Caledonian Railway Main Line
Encyclopedia
The Caledonian Main Line represents most of the original route of the Caledonian Railway
: a major Scottish
railway company. The company was formed in 1830 and was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921
. When first opened, the Caledonian Main Line represented the only railway link between England
and Scotland: running from Carlisle to Carstairs; and then to both Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Edinburgh terminus was at Princes Street; and the original Glasgow terminus at Buchanan Street
, the latter being reached by use the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway's metals. The Caledonian railway's Glasgow terminus was later moved to Glasgow Central and was accessed via the Clydesdale Junction Railway
. A short section between Carlisle and Gretna was used to give the Glasgow and South Western Railway
access to Carlisle and the North British Railway's Waverley Line
.
Princes Street has closed, as has the Waverley Line, but Caledonian Main line together with the former Clydesdale Junction Railway are still in use today as the northern section of the West Coast Main Line
, between Carlisle, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley
stations. The link at Gretna remains open, as part of the Glasgow South Western route.
Main Line runs from Carlisle, via Annandale, Beattock
and the Clyde valley
, to Central Scotland. The original Glasgow terminus was at Buchanan Street
access via the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway (from Coatbridge) which was absorbed by the Caledonian Railway. Buchanan Street remained the Glasgow terminus until 1897, when Glasgow Central become the major Caledonian terminus for trains from the south. Access was via the Clydesdale Junction Railway
from Motherwell. A junction at Carstairs
provided a connection to Princes Street station in Edinburgh.
The main line from Carlisle was opened as far as Beattock on 9 September 1847. The section from Beattock to Edinburgh opened on 15 February 1848; and the section from Beattock to Glasgow, Buchanan Street, opened on 1 November 1849 for passengers and on 1 January 1849 for goods. The final section of the journey was initially via Monklands, on the Wishaw and Coltness Railway
and the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway
, which had opened in 1831.
The main line from Carlisle to Glasgow (now to Glasgow Central) and Edinburgh (now to Edinburgh Waverley
) is still in use today, although many of the original Caledonian railway stations have closed. It is now the northern section of the West Coast Main Line
; the southern section being the former London and North Western Railway
.
The main line at Quintinshill, near Gretna Green
was the site of the Quintinshill rail crash
, which occurred on 22 May 1915. Two rival lines connected to the Caledonian Railway near this point: the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
, at Gretna, later to become the Glasgow and South Western Railway, and still in use today as the Glasgow South Western Line
; and the North British Railway's Waverley Line
, currently closed in its entirety.
at Greenhill Lower Junction. Although adjacent to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
at Greenhill Junctions, no direct connection was made which included the absorption of the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway
(between Gartsherrie North Junction and Whifflet) and the Wishaw and Coltness Railway
(between Whifflet and Law Junction). Between Mossend and Motherwell, a Motherwell deviation line was constructed away from the original route of the Wishaw and Coltness Railway. To provide additional capacity, a Wishaw Deviation Line was constructed between Holytown (on the Cleland and Midcalder Line
) and Law Junction.
Silvermuir Junctions (north of Carstairs) provided a triangular connection to the Lanark and Douglas Branches.
In 2008, a feasibility study is to take place to examine the possibility of opening a new station to serve the town of Law.
, Gretna, Kirtlebridge
, Ecclefechan
, Lockerbie
, Nethercleugh, Dinwoodie, Wamphray, Beattock
, Elvanfoot, Crawford
, Abington
, Lamington
, Symington
and Thankerton
. Of these, only Lockerbie is still in use, and the Lockerbie-Carstairs section is the longest stretch of UK railway uninterrupted by a station .
. The line was opened on 2 April 1883, leased to the Caledonian Railway on 14 July 1884 and formally taken over on 31 May 1889.
The branch line was closed to passengers on 6 December 1954 and to freight on 6 April 1964.
from Glasgow and Edinburgh
to the south. There is now only one station now open at Lockerbie
, and all the immediate branches between Gretna Junction and Strawfrank Junction are closed.
