Paisley and Renfrew Railway

Introduction

This 3 mile long line is closed. It ran on the east bank of the Cart from Paisley to a wharf at Renfrew on the south bank of the Clyde. It is an old line which was originally not connected to others, opening in 1837 and built to the 4ft 6in gauge. Although opened with locomotive haulage it reverted to horse haulage between 1842 and 1866. Re-gauged to standard gauge. Some of its course is now a footpath and some is a roadway through the Babcock and Wilcox Works.





Dates

  /  /1835Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Act receives Royal assent.
21/07/1835Paisley and Renfrew Railway
First 3 miles opened.
03/04/1837Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Opened throughout. This 4ft 6in line ran from Paisley Hamilton Street (near the later Paisley Abercorn) to Renfrew Wharf. Locomotives were used.
24/07/1847Paisley and Renfrew RailwayGlasgow, Paisley Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Paisley and Renfrew Railway absorbed by Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.
  /  /1863Paisley and Renfrew Railway Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway
Curve to connect the Paisley and Renfrew Railway to the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway authorised. A goods station at Garrowhill (Greenlaw Goods) is also authorised for the Glasgow and South Western Railway, with the option for the Caledonian Railway that is become a joint goods station.
24/03/1863Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway agrees terms of access to the Paisley and Renfrew Railway for the Caledonian Railway. This was in advance of a curve connecting the Paisley and Renfrew Railway to the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway which would open in 1866.
  /  /1866Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Curve opened from Abercorn Junction (Paisley and Renfrew Railway) to Gallowhill Junction (Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway).
  /  /1874Paisley and Renfrew Railway
The east end of the curve from Abercorn Junction on the Renfrew line is moved further east to Arkleston Junction.The curve itself is eased.
  /  /1891Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway grants the Caledonian Railway access to Cart Harbour.
  /  /1891Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Cart Harbour branch authorised for the Glasgow and South Western Railway, access authorised for the Caledonian Railway.
  /  /1911Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Extensions authorised for the Glasgow and South Western Railway (access granted to the Caledonian Railway).
  /  /1958Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Renfrew Wharf closed to goods (except oil traffic).
05/06/1967Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Renfrew Wharf to Arkleston Junction (excluded) closed to passengers. Renfrew Wharf, Renfrew Fulbar Street, South Renfrew, Sandyford Halt and Paisley Abercorn stations closed.
  /  /1977Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Final railtour to Renfrew Wharf.
  /  /1978Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Renfrew Wharf to South Renfrew closed.
05/01/1981Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Arkleston Junction to near Sandyford Halt closed officially (track remains until 1986).
  /  /1986Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Track lifted.

Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This was the Paisley terminus of the early Paisley and Renfrew Railway. It was on the north side of Hamilton Street in the west to middle of the block between Abercorn Street (west) and Renfrew Street (east). When opened it was on the northern edge of Paisley. This was the first station in Paisley, probably just called 'Paisley' on opening.
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The cold storage facility at the old Abercorn goods station, Paisley, being demolished in 1977. This was located to the west of Paisley Abercorn ...
David Douglas 01/05/1977
The highly attactive remains of Paisleys first station, Hamilton Street. ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
2 of 2 images.


Track feature ID plates. A is from the Paisley and Renfrew line next to Paisley Sewage works. ...
Alistair MacKenzie 01/12/1979
Junction between the line to the original Paisley Terminus (right) and the later curve via Paisley Abercorn to the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
2 of 2 images.








This signal box was between Abercorn Junction (to the south) and Sandyford Halt (to the north). The box controlled a loop for the Renfrew Mill, to the north, west side of Sandyford Halt and sidings for Sandyford Chemical Works (approached from the box) and Sandyford Metal Window Works (approached from the south), both to the south of the box.
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This was a private halt which was only short lived as a public station. It was a timber platform halt. The platform was on the west side of the line, just south of Wright Street.
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Site of the former Sandyford Halt station looking towards Paisley Abercorn in 1998. The station had a timber platform and sidings serving the works on ...
Ewan Crawford //1998
Looking north east from Sandyford Halt towards Renfrew Porterfield and Renfrew South. The line had recently been lifted. The Babcock and Wilcox works ...
Ewan Crawford //1987
2 of 2 images.




This was a two platform station which did not open with the line. The Renfrew Forge and Steel Works was already open on the west side of the line and the Albert Cabinet Works to the east. The former station is also known as 'Renfrew South'.
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View south over the site of Renfrew South station in 1998. By the time of this photograph it was the access road for the Babcock works. The building ...
Ewan Crawford //1998
At Renfrew South. CR type 4.6.0 54634. The Stephenson Locomotive Society Renfrew District Tour. ...
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 03/05/1952
2 of 2 images.




This two platform station was opened on the western edge of Renfrew when the railway was re-gauged, doubled and connected to the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway. The station was closer to the town than the terminus Renfrew Wharf which was on the south bank of the River Clyde to the north.
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Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80046 is ready to leave Renfrew Fulbar St with the only eastbound train of the day, the 16.41 to Glasgow St Enoch, on 16th June ...
Robin McGregor 16/06/1966
Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80046 draws into Renfrew Fulbar St with empty stock for the only eastbound train of the day, the 16.41 service to Glasgow St Enoch ...
Robin McGregor 16/06/1966
View south looking to Renfrew Fulbar Street in 1998. The station building, on the left, is now a house. ...
Ewan Crawford //1998
Site of former Fulbar Street Station on the Paisley Renfrew branch. ...
Alistair MacKenzie 01/10/1981
4 of 6 images. more


This junction was the fan out of rails to the south of Meadowside Street in Renfrew. It was just south of Renfrew Wharf station.
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Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80046 waits at Renfrew Wharf with the empty stock. It will shortly move up the line to Fulbar St to form the 16.41 service to ...
Robin McGregor 16/06/1966
Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80046 waits at Renfrew Wharf, with the empty stock for the 16.41 service from Fulbar St to Glasgow St Enoch, on 16th June 1966. ...
Robin McGregor 16/06/1966
The view south from Meadowside Street, Renfrew, in October 1977, showing the disused and heavily polluted tracks. The Renfrew Oil Refinery and ...
David Douglas /10/1977
Scene on the Paisley & Renfrew line just south of Wharf station looking towards Fulbar Street around 1966. The locomotive is BR Standard class 4 2-6-0 ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //1966
4 of 5 images. more


This engineering works and shipyard was particularly noted for the building of dredgers used for the construction and maintenance of harbours, with many overseas contracts.
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This is a view taken in 2000 looking to the east over the site of shipyards in Renfrew. The former fitting out basin and buildings on the right were ...
Ewan Crawford //2000
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Renfrew Oil Refinery viewed from Meadowside Street in October 1977. This refinery was on the east side of the former Renfrew Wharf station. ...
David Douglas /10/1977
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The terminus of the line from Paisley Hamilton Street was at a quay by the River Clyde, to the west of the Renfrew Ferry.
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A Metro Cammell DMU calls at Renfrew Wharf in August 1970, in the course of a Branch Line Society 'Glasgow South' railtour. ...
Brian Haslehust 29/08/1970
HR 103 sets off from a rather minimalist Renfrew Wharf station in pouring rain while heading the Easter Rambler No 4 on 17 April 1965. Note the Yoker ...
Colin Kirkwood 17/04/1965
Extract from the Scottish Region timetable for winter 1960-61 showing early morning services to Kilmacolm and Renfrew - with its three stations on ...
David Panton 12/09/1960
HR 103 at Renfrew Wharf on 17 April 1965 with Scottish Rambler No 4. ...
G W Robin 17/04/1965
4 of 11 images. more