Caprington Junction
The grandly titled (on one O/S map at least) Caprington Junction on the Fairlie Branch, photographed looking sou'-sou'-west on 09 April, 2011. This 'junction' consisted of a set of points out in the fields, the line continuing straight ahead to the sou'-sou'-west to Fortacres Bridge (or the 'Bridge to nowhere') over the B751 at the end of the line, although there were several small pits adjacent to the road with rail connections in the early years (the branch opened on 26 February, 1849). The line curving to the left swung round to the northeast and crossed the road which passed under Bridge No 2 on the level at Earlston, where there was a small goods yard, before continuing on to Blacksyke Pit and limekilns (ruins of which are now in the middle of Caprington Golf Course) and beyond. The longest surviving pits on the branch were located on sidings to the south of the branch between Caprington Junction and Earlston, the branch itself finally closed on 07 April, 1951, having gone out of use during November, 1950.
Location: Caprington Junction
Original line: Kilmarnock and Troon Railway
Photographer: Robert Blane
Contact photographer: Robert Blane
Date: 09/04/2011
Image number: 54070
