Auchinraith Junction
Location type
JunctionName and dates
Auchinraith Junction (1882-1953)Opened on the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway.
Description
This was the western apex of a triangle of junctions north of Hamilton West and south of Blantyre. The northern apex was Blantyre Junction [CR] and southern Strathaven Junction.
Note that both spellings, Auchinraith and Auchenraith, have been used for this junction and nearby collieries.
This junction was formed in 1882 when the existing 1860 Hamilton and Strathaven Railway was met by a Caledonian Railway curve from Blantyre Junction [CR]. Both lines were double track.
The new curve allowed coal from collieries on the Strathaven line to travel more conveniently north
To the west of the junction was a siding on the south side, approached from the junction, which served Auchinraith Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2.
The signal box was north of the line, about midway between the junction and Auchinraith Colliery. It replaced an earlier box serving just the colliery.
The junction closed in 1953 when the curve from Blantyre Junction [CR] closed (a possible alternative date is 1958). The box closed.
The railway closed completely in 1960.
The junction site was mostly obliterated by road works when the East Kilbride Expressway opened. The site is just to the south of this road and very overgrown.
Tags
JunctionAliases
Auchenraith Junction
| Nearby stations Blantyre Foundry Blantyre Burnbank Bothwell [North British] High Blantyre Bothwell [CR] Hamilton West Peacock Cross Hamilton [NBR] Hamilton Central Calderwood Glen Platform Fallside Bothwell Park Halt Uddingston East Uddingston | Auchinraith Junction [NBR] Craighead Junction Craighead BP Chemicals Siding Craighead Yard [Loaded] Auchinraith Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2 C W Ireland Works Birdsfield Siding Craighead Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2 Blantyre Junction [NBR] Birdsfield Tile Works Birdsfield Wagon Works Greenfield Shed Blantyre Junction [CR] Whistleberry Colliery Pits Nos 1 and 2 Craighead Yard [Empty] |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
Chronology Dates
| / /1872 | Hamilton and Strathaven Railway Blantyre curve authorised. This will link Blantyre Junction [CR] on the Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) to Auchinraith Junction on the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway. The curve was not built at this time and would be re-authorised in 1878. |
| / /1878 | Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) Authorisation to build the Blantyre West Curve and deviate the Hamilton branch to the north east of its original alignment between Blantyre station and Craighead Junction. This accommodated the Blantyre West Curve - Blantyre Junction [CR] on the Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) to Auchinraith Junction on the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway curve. This was first authorised in 1872 and opened in 1882. The curve at either end of the deviation remains today. |
| 01/05/1882 | Hamilton and Strathaven Railway Blantyre curve opened from Blantyre Junction [CR] on the Hamilton Branch (Caledonian Railway) to Auchinraith Junction on the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway. |
| 31/08/1958 | Hamilton and Strathaven Railway Track lifted between Auchinraith Junction (excluded) and Blantyre Junction (excluded). |
