Welltrees Siding
Location type
SidingsName and dates
Welltrees Siding (1848-1867)Opened on the Muirkirk Branch (Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway).
Description
This was the junction for the short branch south east to Welltrees Mine No 3 and Welltrees Mine No 4. Access was from the west. Both main line and branch crossed the Welltrees Burn at this point by separate, but very close together, parallel bridges.
After closure to mineral traffic the siding was retained for permanent way works, surfacemen keeping bogies here.
On 14 December 1867 points were left set for the branch and an eastbound mixed train took the branch and the rotten bridge timbers collapsed. Driver John Hunter died of his injuries but fireman R. Blythe's fate was to drown as he was trapped and the locomotive dammed up the burn.
The main line was later doubled. The formation of the junction can still be seen, although the branch is somewhat indistinct now. The site of its collapsed bridge can be found directly south of the existing bridge on the closed main line.
Tags
JunctionExternal links
NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
10/09/2018
After closure to mineral traffic the siding was retained for permanent way works, surfacemen keeping bogies here.
On 14 December 1867 points were left set for the branch and an eastbound mixed train took the branch and the rotten bridge timbers collapsed. Driver John Hunter died of his injuries but fireman R. Blythe's fate was to drown as he was trapped and the locomotive dammed up the burn.
The main line was later doubled. The formation of the junction can still be seen, although the branch is somewhat indistinct now. The site of its collapsed bridge can be found directly south of the existing bridge on the closed main line.
