RAILSCOT | South Western Railway

South Western Railway

Dates

/ /1791	Glasgow and Ardrossan Canal Proposed by Earl of Eglinton. (The route between Elderslie and Port Eglinton was later used by the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)).
/ /1807	Glasgow and Ardrossan Canal Construction begins. (The route between Elderslie and Port Eglinton was later used by the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)).
/ /1811	Glasgow and Ardrossan Canal Last section built into Port Eglinton, Glasgow. The canal ran from Johnstone to Port Eglinton. An aqueduct across the Clyde to join up with the Forth and Clyde Canal was considered, but not built. (The route between Elderslie and Port Eglinton was later used by the Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway)).
/ /1834	[London and South Western Railway] Authorised as the London and Southampton Railway, 77 miles in length.
/ /1838	[London and South Western Railway] Terminus at Nine Elms (Battersea).
/ /1839	[London and South Western Railway] London and Southampton Railway renamed the London and South Western Railway.
/ /1840	[London and South Western Railway] Opened from London to Southampton. Stations on this section at: Victoria, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction, Earlsfield, Wimbledon, Raynes Park, New Malden, Berrylands, Surbiton, Esher, Hersham, Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge, West Weybridge, Byfleet & New Haw, Woking, Brookwood, Farnborough, Fleet, Winchfield, Hook, Basingstoke, Micheldever, Winchester, Shawford, Eastleigh, Southampton Airport, Swaythling, St Denys, Southampton
14/02/1848	~[London and South Western Railway] Addlestone opened.
09/08/1848	Darvel Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Kilmarnock to Galston opened (actually opened by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway rather than the G&SWR).
09/08/1848	Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Auchinleck to Muirkirk [1st] opened. The line served the Lugar Iron Works, the Muirkirk Iron Works and various coalmines (actually opened by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway rather than the G&SWR).
20/05/1850	Darvel Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) The branch was extended with the opening from Galston to Newmilns.
28/10/1850	Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway Glasgow. Dumfries and Carlisle Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway merged with Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway to become the Glasgow and South Western Railway.
/ /1854	Ardrossan Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway The older Ardrossan Railway was merged with the Glasgow and South Western Railway. The older line was re-gauged earlier to provide a through connection to Ardrossan Harbour.
/ /1855	[London and South Western Railway] Applies for more time to complete its Basingstoke to Andover line.
21/07/1856	[Yeovil to Exeter Line] ([London and South Western Railway]) Act for Yeovil to Exeter Line passed.
01/08/1858	Ayr and Dalmellington Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Ayr and Dalmellington Railway absorbed by Glasgow and South Western Railway.
07/11/1859	Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway Line opened, operated by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. The line was later doubled throughout.
19/07/1860	[Yeovil to Exeter Line] ([London and South Western Railway]) Line opened.
/ /1863	Portpatrick Railway The Caledonian Railway's 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.
08/05/1863	[Chard Branch LSWR] ([London and South Western Railway]) Line opened.
/ /1865	Kilmarnock and Troon Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Kilmarnock and Troon Railway merged with Glasgow and South Western Railway.
/ /1865	Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway absorbed by Glasgow and South Western Railway. (Alternative date 1885).
/ /1865	Maybole and Girvan Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Maybole and Girvan Railway absorbed by Glasgow and South Western Railway.
/ /1865	Kirkcudbright Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Kirkcudbright Railway absorbed by Glasgow and South Western Railway.
/ /1865	Bridge of Weir Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Bridge of Weir Railway absorbed by Glasgow and South Western Railway.
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.
/ /1866	Settle and Carlisle Line (Midland Railway) Bill for the line presented with support from the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, Glasgow and South Western Railway and the North British Railway (who did not have a partner other than the North Eastern Railway route to Newcastle Central for taking traffic from the Border Union Railway (North British Railway) (Waverley Route) at Carlisle).
/ /1869	Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Caledonian Railway Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway authorised (Glasgow and South Western Railway and Caledonian Railway).
