This railway connected Castle Douglas with Stranraer and Portpatrick, connecting steamers continuing the journey for passengers to Northern Ireland. It is perhaps best thought of by its original name, the British and Irish Grand Junction Railway with terminii, arguably, in London, Belfast and Dublin. It came to be jointly owned by larger companies. Much of the route was in remote areas of low population and the line was single track with passing places. The bulk of the route closed in the 1960s. A section of this line between Challoch Junction and Stranraer remains open and is used by ScotRail to provide services between Glasgow Central, Ayr and Stranraer as well as Kilmarnock and Carlisle. The bulk of this line is now closed. The line was known by the abbreviations PR, PPR and PP&W. It is fondly remembered as 'The Port Road'.
/ /1840 | Ayr and Dalmellington Railway Originally promoted as the Ayrshire and Galloway Railway it was to run from Ayr to Dalmellington and on to Castle Douglas to join the British and Irish Grand Junction Railway, which later was opened as the Portpatrick Railway. |
17/08/1857 | Portpatrick Railway Act receives Royal assent for line from Castle Douglas to Stranraer Town with branches to Stranraer Harbour and Portpatrick. |
/ /1861 | Portpatrick Railway Glenluce Viaduct completed. |
11/03/1861 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer to Castle Douglas (on the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway) formally opened. (Alternative date 12/02/1861.) |
12/03/1861 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer to Castle Douglas opened to the public. Most of the line was single track. Stations at; Stranraer, Glenluce, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart, Creetown, New Galloway, Parton and Crossmichael. |
/06/1861 | Portpatrick Railway Loch Skerrow Halt opened. |
01/07/1861 | Portpatrick Railway Castle Kennedy, Dunragit and Palnure opened. |
/09/1861 | Portpatrick Railway Dromore opened. |
28/08/1862 | Portpatrick Railway Portpatrick to Stranraer opened. New stations at; Colfin and Portpatrick. |
01/10/1862 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer Harbour opened. The Stranraer and Larne Steamboat Company starts a service between the ports in its title. |
/ /1863 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer and Larne Steamboat Company services are suspended as too expensive. |
01/07/1863 | Portpatrick Railway Dromore re-named Gatehouse. |
01/09/1863 | Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Railway The Caledonian Railway associated Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Railway is opened giving the company access to Dumfries. In response the Portpatrick Railway applies for running powers over the Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway to Dumfries and the Caledonian Railway negotiates running the Portpatrick Railway, a blow to the Glasgow and South Western Railway which had considered the Portpatrick line to be within its territory. |
/ /1864 | Portpatrick Railway Deviation to Stranraer Harbour branch authorised. Original route partly abandoned. |
17/02/1864 | Kirkcudbright Railway Opened from Castle Douglas (Portpatrick Railway and Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway) to Kirkcudbright. |
17/02/1864 | Portpatrick Railway Caledonian Railway takes over running of the Portpatrick Railway. The smaller company had eight engines and the larger company added some of its own engines. |
30/10/1864 | Portpatrick Railway Power given to own and operate steamboats. |
30/10/1864 | Portpatrick Railway Working agreement with Caledonian Railway. |
/ /1865 | Castle Douglas and Dumfries RailwayGlasgow and South Western Railway Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway absorbed by Glasgow and South Western Railway. Running powers were granted to the Caledonian Railway giving access to the Portpatrick Railway. |
/ /1865 | Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Act receives Royal Assent for a line running from Girvan Junction (Maybole and Girvan Railway) to Challoch Junction (Portpatrick Railway). |
/ /1865 | Portpatrick Railway Caledonian Railway experiments with a Stranraer Harbour to Belfast service. |
/ /1865 | Portpatrick Railway Plant, rails, machinery taken over by the Caledonian Railway. |
/ /1865 | Portpatrick Railway Portpatrick Harbour - before the railway even opens, the harbour suffers storm damage. |
01/06/1865 | Portpatrick Railway Gatehouse re-named Dromore for Gatehouse. |
01/09/1865 | Kirkcudbright Railway Tarff for Gatehouse re-named Gatehouse [Tarff]. Presumably the Glasgow and South Western Railway (who now owned the Kirkcudbright Railway) was competing with the Caledonian Railway operated Portpatrick Railway for Gatehouse of Fleet traffic - for which neither of the two stations were convenient. |