In 2008, a feasibility study was undertaken to examine the possibility of opening a station at Symington to provide local services from the area into Glasgow, presumably with bus connections to the nearby town of Biggar.
) is also still in use today, but the Edinburgh terminus of the Caledonian railway at the west end of Princes Street
has closed and the line diverts to former North British Railway
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
at the other end of Princes street. The railway hotel building which formed the street frontage of the Edinburgh Princes Street Station was well known as the Caley Hotel, and is still in use as a hotel today by the Hilton Hotels
chain as the Caledonian Hilton Edinburgh Hotel.
Caledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
: a major Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
railway company. The company was formed in 1830 and was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921
Railways Act 1921
The Railways Act 1921, also known as the Grouping Act, was an enactment by the British government of David Lloyd George intended to stem the losses being made by many of the country's 120 railway companies, move the railways away from internal competition, and to retain some of the benefits which...
. When first opened, the Caledonian Main Line represented the only railway link between England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Scotland: running from Carlisle to Carstairs; and then to both Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Edinburgh terminus was at Princes Street; and the original Glasgow terminus at Buchanan Street
Buchanan Street railway station
Buchanan Street Station was the least known of Glasgow's four main terminal railway stations, the other three being Central, Queen St and St Enoch...
, the latter being reached by use the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway's metals. The Caledonian railway's Glasgow terminus was later moved to Glasgow Central and was accessed via the Clydesdale Junction Railway
Clydesdale Junction Railway
The Clydesdale Junction Railway was a railway company in Scotland that was formed to run trains between Rutherglen and Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.- History :It received its Royal Assent on 31 July 1845....
. A short section between Carlisle and Gretna was used to give the Glasgow and South Western Railway
Glasgow and South Western Railway
The Glasgow and South Western Railway , one of the pre-grouping railway companies, served a triangular area of south-west Scotland, between Glasgow, Stranraer and Carlisle...
access to Carlisle and the North British Railway's Waverley Line
Waverley Line
The Waverley Line is an abandoned double track railway line that ran south from Edinburgh in Scotland through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders to Carlisle in England. It was built by the North British Railway Company; the first section, from Edinburgh to Hawick opened in 1849. The final section,...
.
Princes Street has closed, as has the Waverley Line, but Caledonian Main line together with the former Clydesdale Junction Railway are still in use today as the northern section of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
, between Carlisle, Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
stations. The link at Gretna remains open, as part of the Glasgow South Western route.
Description of the route
The Caledonian RailwayCaledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
Main Line runs from Carlisle, via Annandale, Beattock
Beattock Summit
Beattock Summit is a high point of the West Coast Main Line railway and of the A74 motorway as they cross from Dumfries and Galloway to South Lanarkshire in south west Scotland.- Railway history :...
and the Clyde valley
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
, to Central Scotland. The original Glasgow terminus was at Buchanan Street
Buchanan Street railway station
Buchanan Street Station was the least known of Glasgow's four main terminal railway stations, the other three being Central, Queen St and St Enoch...
access via the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway (from Coatbridge) which was absorbed by the Caledonian Railway. Buchanan Street remained the Glasgow terminus until 1897, when Glasgow Central become the major Caledonian terminus for trains from the south. Access was via the Clydesdale Junction Railway
Clydesdale Junction Railway
The Clydesdale Junction Railway was a railway company in Scotland that was formed to run trains between Rutherglen and Motherwell, North Lanarkshire.- History :It received its Royal Assent on 31 July 1845....
from Motherwell. A junction at Carstairs
Carstairs railway station
Carstairs railway station in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, is a major junction station on the West Coast Main Line , situated close to the point at which the lines from London Euston to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh diverge...
provided a connection to Princes Street station in Edinburgh.
