Location type

Station

Name and dates

Bowling (1850-)

Station code: BWG National Rail ScotRail
Where: West Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Opened on the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway.
Opened on the Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Railway.
Open on the Glasgow to Helensburgh.

Description

This is a two platform station in the south of Bowling at at the north west end of Bowling Harbour. Today it is a minimal station with platforms, shelters, parking and a footbridge. It has a interesting history. Between 1850 and 1858 it was a terminus for trains from Balloch and Dumbarton, passengers for Glasgow having to complete their journey by water. It was initially known as Frisky station and described as being on Bowling Bay (today's harbour).

Before electrification of the line the station had two North British Railway style station buildings part brick and part timber. It was crossed by two footbridges - one between the platforms at the same location as at present - and another on a diagonal over the west end. The original signal box was on the westbound platform, just to the west of the station building. This was replaced, for the electrification, in 1959 with a new box at the west end of the eastbound platform. This also controlled the approach to Bowling Swing Bridge, Bowling Oil Depot (Dunglass) and Dunglass Junction (Dunglass Junction [West] and Dunglass Junction [East]). After 1960 Dunglass was altered to make the approach to Dumbarton Central via Dumbarton East. This box closed with the Yoker resignalling. The station building on the eastbound platform survived electrification but was demolished in the 1990s.

Bowling was the eastern terminus of the Caledonian and Dumbartonshire Junction Railway with rails running to Frisky Wharf at the west end of Bowling Harbour. The station was built on the garden of Frisky Hall, separating its orchard (to the north) from the house itself. The house became an inn and was a useful interchange between the trains and steamers calling at Frisky Wharf until the line was extended east. When initially opened passengers had to complete their journey to Glasgow by the River Clyde or the Forth and Clyde Canal. The present station, altered in 1858 for the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway, replaces the original terminus.

The original terminus was described, in the Act which cut the line back to Bowling, as being in the environs of Frisky Hall. This hall, which no longer exists, was to the south of the present station. It was noted for the tall windows overlooking the River Clyde.

Running east from the station, along the north side of Bowling Harbour, was the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway which ran on to Cowlairs.

OS depicts the station following the line's extension. A two platform station is shown, to the west of today's footbridge, with a shed to the north served by sidings from the east. As described in the Ordnance Survey Name Book

A Station on the Dumbartonshire Junction Railway a little distance from where the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway joins or changes its name. The Station is about the point where the villages of Bowling & Littlemill join. There are Engine sheds here on the north side of the line.

The inspection before opening of the original line refers to Frisky Hall and the inspection of the GD&H refers to a double track junction, Bowling Junction and does not mention Bowling in the list of stations.

Local

The Forth and Clyde Canal starts from the east end of Bowling Harbour.

Dunglass Castle

Old Kilpatrick, Bowling and Milton Heritage Trail

Tags

Station

Aliases

Frisky

External links

Canmore site record
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map

Nearby stations Bowling [CR] Old Kilpatrick Kilpatrick Bishopton Dumbarton East Dalmuir Northbrae Rockbank Dumbarton Central Dalmuir [1st] Dalmuir Riverside South Crook Georgetown [NFF] Dalreoch Langbank	Bowling Shipyard Frisky Wharf Littlemill Distillery Sidings Auchentorlie Tunnel Bowling Harbour Bowling Harbour Sidings Dunglass Junction [East] Lock 40 [FCC] Tourist/other Frisky Hall Bowling Level Crossing Littlemill Distillery Bowling Basin Signal Box Bell^s Monument Dunglass Castle Auchentorlie House
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.