RAILSCOT | Challoch Junction

Challoch Junction

Location type

Junction

Name and dates

Challoch Junction (1877-1965)

Opened on the Portpatrick Railway.
Opened on the Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway.

Description

This junction was formed in 1877 between the Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway and the 1861 Portpatrick Railway.

On the Portpatrick Railway, the junction was between Dunragit (to the west) and Glenluce (to the east) stations.

A signal box opened in advance of the junction in 1876. This was on the south side of the junction. There was a short loop on the Girvan route.

Challoch Junction Golfers Platform was just to the west.

The signal box closed in 1939 when the box at Dunragit took over. The loop was taken out and electrically operated points installed.

The junction closed in 1965. Most of the Port Road, Challoch Junction to Maxwelltown Factory Siding (both excluded), closed in 1965.

The Stranraer to Girvan route remains open.

Bridge Strikes

Challoch Bridge, just to the west of the former junction where the railway passes over the A75, was the most hit bridge by road vehicles in Britain.

Fortunately the road has been realigned A75 Dunragit bypass .

Chronology Dates

/ /1865	Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Act receives Royal Assent for a line running from Girvan Junction (Maybole and Girvan Railway) to Challoch Junction (Portpatrick Railway).
/ /1872	Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Portpatrick Railway The Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway is authorised to use the Portpatrick Railway from Challoch Junction to Stranraer Harbour and Portpatrick.
/ /1877	Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Authorised to use Stranraer Harbour Pier and Challoch Junction to Stranraer and Portpatrick
05/10/1877	Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Line opened from Girvan Junction (Maybole and Girvan Railway) to Challoch Junction (Portpatrick Railway). Railway worked by the Glasgow and South Western Railway. (Alternative date 01/10/1877.)
07/02/1882	Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Portpatrick Railway Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway trains banned from Stranraer and Portpatrick by the Portpatrick Railway. Line closed temporarily from Girvan to Challoch Junction.
26/06/1892	Ayr and Wigtownshire Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway The Girvan to Challoch Junction line absorbed by the larger company.
01/01/1939	Portpatrick Railway Challoch Junction signal box replaced with motorpoints operated from Dunragit.
14/06/1965	Ayr and Mauchline Line (Glasgow and South Western Railway) Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway Maybole and Girvan Railway Annbank (Annbank Junction) to Mauchline re-opened to passengers (with the closure of the Port Road the trains are diverted). The number of trains between Challoch Junction, Girvan and Ayr increases after closure of the Portpatrick Railway.
14/06/1965	Portpatrick Railway Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway Challoch Junction (excluded) to Dumfries (excluded) closed to passengers. Glenluce, Kirkcowan, Newton Stewart, Creetown, Gatehouse of Fleet, New Galloway, Parton and Crossmichael closed. Challoch Junction to Maxwelltown Factory Siding (excluded) closed to all traffic. On the surviving part of the line Castle Kennedy and Dunragit stations closed.
/ /1967	Portpatrick Railway Track lifting begins between Challoch Junction and Maxwelltown Factory Siding.
10/10/2000	Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Railway The rear coach of a southbound Sprinter derails at Craig No 2 Level Crossing, between New Luce and Challoch Junction. There were no injuries although the coach ended up on its side. The cause was an embankment washout.