The main line from Carlisle was opened as far as Beattock on 9 September 1847. The section from Beattock to Edinburgh opened on 15 February 1848; and the section from Beattock to Glasgow, Buchanan Street, opened on 1 November 1849 for passengers and on 1 January 1849 for goods. The final section of the journey was initially via Monklands, on the Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Wishaw and Coltness Railway
The Wishaw and Coltness Railway was an early Scottish railway. It ran for approximately 11 miles from Chapel Colliery, at Coltness, North Lanarkshire, to the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, near Gartsherrie...
and the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway
Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway
The Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway was incorporated on 26 May 1826 and was ceremonially opened on 27 September 1831. It was built to the Scotch gauge of...
, which had opened in 1831.
The main line from Carlisle to Glasgow (now to Glasgow Central) and Edinburgh (now to Edinburgh Waverley
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
) is still in use today, although many of the original Caledonian railway stations have closed. It is now the northern section of the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
; the southern section being the former London and North Western Railway
London and North Western Railway
The London and North Western Railway was a British railway company between 1846 and 1922. It was created by the merger of three companies – the Grand Junction Railway, the London and Birmingham Railway and the Manchester and Birmingham Railway...
.
The main line at Quintinshill, near Gretna Green
Gretna Green
Gretna Green is a village in the south of Scotland famous for runaway weddings. It is in Dumfries and Galloway, near the mouth of the River Esk and was historically the first village in Scotland, following the old coaching route from London to Edinburgh. Gretna Green has a railway station serving...
was the site of the Quintinshill rail crash
Quintinshill rail crash
The Quintinshill rail disaster occurred on 22 May 1915 in Scotland near Gretna Green at Quintinshill, an intermediate signal box with sidings on each side on the Caledonian Railway Main Line . The crash involved five trains and killed 226 people...
, which occurred on 22 May 1915. Two rival lines connected to the Caledonian Railway near this point: the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
The Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway was a company in Scotland, which built and ran what is now known as the Glasgow South Western Line. The line was authorised on 13 August 1846 and was constructed between 1846 and 1850...
, at Gretna, later to become the Glasgow and South Western Railway, and still in use today as the Glasgow South Western Line
Glasgow South Western Line
The Glasgow South Western Line is a mainline railway in Scotland that runs from Glasgow to Kilmarnock, and then either via Dumfries, or Stranraer via Ayr, with a branch to East Kilbride.- History :...
; and the North British Railway's Waverley Line
Waverley Line
The Waverley Line is an abandoned double track railway line that ran south from Edinburgh in Scotland through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders to Carlisle in England. It was built by the North British Railway Company; the first section, from Edinburgh to Hawick opened in 1849. The final section,...
, currently closed in its entirety.
Carstairs to Greenhill Junction
A complex section of line runs north through Lanarkshire to East Dunbartonshire where a connection was made with the Scottish Central RailwayScottish Central Railway
The Scottish Central Railway was formed in 1845 to link the Caledonian Railway near Castlecary to the Scottish Midland Junction Railway at Perth...
at Greenhill Lower Junction. Although adjacent to the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway was a railway built to link Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Act of Parliament for building the railway received its Royal Assent in 1838 which was open on 28 July 1863. Services started between Glasgow Queen Street and Haymarket on 21 February 1842. The line was...
at Greenhill Junctions, no direct connection was made which included the absorption of the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway
Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway
The Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway was incorporated on 26 May 1826 and was ceremonially opened on 27 September 1831. It was built to the Scotch gauge of...
(between Gartsherrie North Junction and Whifflet) and the Wishaw and Coltness Railway
Wishaw and Coltness Railway
The Wishaw and Coltness Railway was an early Scottish railway. It ran for approximately 11 miles from Chapel Colliery, at Coltness, North Lanarkshire, to the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, near Gartsherrie...
