Kirkhill Junction

Location type

Junction

Name and dates

Kirkhill Junction (1904-1966)

Opened on the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway.
Opened on the Glasgow Central Railway.

Description

This junction was east of Kirkhill station and Kirkhill Tunnel. Here the line from Ardrossan North (and today from Neilston) divided into routes to Newton and Carmyle. The junction was in a cutting directly east of the tunnel.

The Newton portion allowed iron ore imported through Ardrossan to reach the Lanarkshire iron works such as Dalzell (via Motherwell) and Gartsherrie Iron Works (via Bellshill and Whifflet Lower]).

The Carmyle portion allowed approach to the Clyde Iron Works and Govan Iron Works from the east, this direction suiting their respective reception sidings. This fork met the existing Glasgow Central Railway's portion from Carmyle to Newton at Westburn Junction.

Kirkhill Junction's signal box was on the south side of the junction. Both routes had trailing crossovers to the east of the junction.

The box closed in 1961 when taken over by Cathcart Power Box.

The junction closed in 1966 when the line from Kirkhill Junction to Westburn Junction closed. The Newton route remains in use tofay as an electrified double track railway.

Tags

Junction

Chronology Dates

  /  /1897Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Giffen Junction to Newton, Lugton L and A Junction, Clarkston West Junction to Clarkston East Junction, Muirend to Clarkston East Junction, Kirkhill Junction to Newton, Kirkhill Junction to Westburn Junction, Cathcart West Junction to Cathcart, two single track Cathcart East Junction to Cathcart North Junction links. Railways 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 authorised to be made by the Caledonian Railway.
20/06/1904Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Westburn Junction to Kirkhill Junction opened to goods. This was probably largely opened to carry imported iron ore for Govan Iron Works (Dixon's Blazes) and the Clyde Iron Works.
01/08/1904Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Mount Florida and Cathcart to Newton and Kirkhill Junction to Westburn Junction opened for passengers. Burnside and Kirkhill stations opened.
17/06/1957Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Kirkhill (Kirkhill Junction) to Carmyle (Westburn Junction) closed to passengers.
01/08/1966Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Kirkhill (Kirkhill Junction) to Carmyle (Westburn Junction) closed to freight.

Books


Forgotten Railways: Scotland