Location type

Mine

Names and dates

Minnivey Nos 4,5 (1955-1975)
Scottish Industrial Railway Centre (1980-2002)

Description

Coal mine. Operation may have started 1956 (DL Smith.). It was built alongside the original Burnton Washery.

The railway at Minnivey was notable for its continued use of steam locomotives long after these ceased on British Rail lines. As a result it was popular with enthusiasts and photographers. The line from Dunaskin to Minnivey and on to Pennyvenie was the rump of the Dalmellington Iron Company's extensive network of privately owned lines.

Minnivey closed in 1975/6 and the railway fell out of use in 1978 with the closure of pit no 7 at Pennyvenie Colliery Nos 2, 3, 7.

With the closure the line started to be lifted (around 1980) from the connection with British Railway at Dunaskin (excluded) south eastwards to Minnivey.

At the same time, the site was leased by the Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group from 1980, hoping to preserve something of Scotland (and Ayrshire's) industrial past, being the Scottish Industrial Railway Centre with a locomotive shed and workshops. A collection of locomotives and exhibits was assembled.

With the end of opencast loading at Dunaskin in 1986 the future of the whole line from Dalrymple was in doubt, however in 1988 opencast activities began at Chalmerston the and the railway was relaid from Dunaskin to a loading pad with a loop, just shy of the remaining Minnivey line. A connection was later laid in, which proved useful when assistance was required on the coal line.

A new station and loop were built at Minnivey and preserved brakevan trains were able to run south east from this some way up the line to Pennyvenie. It was hoped that a passenger service from Minnivey to Dunaskin could be introduced linking the former iron works site to the former coal mine.

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