(between Whifflet and Law Junction). Between Mossend and Motherwell, a Motherwell deviation line was constructed away from the original route of the Wishaw and Coltness Railway. To provide additional capacity, a Wishaw Deviation Line was constructed between Holytown (on the Cleland and Midcalder Line
Cleland and Midcalder Line
Cleland and Midcalder Line is an historic railway in Scotland.-Current operations:This line is open formed the centre section of the Shotts Line.-References:...
) and Law Junction.
Silvermuir Junctions (north of Carstairs) provided a triangular connection to the Lanark and Douglas Branches.
Connections to other lines
- Scottish Central RailwayScottish Central RailwayThe Scottish Central Railway was formed in 1845 to link the Caledonian Railway near Castlecary to the Scottish Midland Junction Railway at Perth...
at Greenhill Lower - Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway at Gartsherrie
- Rutherglen and Coatbridge RailwayRutherglen and Coatbridge RailwayThe Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway was a railway that ran between Airdrie and Rutherglen and built by the Caledonian Railway, which in turn became part of the LMS on 1 July 1923.-Openings:*20 September 1865 - Rutherglen East to Calder for freight traffic...
between Coatbridge CentralCoatbridge Central railway stationCoatbridge Central railway station is located in the town of Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the Motherwell to Cumbernauld Line. Train services are provided by First ScotRail.-Architecture and history:...
and Whifflet - Monkland and Kirkintilloch RailwayMonkland and Kirkintilloch RailwayThe Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway was an early mineral railway running from a colliery at Monklands to the Forth and Clyde Canal at Kirkintilloch, Scotland....
at Garnqueen South Junction, Gartsherrie North Junction and Whifflet - Cleland and Midcalder LineCleland and Midcalder LineCleland and Midcalder Line is an historic railway in Scotland.-Current operations:This line is open formed the centre section of the Shotts Line.-References:...
at Holytown railway stationHolytown railway stationHolytown railway station is a railway station serving both Holytown and New Stevenston in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located on the Shotts Line, south east of towards and is also on the Argyle Line....
and Mossend Junctions - Wishaw and Coltness RailwayWishaw and Coltness RailwayThe Wishaw and Coltness Railway was an early Scottish railway. It ran for approximately 11 miles from Chapel Colliery, at Coltness, North Lanarkshire, to the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, near Gartsherrie...
at Law Junction - Lanark Branch at Silvermuir Junctions
- Douglas Branch at Douglas Junctions on Lanark Branch
Current operations
In 2011 the line is open to passenger services:- WCMLWest Coast Main LineThe West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
and ECMLEast Coast Main LineThe East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
services from Glasgow to the south (south of Motherwell) - Argyle LineArgyle LineThe Argyle Line is a suburban railway located in West Central Scotland. It connects the Lanarkshire towns of Lanark, Larkhall and Motherwell to West Dunbartonshire via central Glasgow using sub-surface running...
services between Motherwell and Lanark (via Wishaw / Holytown) and peak hour services to Coatbridge Central. - Whifflet LineWhifflet LineThe Whifflet Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland.- History :The line was built between 1863 and 1865 as the Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway, part of the Caledonian Railway. It opened to goods traffic in September 1865 and to passengers in August...
services which terminate at Whifflet (off the Rutherglen and Coatbridge RailwayRutherglen and Coatbridge RailwayThe Rutherglen and Coatbridge Railway was a railway that ran between Airdrie and Rutherglen and built by the Caledonian Railway, which in turn became part of the LMS on 1 July 1923.-Openings:*20 September 1865 - Rutherglen East to Calder for freight traffic...
) before running forward to Mossend Yard to change direction. - Motherwell to Cumbernauld LineMotherwell to Cumbernauld LineThe Motherwell to Cumbernauld Line is a suburban railway line linking Motherwell and Cumbernauld in Scotland. It is part of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport network.-History:The line was built as part of the:...