01/09/1869	Greenock and Ayrshire Railway Line opened. The Glasgow and South Western Railway run services from Glasgow Bridge Street to Greenock Princes Pier (at Greenock Albert Harbour) via Kilmacolm.
/ /1870	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Line opened.
/ /1871	Ayr and Maybole Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Ayr and Maybole Railway absorbed by Glasgow and South Western Railway.
01/06/1871	City of Glasgow Union Railway The Glasgow and South Western Railway 'Bus trains' start running between Bellgrove and Shields Road [CGU].
/ /1872	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Holehouse Junction to Belston Junction opened.
11/06/1872	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Annbank to Cronberry opened for goods.
01/07/1872	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Annbank to Cronberry opened for passengers.
01/08/1872	Greenock and Ayrshire Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Greenock and Ayrshire Railway absorbed by Glasgow and South Western Railway.
/ /1873	Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Caledonian Railway line via Douglas reaches Muirkirk, anew Muirkirk [2nd] station was opened further east, on other side of road bridge from original. Caledonian Railway use the Glasgow and South Western Railway Muirkirk Shed. (Later a second Caledonian Railway line was built from Coalburn to Muirkirk [2nd] but was not used as the Glasgow and South Western Railway threatened to apply for running powers through to Lanark.
/ /1875	[Somerset and Dorset Railway] [London and South Western Railway] and [Midland Railway] take control of the line.
/ /1880	[Isle of Wight Railway] Due to poor connections from ferries at Ryde pier the line was extended from Ryde Esplanade to Ryde Pier Head jointly by the [London and South Western Railway] and the [London, Brighton and South Coast Railway]. This extension was to be used by the [Isle of Wight Railway] and the [Isle of Wight Central Railway].
/ /1883	City of Glasgow Union Railway Warehouses, part of College Goods, built on the junction of Bell Street and High Street for the Glasgow and South Western Railway. Approach was via a reversing loop built on the line from Gallowgate to High Street East Junction.
29/06/1883	City of Glasgow Union Railway St Enoch station and approach lines south of Bellgrove taken over by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. Lines north of Bellgrove taken over by the North British Railway.
/ /1885	Portpatrick Railway The Caledonian Railway'a 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.
01/07/1885	Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Opened from Port Eglinton Junction to Elderslie Junction. The line uses much of the former route of the Glasgow and Ardrossan Canal, the line runs skew across an old aqueduct bridge at Paisley Hawkhead. The canal route under the main line at Elderslie was used for a link to the Bridge of Weir Railway so that Greenock Princes Pier bound trains did not have to cross the track used by Ayr to Glasgow trains. The old basin at Port Eglinton becomes the Salkeld Street Parcels depot.
01/07/1885	Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Shields station opened.
01/06/1887	[Devon and Somerset Railway] Link to the [London and South Western Railway] in Barnstaple opened.
/ /1891	[Didcot Newbury and Southampton Railway] Junction made with the [London and South Western Railway] at Shawford south of Winchester.
/ /1892	Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Railway absorbed by Glasgow and South Western Railway.
/ /1892	Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Ayr and Wigtownshire Railway bought by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. Girvan (Old) closed and reparations made to the Girvan and Portpatrick line.
01/02/1892	Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway The Caledonian Railway takes over Bridge Street station completely, paying the Glasgow and South Western Railway £129,251 for its share.
26/06/1892	Ayr and Wigtownshire Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway The Girvan to Challoch Junction line absorbed by the larger company.
01/04/1893	City of Glasgow Union Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway services through the St Johns Tunnel to Gallowgate Central and on to Bridgeton begin.
25/05/1894	Greenock and Ayrshire Railway Greenock Princes Pier station re-built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway on a grander scale to compete with the Caledonian Railway's Gourock station.
/ /1895	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Ardrossan shed [2nd] opened in the triangle of lines by Ardrossan Town.
/ /1896	City of Glasgow Union Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway North British Railway City of Glasgow Union Railway absorbed and divided between Glasgow and South Western Railway and North British Railway.
