In 1860 the first part of the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway opened, climbing from the 1849 Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) to the higher ground to the west at High Blantyre and then turn south, ultimately reaching Strathaven [Flemington]. In particular this line would, for its northern portion between Hamilton and Quarter, serve many collieries en route.
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This was the western apex of a triangle of junctions north of Hamilton West and south of Blantyre. The northern apex was Blantyre Junction [CR] and southern Strathaven Junction.
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This was the junction for Blantyre Colliery Pit No 4 which was north west of the junction, between Blantyre and High Blantyre on the former Hamilton and Strathaven Railway.
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Hunthill Junction was immediately north of High Blantyre, which unfortunately was not served by it. Just west on the East Kilbride route was the Rotten Calder Viaduct.
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This was a two platform station on a double track line. The station buildings were typical Caledonian Railway style with a footbridge at the north end. Hunthill Junction was not far to the north.
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This was the signal box for Udston Colliery. The colliery was on the west side of the line and the signal box on the east side at the point of connection.
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This signal box was located between Udston Box (to the north, a box south of High Blantyre) and Earnock Junction (to the south, a box north of Meikle Earnock). There was a loading bank served by sidings north and south off a short loop on the west side of the line. The box was on the south of Wellhall Road, on the east side of the line.
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This was the junction for the mineral line to Earnock Quarry, Stewartfield Quarry and Hartfield Quarry. From the junction the siding ran north east, passed through a loop, swung over the main line and ran west to a reversing spur with a loop near Udston. From there it continued to the quarries.
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This was a two platform station to the south west of Meikle Earnock village itself. A number of mines opened nearby. Both platforms had buildings, a waiting shelter on the northbound and small station building on the southbound.
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This was the junction for the Eddlewood Colliery and Neilsland Colliery. Both were on the east side of the line and the branch ran north from the junction to serve the collieries.
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This was the site of a short lived station around 1869. It was located at Quarter Iron Works Junction.
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This was a single platform station west of the village of Quarter. The platform was on the east (village) side of the single track line. There was a small goods yard on the east side, approached from the north. The signal box was at the south end of the station, west side of the line, just north of a level crossing.
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This station was a mile west of the village of Glassford. The station had a platform on the east (village) side of a single line.
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This junction was north of Strathaven. It was formed between the 1863 Hamilton and Strathaven Railway and the 1904 Mid Lanark Lines (Caledonian Railway), a set of lines and connection made to link together the Caledonian Railway's lines in the area. Part of this was an extension west from Stonehouse [Lanarkshire] to Darvel. The line from Whiteshawgate would connect to this ...

This was the terminus of the line from Hamilton. The station was at Flemington, just to the north east of Strathaven.
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This junction was directly south of Blantyre station. It was between the 1849 Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) and a curve opened in 1882 to allow coal trains from the 1860 Hamilton and Strathaven Railway direct access to Glasgow without reversal at Strathaven Junction. The far end of the curve was at Auchinraith Junction (also spelled Auchenraith).
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This was the western apex of a triangle of junctions north of Hamilton West and south of Blantyre. The northern apex was Blantyre Junction [CR] and southern Strathaven Junction.
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This was the western apex of a triangle of junctions north of Hamilton West and south of Blantyre. The northern apex was Blantyre Junction [CR] and southern Strathaven Junction.
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This junction on the North British Railway's Blantyre branch gave access to Auchinraith Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2. To the east was Birdsfield Siding and the connection to the main NBR Hamilton branch at Blantyre Junction [NBR].
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The Blantyre Colliery was owned by William Smith Dixon. ...

This was the junction for Blantyre Colliery Pit No 4 which was north west of the junction, between Blantyre and High Blantyre on the former Hamilton and Strathaven Railway.
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This was a two platform station on a double track line. The station buildings were typical Caledonian Railway style with a footbridge at the north end. Hunthill Junction was not far to the north.
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The Blantyre Colliery was owned by William Smith Dixon. The 1877 mining disaster was an explosion at nos 2 and particularly 3 pits leaving an appalling 207 dead. ...

The Blantyre Colliery was owned by William Smith Dixon. The 1877 mining disaster was an explosion at nos 2 and particularly 3 pits leaving an appalling 207 dead.
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This was the signal box for Udston Colliery. The colliery was on the west side of the line and the signal box on the east side at the point of connection.
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This was the junction for the mineral line to Earnock Quarry, Stewartfield Quarry and Hartfield Quarry. From the junction the siding ran north east, passed through a loop, swung over the main line and ran west to a reversing spur with a loop near Udston. From there it continued to the quarries.
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This was the junction for the Eddlewood Colliery and Neilsland Colliery. Both were on the east side of the line and the branch ran north from the junction to serve the collieries.
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This was the site of a short lived station around 1869. It was located at Quarter Iron Works Junction.
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This junction was north of Quarter station and was the start of a branch to the Quarter Iron Works. The branch was approached from the north.
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This iron works was located at the former mining village of Quarter, just to its north. The site of the furnaces has been built over in recent years. Portions of the partly landscaped remains of the mineral railways approaching the site remain.
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