Services. - Cumbernauld LineCumbernauld LineThe Cumbernauld Line is a suburban railway line linking Glasgow and Cumbernauld in Scotland. It is part of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport network.On weekdays and Saturdays, alternate trains continue towards Falkirk Grahamston....
services between Garnqueen North Junction and Cumbernauld (and Greenhill Lower Junction for Falkirk trains)
In 2008, a feasibility study is to take place to examine the possibility of opening a new station to serve the town of Law.
Carstairs to Carlisle
The original stations between Carlisle and Carstairs were: Rockcliffe, Floriston, KirkpatrickKirkpatrick
-Places:* United States:** Kirkpatrick, Indiana** Kirkpatrick, Ohio, a village** Kirkpatrick, Oregon, a census-designated place* Mount Kirkpatrick in Antarctica- Surname :* Andrew Kirkpatrick , Chief Justice of New Jersey Supreme Court...
, Gretna, Kirtlebridge
Kirtlebridge
Kirtlebridge is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, southern Scotland. It is located north-east of Annan, north-west of Kirkpatrick-Fleming, and south of Eaglesfield...
, Ecclefechan
Ecclefechan
Ecclefechan is a small village in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway.Ecclefechan lay in the early middle ages within the British kingdom of Rheged, and the name is derived from the Brythonic for "small church"...
, Lockerbie
Lockerbie
Lockerbie is a town in the Dumfries and Galloway region of south-western Scotland. It lies approximately from Glasgow, and from the English border. It had a population of 4,009 at the 2001 census...
, Nethercleugh, Dinwoodie, Wamphray, Beattock
Beattock
The village of Beattock is located in the southern lowlands of Scotland, and lies within the administrative area of Dumfries and Galloway. It is surrounded by the parish of Kirkpatrick Juxta. It was an important stabling point for horses in the olden days with a coach house at one end of the village...
, Elvanfoot, Crawford
Crawford, South Lanarkshire
Crawford is a village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Crawford is close to the source of the River Clyde and the M74 motorway, fifty miles south east of Glasgow and fifty-three miles north west of Carlisle...
, Abington
Abington, South Lanarkshire
Abington is a village in the Scottish council region of South Lanarkshire,close to the M74 motorway, marking the point where it changes name to the A74, following the upgrade of the former A74 road. The West Coast Main Line between Glasgow and London also emerges from the Clyde Valley at this...
, Lamington
Lamington
A lamington is a sponge cake of Australian origin in the shape of a cuboid, coated in a layer of traditionally chocolate icing then desiccated coconut. Lamingtons are sometimes served as two halves with a layer of cream and/or strawberry jam between, and are commonly found in South African and...
, Symington
Symington, South Lanarkshire
Symington is a small village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, 3 miles southwest of Biggar, 10 miles east of Douglas and 13 miles southeast of Carluke...
and Thankerton
Thankerton
Thankerton is a small village in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is located between Biggar and Lanark. It is situated between Quothquan Law and Tinto ....
. Of these, only Lockerbie is still in use, and the Lockerbie-Carstairs section is the longest stretch of UK railway uninterrupted by a station .
Connections to other lines
- Carlisle and Port Carlisle Railway and Dock Company at CarlisleCarlisle railway stationCarlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
- Border Union RailwayBorder Union RailwayThe Border Union Railway was a railway line in south of Scotland. It was authorised on 21 July 1859 and advertised as the Waverley Route by the promoters - the North British Railway...
(also known as the Waverley LineWaverley LineThe Waverley Line is an abandoned double track railway line that ran south from Edinburgh in Scotland through Midlothian and the Scottish Borders to Carlisle in England. It was built by the North British Railway Company; the first section, from Edinburgh to Hawick opened in 1849. The final section,...
