Location type

Name and dates

Note: text in square brackets is added for clarity and was not part of the location's name.

Description

This was a three platform junction station opened in 1863 with the planned extension of the Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway to Peebles [CR] in 1864. It replaced Symington [1st] around 1000 ft to the south. Between the two stations was the goods yard on the east side of the line.

Exactly what happened between the opening to Broughton [1st] in 1860 and the opening of new station in 1863 is not obvious. Perhaps the incomplete island platform was used or trains reversed into the existing station, or indeed goods yard, from the island platform.

There were two platforms on the main line, the southbound platform being an island the eastern face of which served the Broughton [1st] line.

The junction was laid out to allow a train from the branch to run north to Glasgow or Edinburgh.

The main station building was on the northbound (non island) platform and there was a signal box (this was a replacement of 1891) at the north end of the island platform. Departure could be made from the eastern face of the island to the south as well as to the branch. This platform was equipped with a loop and, at the south end, a turntable and water tank. On the west side were a two sidings.

Land was taken to allow doubling of the Broughton branch, but this was not carried out. The line laid would have been the eastbound had the route been doubled. This preparation for possible future doubling can be seen further east at the Coulter Viaduct where only the eastbound girders were erected but the piers, on the main section of the bridge which crosses the River Clyde, were built to allow double track girders.

The signal box was replaced in 1945 after a fire. The new box was on the eastern side of the station across the track from the island platform.

The line to Peebles [CR] closed in 1950. The line closed east of Broughton [2nd] in 1954.

Symington closed to passengers in 1965. The line to Broughton [2nd] closed in 1966.

The box closed in 1972, taken over by a temporary panel box at Carstairs.

Little remains of the station. However a ruined railway cottage remains to the north of the station on the east side of the line.

The main line remains open.

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