Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway

Introduction

This was a branch from the Caledonian Railway, a light railway from its main line station at Elvanfoot which ran south west to Leadhills, where lead mining was a long established industry, and Wanlockhead, the highest point on any standard gauge railway in Britain. A portion of this closed standard gauge railway has been reopened as a narrow gauge tourist line. The line reached the highest point of any standard gauge railway in Britain and was built as a light railway. Construction involved use of mass concrete in viaducts.






Dates

  /  /1877Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
The Leadhills Silver-lead Mining Company approaches the Caledonian Railway to ask them to build a branch to Leadhills. At this time, the line is not built.
  /  /1897Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Light Railway order for the Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway, the route to be by the Elvan Water rather than by up Glen Gonnar.
  /  /1898Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Line authorised.
  /  /1899Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Construction of the line begins. Robert McAlpine employs approximately 100 men to build the line.
01/10/1901Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Elvanfoot to Leadhills opened. (Alternative date 5/10/1901).
  /  /1902Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Rispin Cleugh Viaduct built by Sir Robert McAlpine.
12/09/1902Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Leadhills to Wanlockhead opened to goods.
12/10/1902Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Leadhills to Wanlockhead opened for passengers.
02/01/1939Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Wanlockhead to Elvanfoot closed to all traffic.
  /  /1960Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Closed.
  /  /1983Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Leadhills & Wanlockhead Railway Society formed.
  /  /1986Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Track laying starts.
  /  /1988Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Service starts running over a quarter of a mine of track running south from the new Leadhills station.
  /  /1991Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway (Caledonian Railway)
Rispin Cleugh Viaduct demolished.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This was a two platform station on the Caledonian Railway main line with interchange for the Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway.
...

More details

See also
Caledonian Railway
Train passing Elvanfoot heading south. ...
Ewan Crawford 15/08/2004
A northbound First TransPennine Express 185 rounds the curve approaching Elvanfoot on 1 June 2009. The photograph is taken from near the bottom of ...
John McIntyre 01/06/2009
TESCO train passing Elvanfoot heading north. ...
Ewan Crawford 19/09/2007
A northbound Virgin Super Voyager approaches the site of Elvanfoot station on 01 June 2009. ...
John McIntyre 01/06/2009
4 of 24 images. more


This single track two arch concrete viaduct carried the Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway over the Elvan Water on the way to Elvanfoot.
...

More details
Bridge over Elvan Water on Wanlockhead branch, the Lowthers stand shrouded behind. ...
Clive Barlow 26/05/2006
Two arch viaduct at Toddle Moss viewed from the west. ...
Ewan Crawford 15/08/2004
Bridge over Elvan Water on Wanlockhead branch, the Lowthers stand shrouded behind. ...
Clive Barlow 26/05/2006
The old bridge at Elvanfoot on the route up to Leadhills and Wanlockhead in 2006. ...
John Furnevel 04/08/2006
4 of 9 images. more


This viaduct (also known as Risping Cleugh Viaduct) was built in 1891 by Sir Robert McAlpine & Co. It was an eight arch single track viaduct on a curve. The bridge was clad with terracotta bricks to improve its appearance.
...

More details
Risping Cleuch viaduct, east of Leadhills, in 1989. It was demolished two years later.
...
Bill Roberton //1989
View east from Risping Cleugh viaduct (now demolished) on the Wanlockhead branch. See image 6453 ...
John Robin 18/03/1967
The gracefully curved Risping Cleugh Viaduct near Leadhills on the Wanlockhead branch, built in 1891 by Sir Robert McAlpine & Co. The eight arch ...
John Robin 18/03/1967
3 of 3 images.


This was a single track timber shed to the north east of Leadhills station. The shed was approached from the south.
...

More details
Locomotive shed with inspection pit to the east of Leadhills. ...
Ewan Crawford 16/08/2004
1 of 1 images.




This is a station on a preserved narrow gauge railway. There is a platform, loop and sidings. It is the present northern terminus of the line.
...

More details
'LUCE' seen here at Leadhills 23 July 2017. A very wet day. ...
Peter Todd 23/07/2017
The leverframe inside the signal box at Leadhills on 11th July 2019, which I was informed came from Arrochar and Tarbet box. ...
Alastair McLellan 11/07/2019
Looking west from Leadhills station over the station signboard. ...
Ewan Crawford 15/08/2004
Signal box and array of signals at Leadhills on 11th July 2019. ...
Alastair McLellan 11/07/2019
4 of 26 images. more




This is a short timber platform, the current terminus of the line from Leadhills to the north.
...

More details
Heading for the hills, or at least Leadhills. Seen from above Glengonnar Halt a train heads away from the cutting on 21st September 2019.
...
Bill Roberton 21/09/2019
A passenger train at Glengonnar Halt, hauled by a 4wDM, on 21st September 2019.
...
Bill Roberton 21/09/2019
View looking to Wanlockhead from Glengonnar station in May 2003. The buffer is behind the camera. ...
Ewan Crawford 07/05/2003
The driver of Hunslet 0-4-0ST no 823 'Irish Mail' has a rest as his fireman takes a few pictures while the train waits at the halt on the ...
John McIntyre 11/07/1993
4 of 9 images. more


This was a terminus with a loop and sidings and a goods shed. There was no platform, (nor was there a platform at Leadhills) but there was a slightly raised area of flattened ground alongside the loop. Access to the carriages was by means of steps on the carriages. The station building was a lean-to built onto the side of the goods shed, just to the south of the loop.
...

More details
Former Knott End Railway veranda coach, built by Lancaster Railway carriage & Wagon in 1908, seen in LMS days after transfer to the Wanlockhead ...
Knott End Collection //
LMS era photograph of a Caley 0-4-4T with a mixed train at Wanlockhead. Of particular interest to the KERS is the veranda coach. This was one of four ...
Knott End Collection //
Looking north at the site of the former Wanlockhead station. ...
Ewan Crawford //
Looking towards Wanlockhead in 1989. The extension of the narrow gauge line from Glengonnar to Wanlockhead has been announced by the Lowthers Railway ...
Bill Roberton //1989
4 of 5 images. more