Wigtownshire Railway
Introduction
This line is closed. The line ran from Newton Stewart to Whithorn, with a branch to Garlieston Harbour from which steamers operated to the Isle of Man.
Dates
| / /1872 | Wigtownshire Railway Wigtownshire Railway authorised from Newton Stewart to Wigtown along with tramway to Garlieston. |
| / /1872 | Wigtownshire Railway Garlieston [2nd] Tramway authorised. |
| / /1872 | Wigtownshire Railway Line authorised. |
| 03/04/1875 | Wigtownshire Railway Opened from Newton Stewart (Portpatrick Railway) to Wigtown. (Alternative dates 03/05/1875, 02/08/1875.) |
| 02/08/1875 | Wigtownshire Railway Opened from Wigtown to Garlieston [1st]. |
| 03/04/1876 | Wigtownshire Railway Garlieston [1st] renamed Millisle as tramway opened from Millisle to Garlieston [2nd]. |
| / /1877 | Wigtownshire Railway Authorisation to build railway to Garlieston Harbour. |
| 09/07/1877 | Wigtownshire Railway Opened from Millisle to Whithorn. |
| / /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. |
| 01/08/1886 | Portpatrick and Wigtonshire Joint Railway The Portpatrick Railway and Wigtownshire Railway comes under management of the joint committee. |
| / /1903 | Wigtownshire Railway Garlieston Branch closed to passengers. |
| 01/03/1903 | Wigtownshire Railway Garlieston to Millisle closed to passengers. |
| 25/09/1950 | Wigtownshire Railway Whithorn to Newton Stewart closed to passengers. |
| / /1964 | Portpatrick Railway Newton Stewart Shed closed and track lifted on closure of the Wigtownshire Railway. |
| 05/10/1964 | Wigtownshire Railway Whithorn to Wigtown closed to freight. |
| 05/10/1964 | Wigtownshire Railway Garlieston branch closed to freight. |
| 14/06/1965 | Wigtownshire Railway Whithorn to Newton Stewart officially closed, although the track was already lifted. |
Portions of line and locations
This line is divided into a number of portions.
Newton Stewart to Millisle
Opened in 1875.
This was an important junction station on the Portpatrick Railway, to the south west of the town of Newton Stewart itself.
...
See also
Portpatrick Railway
Brian Haslehust 05/06/1965
G H Robin collection by courtesy of the Mitchell Library, Glasgow 16/07/1956
This was a station on the Wigtownshire Railway which continued south to the terminus at Whithorn and north to the junction at Newton Stewart.
...
Mark Bartlett 26/05/2011
Ewan Crawford //1997
Colin Miller 28/03/2014
This siding was to the south of the Lower Bladnoch Viaduct. Nearby are Bladnoch Distillery and Bladnoch Creamery.
...
This was a single platform station. The platform was on the east side of the line.
...
This was a single platform station with a goods yard at the north end, on the west side of the line. There was a single storey wooden station building and a stone goods shed. The station had a goods loop. It was at a rural location, Whauphill is a very small settlement, although connecting coaches ran to Port William.
...
This was a single platform station. The platform was on the west side.
...
This island platform sat between the Garlieston branch and the Newton Stewart to Whithorn 'mainline'.
...
This combined goods shed and locomotive shed was for the locomotive which operated the Garlieston 2nd] branch. ...
More detailsThis station was the southern terminus of the line in 1875. Note that at the time of opening the town name was 'Garliestown', it has since been abbreviated to 'Garlieston'. The official railway spelling was Garliestown.
...
John Robin 15/04/1963
Millisle to Garlieston
Extended to Garlieston in 1876.
This island platform sat between the Garlieston branch and the Newton Stewart to Whithorn 'mainline'.
...
This was a single platform station with a passing loop and siding continuing through to Garlieston Mill and Garlieston Harbour. The platform and station building were on the north side. The platform was in timber. The station was on the extension of the Wigtownshire Railway from the original Garliestown [1st] station, renamed Millisle.
...
Ewan Crawford //
John Robin 15/04/1963
A former corn mill, now demolished. Rail served. Close to the steamer pier and granary. ...
More details
Ewan Crawford //2002
The steamer pier at Garlieston was served by a siding, accessed by a turnplate, at the base of the pier. A further siding ran from the turnplate alongside a quay beside Garlieston Mill.
...
Millisle to Whithorn
Extended south to Whithorn and Millisle station rebuilt in 1877.
This station was the southern terminus of the line in 1875. Note that at the time of opening the town name was 'Garliestown', it has since been abbreviated to 'Garlieston'. The official railway spelling was Garliestown.
...
John Robin 15/04/1963
Ewan Crawford //
This was the terminus of a branch from Newton Stewart. The station was at the north end of Whithorn itself. There was a platform on the east side of a loop. The station building was a single storey and built in stone. It had a canopy running the length of the building.
...
Colin Miller 05/04/2009
Mark Bartlett 26/05/2011
John Robin 15/04/1963
Books