) at CarlisleCarlisle railway stationCarlisle railway station, also known as Carlisle Citadel station, is a railway station whichserves the Cumbrian City of Carlisle, England, and is a major station on the West Coast Main Line, lying south of Glasgow Central, and north of London Euston...
and GretnaGretna (Caledonian) railway stationGretna railway station was a railway station close to Gretna Green in Scotland. The Caledonian Railway, however, built the station just south of Gretna Junction and the England/Scotland border, in Cumbria.- History :The station opened on 9 September 1847... - Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle RailwayGlasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle RailwayThe Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway was a company in Scotland, which built and ran what is now known as the Glasgow South Western Line. The line was authorised on 13 August 1846 and was constructed between 1846 and 1850...
at GretnaGretna (Caledonian) railway stationGretna railway station was a railway station close to Gretna Green in Scotland. The Caledonian Railway, however, built the station just south of Gretna Junction and the England/Scotland border, in Cumbria.- History :The station opened on 9 September 1847... - Solway Junction RailwaySolway Junction RailwayThe Solway Junction Railway ran between the Caledonian Railway near Kirtlebridge and the Brayton station of the Maryport and Carlisle Railway. The Act of Parliament was granted on 30 June 1864 and the line was opened in 1869. It involved a iron girder viaduct between Bowness-on-Solway and Annan...
at Kirtlebridge - Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie RailwayDumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie RailwayDumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Railway was a railway in Dumfriesshire, Scotland. It connected Dumfries with Lockerbie. It is now closed.-History:...
at LockerbieLockerbie railway stationLockerbie railway station lies on the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Carstairs in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.- 1883 crash :... - Moffat Railway at BeattockBeattock railway stationBeattock railway station was a station which served Beattock, in the Scottish county of Dumfries and Galloway. It was served by local trains on what is now known as the West Coast Main Line...
- Leadhills and Wanlockhead BranchLeadhills and Wanlockhead BranchThe Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway was promoted by the Caledonian Railway, using the provisions of 1896 Light Railways Act. It opened to traffic between Elvanfoot and Leadhills on 1 October 1901, with the remaining section to Wanlockhead on 19 September 1902.- The line :With a summit of...
at ElvanfootElvanfoot railway stationElvanfoot railway station was a station which served Elvanfoot, in the Scottish county of South Lanarkshire. It was served by local trains on what is now known as the West Coast Main Line.- History :... - Symington, Biggar and Broughton RailwaySymington, Biggar and Broughton RailwayThe Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway Company was a railway in southern Scotland. It was later absorbed by the Caledonian Railway, and is now closed...
at Symington
Moffat Railway
This short branch was authorised as an independent railway on 27 June 1881. It was promoted locally to link Moffat to the Caledonian Railway at BeattockBeattock railway station
Beattock railway station was a station which served Beattock, in the Scottish county of Dumfries and Galloway. It was served by local trains on what is now known as the West Coast Main Line...
. The line was opened on 2 April 1883, leased to the Caledonian Railway on 14 July 1884 and formally taken over on 31 May 1889.
The branch line was closed to passengers on 6 December 1954 and to freight on 6 April 1964.
Current operations
In 2007 the main line is still open, as part of the WCMLWest Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
from Glasgow and Edinburgh
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
to the south. There is now only one station now open at Lockerbie
Lockerbie railway station
Lockerbie railway station lies on the West Coast Main Line between Carlisle and Carstairs in Lockerbie, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.- 1883 crash :...
, and all the immediate branches between Gretna Junction and Strawfrank Junction are closed.
In 2008, a feasibility study was undertaken to examine the possibility of opening a station at Symington to provide local services from the area into Glasgow, presumably with bus connections to the nearby town of Biggar.
Carstairs to Edinburgh
The line from Carstairs to Edinburgh (Glasgow to Edinburgh via Carstairs lineGlasgow to Edinburgh via Carstairs Line
The Glasgow to Edinburgh via Carstairs Line is a main railway route which connects the Scottish cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, by means of their respective branches of the West Coast Main Line ....
) is also still in use today, but the Edinburgh terminus of the Caledonian railway at the west end of Princes Street
Princes Street
Princes Street is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, and its main shopping street. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1 mile from Lothian Road in the west to Leith Street in the east. The street is mostly closed to private...
has closed and the line diverts to former North British Railway
North British Railway
The North British Railway was a Scottish railway company that was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923.-History:...