01/06/1896	Darvel Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Newmilns to Darvel opened.
16/07/1899	Kilmarnock and Troon Railway Line bought by Glasgow and South Western Railway.
/ /1901	Glasgow and Renfrew District Railway Caledonian Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Glasgow and Renfrew District Railway absorbed by Caledonian Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway.
01/10/1902	Barrhead Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Barrhead Central opened.
01/10/1902	City of Glasgow Union Railway The Glasgow and South Western Railway 'Bus trains' stop running due to tram competition.
01/03/1903	Catrine Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Line opened.
17/08/1903	Princes Dock Joint Railway Joint line owned by the Caledonian Railway, Glasgow and South Western Railway and North British Railway opened.
01/03/1905	Cairn Valley Light Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Line opened.
04/07/1905	Darvel and Strathaven Railway Darvel to Strathaven Central opened (joint operation of the Glasgow and South Western Railway and Caledonian Railway).
17/05/1906	Maidens and Dunure Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Line opened.
01/02/1913	City of Glasgow Union Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway services from the City of Glasgow Union Railway to Bridgeton Central are withdrawn. The link between the City of Glasgow Union Railway and Glasgow City and District Railway is closed.
01/01/1917	[Chard Branch LSWR] ([London and South Western Railway]) Chard Town closed, trains diverted to Chard Central, the joint station.
01/01/1917	Barrhead Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Barrhead Central closed.
01/01/1923	Dundee and Newtyle Railway Arbroath and Forfar Railway Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway Caledonian Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Callander and Oban Railway Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway Highland Railway Cathcart District Railway Killin Railway Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint Committee Brechin and Edzell District Railway Dornoch Light Railway Wick and Lybster Light Railway Grouped into London, Midland and Scottish Railway.
01/12/1930	Maidens and Dunure Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Turnberry to Ayr (Alloway Junction) closed to passengers.
/ /1938	Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Station opened at Mosspark for the Empire Exhibition.
02/03/1942	Maidens and Dunure Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Turnberry to Girvan closed to passengers.
04/01/1943	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Annbank to Mauchline closed to passengers.
08/03/1943	[Didcot Newbury and Southampton Railway] Re-opened after doubling between Didcot and Newbury and lengthening of the loops on the Newbury to Winchester section. A new junction was put in at Worthy for direct access from the [London and South Western Railway] to the Newbury line, leaving Winchester Chesil on a loop.
03/05/1943	Catrine Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Catrine to Mauchline (Brackenhill Junction) closed to passengers.
03/05/1943	Cairn Valley Light Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Moniave to Dumfries (Cairn Valley Junction) closed to passengers.
/ /1947	Maidens and Dunure Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Heads of Ayr [2nd] (Butlins Camp) to Alloway Junction re-opened for passengers.
27/01/1947	Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway Kilwinning East to Stevenston Moorpark closed. Boat trains diverted to the former Glasgow and South Western Railway route from 16 June.
/ /1948	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Ardrossan Shed [2nd] coded 67D.
04/07/1949	Cairn Valley Light Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Moniave to Dumfries (Cairn Valley Junction) closed to freight.
/ /1950	Barrhead Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Barrhead Central demolished.
03/04/1950	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Holehouse Junction to Rankinston to Belston Junction closed to passengers.
03/07/1950	Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Cronberry to Auchinleck closed to passengers.
03/01/1951	[Chard Branch LSWR] ([London and South Western Railway]) Line closed during fuel crisis.
07/05/1951	[Chard Branch LSWR] ([London and South Western Railway]) Line re-opened.
10/09/1951	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Muirkirk [2nd] to Ayr (Hawkhill Junction) closed to passengers.
28/02/1955	Maidens and Dunure Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Girvan to Turnberry to Heads of Ayr [2nd] (Butlins Camp) closed to freight.
07/12/1959	Maidens and Dunure Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Heads of Ayr [2nd] (Butlins Camp) to Ayr (Alloway Junction) closed to freight.
