Panton 13/07/2019
318260, leading a six coach Balloch to Airdrie service, calls at 'Baile Nighean Sheadna' on 14 October 2017. [Google translates this as 'Home ...
David Panton 14/10/2017
A 6-coach Class 334 on an Edinburgh – Helensburgh service passes through Shettleston station at speed on a sunny May evening. ...
Colin McDonald 08/05/2017
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This rail served permanent way depot is to the immediate south of the former Shettleston Junction and just east of Shettleston station. The depot may date from the opening of the Hamilton branch in 1877. ...

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67012 waits in the Shettleston loop, on the tail of the Railhead Treatment Train, in November 2020. 67020 is at the head. ...
Colin McDonald 19/11/2020
On a sunny autumn morning, 67020 waits in Shettleston loop at the head of the Railhead Treatment Train. 67012 is on the tail, sitting on the bridge ...
Colin McDonald 19/11/2020
Early morning view through the trees over the Network Rail Depot at Shettleston on 14th December 2018. The exit from Shettleston loop is in the left ...
Colin McDonald 14/12/2018
Taking a rest from the nightly grind, a Strabag SF02 road-rail milling unit waits at Network Rail's Shettleston depot on 22 February 2017. ...
Colin McDonald 22/02/2017
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This junction between the North British Railway's Glasgow-Coatbridge line and the Hamilton Branch opened in 1877 and closed on 04/10/1965, with the closure of the line to Mount Vernon Colliery. There was a small set of sidings on the Hamilton branch and a Glasgow bound loop.
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See also
Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Railway
Taken from the point where the line crossed under Eastmuir Street (now Shettleston Road), this is the view in 2017 northwest along the course of the ...
Colin McDonald 20/03/2017
The twin bridges at Shettleston showing forewarning of a road closure for inspection. (But for which bridge?)
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Colin McDonald 29/03/2019
The trackbed at the start of the GBH&C in 2017, now part of the yard at the Network Rail Shettleston Depot. Behind the fence survives the 3 track ...
Colin McDonald 17/03/2017
Gartocher Road (Disused) states the small yellow sign on the right. Not so, as anyone who tries to stand in the middle of the road to ...
Colin McDonald 20/03/2017
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This yard was east of Shettleston Junction on the North British Railway's Glasgow-Coatbridge line. The yard survived, in much reduced form, into the 1980s. Some track remains, out of use. A looped sidings remains on the south side of the line running from the east part of the yard to Shettleston Junction.
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Assorted pieces of plant pictured at dusk at the north side of Shettleston junction. These seem have been here for some years. ...
Colin McDonald 21/03/2017
Parkhead V3 67643 approaching Shettleston on 14 April 1958 with an Easterhouse - Hyndland train. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 14/04/1958
Shettleston Yard was in use as an extensive PW depot in 1988. The yard was formerly associated with various local works such as the Mount Vernon Iron ...
Ewan Crawford //1988
Mysterious objects stand guard among the trees in the twilight at the north side of the railway at Shettleston junction. These may be the stored ...
Colin McDonald 21/03/2017
4 of 6 images. more


This signal box controlled the east approach to Shettleston Yard. It was on the south side of the line. The railway was quadruple track through the yard, there being an up and down loop. It dropped down to a double track again at Shettleston Junction to the west.
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This works was located to the east of Shettleston Yard and south of the North British Railway's Glasgow-Coatbridge line.
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This is a two platform station.
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Notice displayed at the entrance to Garrowhill, while the station was having its platforms rebuilt during April 2021.
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John Yellowlees 30/04/2021
Garrowhill, opened as a halt in 1927, is now having its platforms rebuilt. The eastbound one has been done, and now it's the turn of the westbound.
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John Yellowlees 30/04/2021
A Helensburgh service calls at Garrowhill on 14 October 2017. Formerly Garrowhill Halt it retains its halt-like ticket office at Street level.
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David Panton 14/10/2017
An Airdrie to Balloch service calls at Garrowhill on 25 August 2018. In the days when these things mattered this was 'Garrowhill Halt' and it still ...
David Panton 25/08/2018
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This is a two platform station. It is located between Easterhouse itself (to the north) and Swinton to the south. North of the ststion runs the M8, formerly the Monkland Canal. To the south was Hallhill Colliery Pit No 1.
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An Edinburgh to Helensburgh service calls at Easterhouse on 21 February 2019. The diet of 334s on this line seems to be unvarying. The station is ...
David Panton 21/02/2019
A Balloch to Airdrie service calls at Easterhouse on 19 May. The name is rather freighted, but the troubled public housing estate is some distance ...
David Panton 19/05/2018
320 320 runs into Easterhouse station with an Airdrie service on 26 March 2011. ...
David Panton 26/03/2011
Easterhouse station, looking west. ...
Ewan Crawford //
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This was a two platform station with the main building on the Glasgow bound platform. Although there was little housing in the area there were a number of coal mines. The main station building was on the westbound platform and signalbox on the eastbound.
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Before the Glasgow and Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway) opened Drumpeller Colliery, to the east, was served by a canal branch on the north side of the Monkland Canal.
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Obscure signalboxes: Heatheryknowe. This was located west of Blairhill at the former Heatheryknowe Junction where lines to Lochwood and Heatheryknowe ...
Ewan Crawford /12/1989
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This is a two platform station. The station building is above the westbound platform with a footbridge running to the eastbound platform. To the south of the station is the car park. The station serves the north west of Coatbridge.
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320315 approaching Blaihill station with a Balloch to Airdrie train on 3rd August 2017. ...
Alastair McLellan 03/08/2017
320411 approaching Blairhill station with a Airdrie to Balloch service on 3rd August 2017.
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Alastair McLellan 03/08/2017
The temporary(?) ticket office at Blairhill was already looking a bit weathered in July 1997 but was to stay in use for an incredible 20 more years ...
David Panton 17/07/1997
A new overbridge,lifts and entrance from the new car park. 8/10/16. ...
Alastair McLellan 08/10/2016
4 of 29 images. more