01/09/1866 | Portpatrick Railway Dromore for Gatehouse re-named Gatehouse. |
/ /1868 | Portpatrick Railway Portpatrick to Donaghadee Boat starts running. |
11/09/1868 | Portpatrick Railway Portpatrick Harbour station and branch opened. |
/11/1868 | Portpatrick Railway Portpatrick Harbour station and branch closed. |
01/06/1871 | Portpatrick Railway Gatehouse re-named Dromore. |
/ /1872 | Portpatrick Railway Larne and Stranraer Steamboat Company commences running between the ports in its title. The Portpatrick Railway owned part of the company. The company operated a steamer Princess Louise. |
/ /1872 | Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Portpatrick Railway The Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway is authorised to use the Portpatrick Railway from Challoch Junction to Stranraer Harbour and Portpatrick. |
/ /1874 | Portpatrick Railway Portpatrick to Donaghadee boat stops running. This is in part due to the unsuitability of Portpatrick Harbour. The Stranraer Harbour to Larne Harbour [1st] service replaces the abandoned service. Portpatrick to Stranraer remains open. |
03/04/1875 | Wigtownshire Railway Opened from Newton Stewart (Portpatrick Railway) to Wigtown. (Alternative dates 03/05/1875, 02/08/1875.) |
/ /1876 | Portpatrick Railway Larne and Stranraer Steamboat Company operates second steamer Princess Beatrice. |
/ /1877 | Portpatrick Railway Purchases the Stranraer Harbour Pier (the East Pier). |
05/10/1877 | Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Line opened from Girvan Junction (Maybole and Girvan Railway) to Challoch Junction (Portpatrick Railway). Railway worked by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. (Alternative date 01/10/1877.) |
07/02/1882 | Girvan and Portpatrick Junction RailwayPortpatrick Railway Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway trains banned from Stranraer and Portpatrick by the Portpatrick Railway. Line closed temporarily from Girvan to Challoch Junction. |
01/08/1883 | Girvan and Portpatrick Junction RailwayPortpatrick Railway Lifting of ban of Girvan line trains from the Portpatrick Railway. |
/ /1885 | Portpatrick Railway
Wigtownshire Railway The Caledonian Railway's lease expires - the Portpatrick Railway and Wigtownshire Railway become jointly run as the Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Railway - controlled by the Caledonian Railway, London and North Western Railway, Glasgow and South Western Railway and Midland Railway. The stock was owned by all four companies and operated by the two Scottish companies. The Joint company also owned 4/5 of the Larne and Stranraer Steamship Joint Committee, the remaining 1/5 owned by the Belfast and Northern Counties Railway. |
31/07/1885 | Portpatrick Railway Working agreement with the Caledonian Railway comes to an end. |
01/08/1886 | Portpatrick and Wigtonshire Joint Railway The Portpatrick Railway and Wigtownshire Railway comes under management of the joint committee. |
/ /1890 | Portpatrick Railway Tablets introduced on the line. The company went on to employ Mansons tablet-catcher to allow exchanges at speeds up to 76mph. |
/ /1893 | Portpatrick Railway Authorisation to enlarge Stranraer Harbour Pier (the East Pier). |
/ /1895 | Portpatrick Railway A wooden engine shed is opened at Newton Stewart in the V of the junction. |
/02/1895 | Portpatrick Railway During a period of very heavy snowfall a train is held up at Creetown for 3 days. |
/ /1902 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer Harbour east pier widening and extension authorised. Powers to dredge for the pier granted. |
/ /1905 | Portpatrick Railway Portpatrick Shed out of use. |
01/01/1912 | Portpatrick Railway Dromore re-named Gatehouse of Fleet. |
/ /1919 | Portpatrick Railway Mansons tablet-catchers removed. |
/ /1921 | Portpatrick Railway A new large brick engine shed, Newton Stewart Shed [2nd] is opened at Newton Stewart in the V of the junction, replacing the wooden structure. |
/ /1934 | Portpatrick Railway
Carrickfergus and Larne Railway Further consideration of the tunnel from Portpatrick, Scotland, to Whitehead, Northern Ireland. |
/ /1935 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer Shed numbered 12H under Carlisle Kingmoor Shed. |
/ /1935 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer to Portpatrick starts to be operated as one engine in steam. Portpatrick signal box is moved to Barrhill on the former Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway. |
/ /1939 | Portpatrick Railway Dunragit to Castle Kennedy doubled. |
/ /1939 | Portpatrick Railway Brysons tablet-catcher installed. Only allows 50mph running (Manson's tablet had allowed faster running), but is portable. |
01/01/1939 | Portpatrick Railway Challoch Junction signal box replaced with motorpoints operated from Dunragit. |
