RAILSCOT | Greenock Containerbase Sidings

Greenock Containerbase Sidings

Location type

Place

Name and dates

Greenock Containerbase Sidings (1971-1991)

Opened on the Greenock and Ayrshire Railway.

Description

In 1969 the former Greenock Princes Pier [2nd] was redeveloped as a container port. The railway was re-instated in 1971 to a set of siding laid out near the former Princes Pier Shed just to south of the A770. The disused railway bridge over the A770 was retained to allow vehicles to reach the sidings from the base.

The line south to Kilmacolm had closed in 1966. A new link from Containerbase Junction on the Wemyss Bay line was put it to give access to the depot.

The new sidings were laid out with a loop (west side) and pair of siding, all approached from the south via Union Street Tunnel.

Trains ran to the Gushetfaulds Container Depot, also now closed.

The sidings fell out of use in 1985 and were officially closed in 1991 by which time the railway from Containerbase Junction was overgrown. Track removal took some time.

Tags

Container depot sidings

Nearby stations Greenock Princes Pier [1st] Greenock Princes Pier [2nd] Greenock West Greenock Cathcart Street [1st] Greenock Central Drumfrochar Greenock (Lynedoch) Upper Greenock Fort Matilda Whinhill Cartsdyke Branchton Gourock Ravenscraig Bogston	Princes Pier Junction Princes Pier Shed Bay of Quick Shipyard Princes Pier Goods Albert Quay Greenock Container Port Union Street Tunnel Greenock Gas Works Kilblain Engine Works Greenock Albert Harbour [Dock] Westburn West Shipyard Newton Street Tunnel Westburn East Shipyard Tourist/other Old West Kirk [Greenock] McLean Art Gallery
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line.

Chronology Dates

/ /1971	Greenock and Wemyss Bay Railway Containerbase Junction opened, a link to the former Greenock and Ayrshire Railway's Inchgreen branch which, beyond Cartsburn Junction, gave access along its former main line to Greenock Princes Pier now rebuilt as the Greenock Containerbase Sidings (Greenock Container Port).
07/06/1971	Greenock and Ayrshire Railway Greenock Containerbase Sidings (formerly the site of Greenock Princes Pier [2nd] station which is redeveloped as Greenock Container Port) to Cartsburn Junction to Garvel Dock Branch Junction re-opened to freight and a new portion from Garvel Dock Branch Junction to Containerbase Junction opened.
/ /1985	Greenock and Ayrshire Railway Last container train from Greenock Containerbase Sidings to Containerbase Junction.
/ /1991	Greenock and Wemyss Bay Railway Containerbase Junction to Greenock Containerbase Sidings officially closed (?). (Track remained in place for years.)
/ /1991	Greenock and Ayrshire Railway Official closure from Greenock Containerbase Sidings to Containerbase Junction.