Gretna Junction

Location type

Junction

Names and dates

Gretna GSWR Junction (1848-1915)
Gretna Junction (1915-)

Station code: XGS National Rail
Opened on the Caledonian Railway.
Opened on the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway.

Description

This junction is just to the north of the former Gretna [CR] station and Sark Viaduct. It is only just in Scotland, being just north of the Border. The junction is now single lead junction for the route to Dumfries and double for the line north to Lockerbie. The Dumfries route doubles after leading the junction.

This was formerly a conventional double track junction. The signal box was located to the west of the point of divergence. This box was replaced in 1915 with the new box also taking over Gretna Border Union Junction.

There was a small goods yard on the west side of the junction, accessed by reversal from the Dumfries line. Prior to the completion of the route west from Dumfries, trains from Dumfries via Annan terminated at Gretna and were taken on by the Caledonian. A turntable was located here for the terminating trains.

The box closed in 1973, replaced by Carlisle Signalling Centre in preparation for electrification, completed 1974.

Tags

Junction
05/07/2020


Chronology Dates

  /  /1848Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
Opened from Gretna Junction to Dumfries [1st]. Stations opened at Annan, Cummertrees, Ruthwell, Dumfries [1st].
28/03/1853Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway authorised to run over the Caledonian Railway between Gretna Junction and Carlisle.
06/06/1855Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway authorised until 1874 to run over the Caledonian Railway between Gretna Junction and Carlisle.
  /  /1859Border Union Railway (North British Railway) Port Carlisle Junction to Canal Junction Curve (Caledonian Railway) Caledonian Railway
Line authorised between Hawick and Carlisle. Running powers granted for the North British Railway over two short portions of the Caledonian Railway. Gretna: Gretna Border Union Junction to Gretna GSWR Junction to allow traffic exchange with the Glasgow and South Western Railway using the NBR's proposed Gretna branch. Carlisle: Canal Junction [Carlisle] to Port Carlisle Junction to Carlisle Citadel, more importantly giving access to the intended southern terminus (not NBR owned).

News items

14/01/2003Former Gretna station for Sale

Books


An Illustrated History of Carlisle's Railways

An Illustrated History of Carlisle's Railways

Bradshaw's Guides Scotlands Railways West Coast - Carlisle to Inverness: 5

Caledonian Dunalastairs and Associated Classes (Locomotive Monograph)

Caledonian in LMS Days (Railways in Retrospect)

Caledonian Railway

Caledonian Railway Carriages

Caledonian Railway Livery: The True Line Elegance and Style

Caledonian Railway Wagons & Non-Passenger Coaching Stock

Caledonian Routes 3: Stirling to Crianlarich - DVD - Oakwood Press

Caley to the Coast: Rothesay by Wemyss Bay (Oakwood Library of Railway History)

Callander & Oban Railway Through Time

Callander and Oban Railway (Library of Railway History)

Carlisle To Beattock: including the Dumfries Branch (Scottish Main Lines)

Carlisle To Beattock: including the Dumfries Branch (Scottish Main Lines)

Carlisle to Hawick: The Waverley Route (Scml)

Signalling the Caledonian Railway

The Caledonian Railway 'jumbos' the 18in. X 26in. 0-6-0s

The Caledonian, Scotland's Imperial Railway: A History

The Glasgow & South Western Railway a History

The Vanished Railways of Old Western Dunbartonshire (Britains Railways/Old Photos)

Through Scotland with the Caledonian Railway

Vanished Railways of West Lothian