11/10/1942 | Portpatrick Railway Cairnryan Junction signalbox for the Cairnryan Military Railway opened. |
/ /1948 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer Shed classed 68C. The sheds were rebuilt with girder joists instead of arches for entries. |
05/12/1949 | Portpatrick Railway Gatehouse of Fleet closed to passengers. |
06/02/1950 | Portpatrick Railway Portpatrick to Stranraer closed to passengers. Portpatrick and Colfin stations closed. Portpatrick to Colfin (excluded) closed to all traffic. |
20/05/1950 | Portpatrick Railway Gatehouse of Fleet re-opened to passengers. |
07/05/1951 | Portpatrick Railway Palnure closed. |
02/03/1953 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer re-named Stranraer Town. |
13/06/1955 | Portpatrick Railway Loch Skerrow Halt re-named Lochskerrow. |
/ /1959 | Portpatrick Railway Newton Stewart Shed closed |
/ /1959 | Portpatrick Railway DMUs introduced on Stranraer to Glasgow workings. |
01/04/1959 | Portpatrick Railway Colfin to Stranraer Town (excluded) closed to freight. |
/ /1962 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer Shed classed 67F under Glasgow Corkerhill Shed. |
/ /1962 | Portpatrick Railway Cairnryan Military Railway and Cairnryan Junction signal box closed. |
09/09/1963 | Portpatrick Railway Lochskerrow closed to passengers. |
/ /1964 | Portpatrick Railway Newton Stewart Shed closed and track lifted on closure of the Wigtownshire Railway. |
/ /1965 | Portpatrick Railway Troop trains run over line (Stranraer Harbour - Woodburn (Wansbeck Railway)) for Northern Ireland. |
12/06/1965 | Portpatrick Railway Last passenger train on Port Road; the overnight Paddy to London. (A Saturday.) |
14/06/1965 | Ayr and Mauchline Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Maybole and Girvan Railway Annbank (Annbank Junction) to Mauchline re-opened to passengers (with the closure of the Port Road the trains are diverted). The number of trains between Challoch Junction, Girvan and Ayr increases after closure of the Portpatrick Railway. |
14/06/1965 | Portpatrick Railway
Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway Challoch Junction (excluded) to Dumfries (excluded) closed to passengers. Glenluce, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart, Creetown, Gatehouse of Fleet, New Galloway, Parton and Crossmichael closed. Challoch Junction to Maxwelltown Factory Siding (excluded) closed to all traffic. On the surviving part of the line Castle Kennedy and Dunragit stations closed. |
07/03/1966 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer Town to Stranraer Harbour Junction closed to passengers. Stranraer Town station closed and given over to goods. |
/10/1966 | Portpatrick Railway Stranraer Shed closed. |
/ /1967 | Portpatrick Railway Track lifting begins between Challoch Junction and Maxwelltown Factory Siding. |
/ /1968 | Portpatrick Railway Track lifting complete. |
/ /1987 | Portpatrick Railway SEALINK liveried stock withdrawn and broken up at the Springburn works (St Rollox Works), replaced with other stock. |
03/10/1988 | Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Portpatrick Railway Class 156 Sprinters introduced. |
/ /1990 | Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway
Portpatrick Railway
Maybole and Girvan Railway Stranraer to Euston sleeper withdrawn. |
13/03/2000 | Portpatrick Railway
Sea Containers The Seacat fast ferry service to Belfast is relocated from Stranraer Pier to Troon. |
/ /2005 | Portpatrick Railway Disused Goldielea Viaduct restored (repairs hoped to last for 50 years). |
/11/2011 | Portpatrick Railway
Stena Line Stena Line ceased operating ferries to Stranraer Pier, running instead to Old House Point, north of Cairnryan. This slightly reduced the journey but took the ferry service away from the railway, passengers now needing to use a connecting bus service. |
These locations are along the line.
This was a two platform station in the north of Castle Douglas.
...
This was a two platform station with a loop. The River Dee was to the west and village of Crossmichael to the east. The main station building was on the south bound platform. The platforms were at the south end of the loop.
...
This was a single platform station with the platform on the north side of the line. There was a goods yard to the east on the north side, approached from the east. There was a water tank at the east end of the platform.
...
This was a two platform station with a passing loop on the single track Port Road. New Galloway itself is quite some distance away, just under 5 miles to the north. The former station was located in the small village of Mossdale, by which name it is also, informally, known.
...
This is a disused single track four arch masonry viaduct. Each arch is 50ft long. The overall length is 219 ft and height 37 ft.
...
