This junction is to the south of Whifflet station. It was formed in 1845 when the 1834 portion of the Wishaw and Coltness Railway was met by the Whifflet Extension (Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway).
Just to the north the Wishaw and Coltness Railway had met the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway. Difficulties with that line due to volume of traffic and level crossing had the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway build an bypassing extension south, first to Coatbridge and then to Whifflet, to meet the W&C. The bypass line was very successful and became an important part of the Caledonian Railway main line route to Glasgow, Stirling, Perth, Forfar and Dundee and Aberdeen from the south. The older route, despite the opening of deviations to avoid the level crossing, did not become part of a main line and is now a backwater.
A signal box opened at the junction in 1865, when the Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway) opened west from Whifflet North Junction to Rutherglen Junction. The box was replaced around the turn of the century and closed in 1968 when taken over by Whifflet North Junction box.
With the re-opening of the Rutherglen and Coatbridge Branch (Caledonian Railway) to local passenger trains in 1993 a station opened at Whifflet. Terminating here is problematic as this blocks the main line. There is a facing crossover to the south of Whifflet South Junction which can be used to change tracks for the return journey to Glasgow, but if a layover of any length is needed the train can be reversed to the goods loop at the former Whifflet East Junction, an infrequently used section of track, to leave the main line open.
Nearby stations Whifflet [CR] Whifflet Calder Iron Works [Station] Whifflet [NB] Whifflet Lower Whifflet Upper Carnbroe Calder Cairnhill Bridge Coatbridge Central [NB] Coatdyke Coatbridge Central Langloan Coatbridge Sunnyside Kipps | Whifflet Central Junction Speedwell Iron Works Whifflet East Junction Speedwell Works (Wire Rope) Meadow Works Speedwell Wire Works Rosehall Crossing Whifflet Foundry Whifflat Junction [Rosehall Junction] Whifflet Goods Whifflet North Junction Whifflet East Goods Calder Tube Works Rosehall Tunnel Coatbank Engine Works |
Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. |
19/08/2022 | £2.2 million Coatbridge upgrade keeps vital freight on the move [Network Rail] |