/ /1960	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Killoch Colliery line opened from Drongan station.
07/03/1964	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Cronberry to Dykes Junction closed to freight.
06/04/1964	Darvel Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Darvel to Kilmarnock (Hurlford Junction) closed to passengers.
06/07/1964	Catrine Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Catrine to Mauchline (Brackenhill Junction) closed to freight.
06/07/1964	Darvel Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Darvel to Hurlford (Mayfield Siding) closed to freight.
/ /1965	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Ardrossan Shed [2nd] closed.
14/06/1965	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Annbank to Mauchline re-opened to passengers (on closure of the Port road, the former Portpatrick Railway and Dumfries and Castle Douglas Railway lines, the Stranraer to Dumfries line).
14/06/1965	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Blackhouse Junction to Hawkhill Junction re-opened for passengers. The re-opened curve was not on the original double track alignment but closer to Ayr MPD.
20/09/1965	Darvel Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Hurlford (Mayfield Siding) to Hurlford (Hurlford Mineral Sidings) closed to freight.
24/01/1966	Darvel Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Hurlford (Hurlford Mineral Sidings) to Hurlford Junction closed to freight.
03/04/1966	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Dykes Junction to Belston Junction closed to freight.
02/05/1966	[Chard Branch LSWR] ([London and South Western Railway]) Closed.
27/06/1966	Kilbarchan Loop (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Elderslie (Cart Junction) to Dalry (Brownhill Junction) closed to passengers.
/ /1967	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Ardrossan Shed [2nd] (already closed) signing on point closed.
01/01/1968	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Ardrossan Castlehill Junction to Parkhouse Junction closed to passengers.
16/09/1968	Maidens and Dunure Railway (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Heads of Ayr [2nd] (Butlins Camp) to Ayr (Alloway Junction) closed to passengers.
10/02/1969	Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Muirkirk [2nd] to Cronberry (excluded) closed to freight.
30/09/1969	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Ardrossan Castlehill Junction to Parkhouse Junction closed to freight.
03/02/1971	Kilbarchan Loop (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Cart Junction to Kilbirnie (excluded) closed to freight.
01/10/1971	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Fairlie Pier to Fairlie Pier Junction closed to passengers.
31/07/1972	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Fairlie Pier to Fairlie Pier Junction officially closed to passengers.
01/01/1975	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Littlemill Colliery to Belston Junction closed to freight.
01/01/1975	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Belston Junction to Drongan closed to freight.
05/05/1975	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Ayr to Mauchline re-closed to passengers.
05/05/1975	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Blackhouse Junction to Hawkhill Junction closed to all traffic.
06/12/1976	Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Cronberry to Auchinleck closed to freight.
/ /1977	Kilbarchan Loop (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Kilbirnie (excluded) to Brownhill Junction closed to freight. Kilbirnie remained served by the network around the Glengarnock Steel Works for a short while.
/ /1979	Ravenscraig Steel Works Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Hunterston Ore Terminal opened with a 3500 ton crane for ore and 2500 ton crane for coal.
/01/1979	Largs Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Hunterston Ore Terminal to Ardrossan Holm Junction re-opened to freight.
08/01/1983	Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Paisley Canal Line closed to passengers.
/ /1986	Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Track lifted between Elderslie East Junction and just east of Paisley Canal Street. Track singled from Paisley Canal Street to Corkerhill Depot. Line closed to freight from Elderslie East Junction to Hawkhead Oil Depot.
12/12/1988	[London and South Western Railway] Three trains are involved in crash at Clapham Junction killing 35 and injuring 500 due to a signal failure. Signaling engineers were found to be working exceptionally long hours in the area.
28/07/1990	Paisley Canal Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Paisley Canal line re-opened to passengers from Glasgow to a new Paisley Canal Street station.
18/07/1998	Ayr to Mauchline Branch (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Holehouse Junction to Broomhill Opencast reinstated and re-opened to freight.

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