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
at the other end of Princes street. The railway hotel building which formed the street frontage of the Edinburgh Princes Street Station was well known as the Caley Hotel, and is still in use as a hotel today by the Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
chain as the Caledonian Hilton Edinburgh Hotel.
Connections to other lines
- Edinburgh and Glasgow RailwayEdinburgh and Glasgow RailwayThe Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway was a railway built to link Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Act of Parliament for building the railway received its Royal Assent in 1838 which was open on 28 July 1863. Services started between Glasgow Queen Street and Haymarket on 21 February 1842. The line was...
at HaymarketHaymarket railway stationFor the Tyne and Wear Metro see Haymarket Metro station.Haymarket railway station is in Haymarket, Edinburgh, Scotland. It is Edinburgh's second largest station after Waverley, a major commuter and long-distance destination, located quite centrally near the West End...
via the Duff Street Spur - Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction RailwayEdinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction RailwayThe Edinburgh Suburban and South Side Junction Railway is a freight and former commuter railway which runs in a loop across the southern suburbs of Edinburgh, Scotland. It opened in 1884 for both freight and passenger services...
at SlatefordSlateford railway stationSlateford railway station is a railway station serving Slateford in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located on the Shotts Line from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts. The station has two platforms, connected by a stairway footbridge, and CCTV... - Balerno Loop between Ravelrig and SlatefordSlateford railway stationSlateford railway station is a railway station serving Slateford in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located on the Shotts Line from Glasgow Central to Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts. The station has two platforms, connected by a stairway footbridge, and CCTV...
- Cleland and Midcalder LineCleland and Midcalder LineCleland and Midcalder Line is an historic railway in Scotland.-Current operations:This line is open formed the centre section of the Shotts Line.-References:...
at Midcalder Junction - TarbraxTarbraxTarbrax is a small village in the Parish of Carnwath, County of South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is at the end of a dead end road off the A70 road between Edinburgh and Carnwath....
branch at CobbinshawCobbinshaw railway stationCobbinshaw railway station was on the Caledonian Railway Edinburgh to Carstairs line sited near a village called Woolfords in South Lanarkshire. The branch line to Tarbrax railway station joined here.... - Wilsontown Branch between AuchengrayAuchengray railway stationAuchengray railway station was just outside Auchengray, a hamlet in the Parish of Carnwath, County of South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was served by local trains on the what is now known as the West Coast Main Line....
and CobbinshawCobbinshaw railway stationCobbinshaw railway station was on the Caledonian Railway Edinburgh to Carstairs line sited near a village called Woolfords in South Lanarkshire. The branch line to Tarbrax railway station joined here.... - Dolphinton Branch at CarstairsCarstairs railway stationCarstairs railway station in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, is a major junction station on the West Coast Main Line , situated close to the point at which the lines from London Euston to Glasgow Central and Edinburgh diverge...
Current operations
- ECMLEast Coast Main LineThe East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
services - Shotts LineShotts LineThe Shotts Line is a suburban railway line linking Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverley via Shotts in Scotland. The route from Glasgow to Shotts is part of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport network...
services between Midcalder Junction and Edinburgh - North Berwick LineNorth Berwick LineThe North Berwick Line is a railway line linking Edinburgh with North Berwick in Scotland. The route follows the East Coast Main Line as far as Drem where it then branches to the north....
services that are extended to Glasgow in peak hours.
External links
- RAILSCOT on Caledonian Railway
- RAILSCOT on Lanark Branch
- RAILSCOT on Moffat Railway
- RAILSCOT on Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway
- RAILSCOT on Wishaw and Coltness Railway
- RAILSCOT on Wilsontown Branch
- RAILSCOT on Balerno Loop
- RAILSCOT on Edinburgh Station and Branches
- RAILSCOT on Dalry Road Lines (Edinburgh)