This signal box was located at the west end of the Summerlee Yard on the south side of Sunnyside Junction. The final form of this yard was laid out when the Glasgow and Coatbridge Branch (North British Railway) opened in 1870. [[Sunnyside Junction was where the Hornock Deviation met the Glasgow and Coatbridge. The original Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway was different.
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This junction is the successor to the original junction between the main line of the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway and the Kipps branch, and the line to Glasgow.
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See also
Hornock Deviation (Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway)
303037 is seen coming off the Whifflet route at Sunnyside Junction in June 1991 with a service for Dalmuir. ...
Roger Geach Collection /06/1991
303058 enters the single track to Whifflet at Sunnyside Junction in June 1991. ...
Roger Geach Collection /06/1991
The stub of what was latterly the Gunnie branch with the track visible through the undergrowth in 2019 ...
Alastair McLellan 06/03/2019
37059 passing Summerlee with the Network Rail test train on 11th July 2019. A preserved West German tram is in the background, although the ...
Alastair McLellan 11/07/2019
4 of 30 images. more





High Street Goods

This was a large goods depot in Glasgow. The depot was on the east side of High Street, just north of High Street station. A large number of sidings served a goods warehouse, approach to the yard was from the east.
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One of the original firebells from the former High Street Goods station, retained along with the brick facade and now a feature on the north wall of ...
Colin McDonald 27/01/2015
High Street Goods shed looking west. ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
Part of the surviving exterior wall of the former NB High Street goods depot. Photographed looking south east along Duke Street in May 2006. Note the ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
View east along Duke Street from the junction with High Street on 27 January 2015 showing the surviving wall of High Street goods station incorporated ...
Colin McDonald 27/01/2015
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This signal box controlled the east end of High Street Goods. It opened around 1904 and closed in 1967. The goods depot remained open until 1982. The shell of the box survived into the 2000s. ...

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A digger menaces the old control cabin for the High Street Goods Yard. The whole area is being redeveloped and this building cannot have long left to ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
View west over High Street Junction, CGU to left GC&DR to right, showing the cabin which controlled the North British Railway's High Street Goods. To ...
Ewan Crawford //1989
2 of 2 images.


This is the junction to the east of High Street station where the line east to Airdrie is met with the freight and empty stock movements line from Pollok Junction.
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See also
City of Glasgow Union Railway
High Street Junction looking west. The St Johns link would create a triangle here. Left to right; GSW link to Bridgeton Central (lifted), CGU, College ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
High Street East Junction (now High Street Junction) looking west. Left to right; CGU line, College goods (closed), GCDR and High Street Goods ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
To the east of High Street East Junction looking west. The line to the Barracks mineral yard was to the left, then the High Street signalbox and then ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
334025 on an Edinburgh - Milngavie service begins the descent to High Street station and the low level tunnel section of the line on 24th January ...
Colin McDonald 24/01/2015
4 of 7 images. more





Bellgrove Goods Lines

This signal box controlled the east end of High Street Goods. It opened around 1904 and closed in 1967. The goods depot remained open until 1982. The shell of the box survived into the 2000s. ...

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A digger menaces the old control cabin for the High Street Goods Yard. The whole area is being redeveloped and this building cannot have long left to ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
View west over High Street Junction, CGU to left GC&DR to right, showing the cabin which controlled the North British Railway's High Street Goods. To ...
Ewan Crawford //1989
2 of 2 images.


This is the junction to the east of High Street station where the line east to Airdrie is met with the freight and empty stock movements line from Pollok Junction.
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More details

See also
City of Glasgow Union Railway
High Street Junction looking west. The St Johns link would create a triangle here. Left to right; GSW link to Bridgeton Central (lifted), CGU, College ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
High Street East Junction (now High Street Junction) looking west. Left to right; CGU line, College goods (closed), GCDR and High Street Goods ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
To the east of High Street East Junction looking west. The line to the Barracks mineral yard was to the left, then the High Street signalbox and then ...
Ewan Crawford 05/05/2006
334025 on an Edinburgh - Milngavie service begins the descent to High Street station and the low level tunnel section of the line on 24th January ...
Colin McDonald 24/01/2015
4 of 7 images. more


This tunnel carried a double track goods and minerals line parallel and to the north of the Glasgow to Coatbridge Sunnyside and Airdrie line. It was opened to relieve pressure on the passenger lines to the south. It connected High Street Goods to the City of Glasgow Union Railway (just north of Bellgrove Junction) and on to Cadder Marshalling Yard.
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Bellgrove East signal box was at Bellgrove Junction, the first version being on the north side of the junction. This was replaced in 1904 when the line was quadrupled. The new box - somewhat narrower than typical boxes - was in the 'V' of the junction and surrounded by lines thanks to the complications of the passenger and goods lines. (To the west the southern of the four through lines were the ...

More details

See also
City of Glasgow Union Railway
The Dropper has come loose from the Contact Wire. This was noticed just East of Duke Street ...
Colin Harkins 29/08/2006
An unidentified electric multiple unit, sandwiched between two translator coaches, is hauled by 47805 up the gradient towards Eastfield on 23rd ...
Colin McDonald 23/12/2015
The 11:10 service to Cumbernauld passes the SPAD signal see image 33386 on 6 October approaching the single lead Bellgrove Junction. It is about ...
Colin McDonald 06/10/2014
320 321 comes off the Springburn branch at Bellgrove Junction on 26 March 2011 with a Dalmuir service. ...
David Panton 26/03/2011
4 of 10 images. more