This was a halt at a remote location alongside Loch Skerrow. There was a passing loop, two short platforms, a siding, water tank, signal box and railwaymen's cottages. Due to the exposed location there were lengths of sleeper fencing and trees planted as a wind break.
...
This was a grey granite nine arch single track viaduct between the Big Water of Fleet Viaduct and the former Loch Skerrow station. The overall length of the viaduct was 359 ft and 51 ft over the Little Water of Fleet. Also known as the 'Wee Fleet Viaduct'.
...
This is a disused large granite single track viaduct 900ft long and 70 ft high with 20 arches.
...
This was a two platform station with a loop on the single track Port Road line from Dumfries to Stranraer. It was the summit of the Portpatrick Railway at 495 ft.
...
This was a single track four arch viaduct.
...
This was a two platform station with the main station building on the westbound platform. The station building had an interesting attractive rubble construction style. The station had a loop on the single track line. The platforms were at the western end of the loop. The station was just under a mile north of Creetown itself.
...
This is a disused single track 8 arch viaduct built in sandstone. The viaduct crosses over the Graddoch Burn.
...
...
More detailsThis was a two platform station with the main station building on the eastbound platform and a goods yard on the north side, approached from the west. There is no town at Palnure.
...
This was a five span single track viaduct over the River Cree. The bridge was unusual in having timber piers right up to the time of closure.
...
This short farm siding was just west of the Cree Viaduct. It was approached from the east and was on the south side of the line.
...
This was an important junction station on the Portpatrick Railway, to the south west of the town of Newton Stewart itself.
...
This was a single track bowstring girder bridge of one span. It crossed the upper River Bladnoch.
...
This was a two platform with a loop on a single track line. The main station building was on the eastbound platform. Opposite was a wooden waiting shelter on the westbound platform. The station was about a quarter of a mile west of Kirkcowan itself.
...
This is a two arch viaduct over the Tarf Water on the closed single track line.
...
This two platform station was in the north of Glenluce, about a mile east of the GlenLuce Viaduct (or Luce Viaduct). There was a goods yard on the south side, approached from the west. The station was on a loop, the line being single track. The main station building was on the westbound platform.
...
This is a disused masonry single track eight arch stone viaduct. It is west of the former Glenluce station and west of the former Challoch Junction. The viaduct is 327 ft long overall and 78 ft high.
...
This junction was formed in 1877 between the Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway and the 1861 Portpatrick Railway.
...
This halt was located west of Challoch Junction. It opened with the Glenluce course - the Wigtownshire Country Golf Club.
...
This siding was east of Dunragit station.
...
This was a two platform station. a loop and signal box ('B' listed) remain here and the station building still stands, complete with short section of platform. This had a canopy on its extension to the west, now removed.
...
...
More details...
More detailsThis was a two platform station with a loop on the single track line. The main station building was on the eastbound platform.
...
This junction opened with the Cairnryan railway (Military Port No 2) in 1942. A second hand Caledonian Railway signal box was used, placed on the south side of the line where the sidings were on the north side, approached from the east.
...
This site had been carriage sidings, then a freight depot. It is no longer in railway use.
...
This junction is east of Stranraer Town station, it is where the Stranraer Harbour line leaves the former route to Portpatrick. Today this is where the harbour line divides from the disused Stranraer Town sidings. A ground frame controls the junction.
...
This shed was located north of Stranraer Town station in the 'V' of the junction between the lines to Portpatrick and Stranraer Harbour and north of the good yard just north of the station.
...
This was a four platform station. Two of the platforms were the main through platforms on either side of a loop which ran from the west end of the station to Stranraer Harbour Junction. The other two platforms were single track bays at either end of the up platform, this was the northern of the through platforms on the town side.
...
This station is located on the former ferry pier in Stranraer. It is a little remote from the town, being separated from it by the former car parks associated with the ferries to Ireland.
...
This was a 13 arch viaduct. The arches were in brick on masonry piers. Also known as Lochans Viaduct.
...
This was a single platform station with the platform on the north side of the single track line, just east of a level crossing. A siding, approached from the west, was to the south. This goods yard siding had a loop and cattle pen at the east end. The station building was at the west end.
...
This station was the terminus of the line, although until 1868/1870, by reversal at the north end of the station, a train could continue on to Portpatrick Harbour station.
...
The harbour station was reached by reversal at Portpatrick - the line extended beyond the platform there to a reversing spur and the branch dropped down to the harbour.
...
Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Railways (Library of Railway History) | Rails to Portpatrick (Local History Series) | The Port Road: Dumfries to Stranraer, Portpatrick, Kirkcudbright and Whithorn |