Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction Railway
Encyclopedia
The Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction Railway, also known as Dumbarton & Balloch Joint Railway, was built to connect Balloch
at the southern end of Loch Lomond
down the course of the river Leven
to Dumbarton, and east along the north bank of the River Clyde
to Bowling, West Dunbartonshire, at the end of the Forth and Clyde Canal
. The railway network subsequently connected to this line at Bowling railway station
and at Dalreoch Junction.
services on Loch Lomond
ran from Balloch Pier railway station
, and at the south end of the line Bowling railway station
gave access to Clyde steamer
s providing connecting services along the River Clyde
to Glasgow
and the Firth of Clyde
.
In 1858 the Bowling station terminus became a station on the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
, which connected to the Balloch line at Dalreoch Junction. In 1862 the GD&HR was absorbed into the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway
, which was in turn absorbed into the North British Railway
in 1865.
The joint railway was formed by an agreement on the 31 October 1891 between the Caledonian Railway
and the North British Railway. Amongst other things, this line enabled the Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway
to gain access to Balloch. This occurred as a result of the Caledonian Railway proposing a parallel route between Dumbarton and Loch Lomond under the title of the Dumbarton, Jamestown and Loch Lomond Railway. As the Caledonian Railway pre-empted the opening of the L&DR, they were unprepared for the joint ownership of the line in 1896.
with the exception of two sections:-
Balloch, West Dunbartonshire
Balloch is a small town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, at the foot of Loch Lomond. The name comes from the Gaelic for "the pass".Balloch is at the north end of the Vale of Leven, straddling the River Leven itself. It connects to the larger town of Alexandria and to the smaller village of...
at the southern end of Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
down the course of the river Leven
River Leven, Dunbartonshire
The River Leven is a stretch of water in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, flowing from Loch Lomond in the North to the River Clyde in the South...
to Dumbarton, and east along the north bank of the River Clyde
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 Bowling, West Dunbartonshire, at the end of the Forth and Clyde Canal
Forth and Clyde Canal
The Forth and Clyde Canal crosses Scotland, providing a route for sea-going vessels between the Firth of Forth and the Firth of Clyde at the narrowest part of the Scottish Lowlands. The canal is 35 miles long and its eastern end is connected to the River Forth by a short stretch of the River...
. The railway network subsequently connected to this line at Bowling railway station
Bowling railway station
The station is managed by First ScotRail who also provide the train service.The station was made famous by a painting by the renowned railway artist, the late Terence Cuneo, who depicted a then new Blue train heading westbound into Bowling, passing a steam engine, which the 303 had replaced, in a...
and at Dalreoch Junction.
History
The railway act for the proposed railway received Royal assent in 1846. A turntable was installed at Balloch in 1850, and on 15 July 1850 the line was opened. SteamerSteamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
services on Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish loch, lying on the Highland Boundary Fault. It is the largest lake in Great Britain by surface area. The lake contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles, although the lake itself is smaller than many Irish...
ran from Balloch Pier railway station
Balloch Pier railway station
Balloch Pier railway station was a railway station serving the southern end of Loch Lomond on the northern edge of Balloch in Scotland.It was closed on 28 September 1986 as a result of the 1984 Strathclyde Rail Review. The steamer service on Loch Lomond provided by the PS Maid of the Loch had...
, and at the south end of the line Bowling railway station
Bowling railway station
The station is managed by First ScotRail who also provide the train service.The station was made famous by a painting by the renowned railway artist, the late Terence Cuneo, who depicted a then new Blue train heading westbound into Bowling, passing a steam engine, which the 303 had replaced, in a...
gave access to Clyde steamer
Clyde steamer
The era of the Clyde steamer in Scotland began in August 1812 with the very first successful commercial steamboat service in Europe, when Henry Bell's began a passenger service on the River Clyde between Glasgow and Greenock...
s providing connecting services along the River Clyde
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 Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
.
In 1858 the Bowling station terminus became a station on the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway is an historic railway in Scotland.-History:It was authorised by an Act of Parliament on 14 August 1855.The railway was absorbed by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway on 31 July 1862....
, which connected to the Balloch line at Dalreoch Junction. In 1862 the GD&HR was absorbed into 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...
, which was in turn absorbed into the 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:...
in 1865.
The joint railway was formed by an agreement on the 31 October 1891 between the Caledonian Railway
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...
and the North British Railway. Amongst other things, this line enabled the Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway
Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway
- Early days :The Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway was authorised in 1891, and opened in stages between 26 November 1894 and 1 October 1896.On 16 August 1909 the Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway was absorbed into the Caledonian Railway...
to gain access to Balloch. This occurred as a result of the Caledonian Railway proposing a parallel route between Dumbarton and Loch Lomond under the title of the Dumbarton, Jamestown and Loch Lomond Railway. As the Caledonian Railway pre-empted the opening of the L&DR, they were unprepared for the joint ownership of the line in 1896.
Connections to other lines
- Forth and Clyde Junction RailwayForth and Clyde Junction RailwayThe Forth and Clyde Junction Railway was a railway line in Scotland which ran from Balloch to Stirling.It shared a short stretch from Gartness Junction to Buchlyvie Junction with the Strathendrick and Aberfoyle Railway.- Opening :...
at Forth and Clyde Junction - Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh RailwayGlasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh RailwayGlasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway is an historic railway in Scotland.-History:It was authorised by an Act of Parliament on 14 August 1855.The railway was absorbed by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway on 31 July 1862....
at Dalreoch Junction and BowlingBowling railway stationThe station is managed by First ScotRail who also provide the train service.The station was made famous by a painting by the renowned railway artist, the late Terence Cuneo, who depicted a then new Blue train heading westbound into Bowling, passing a steam engine, which the 303 had replaced, in a... - Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire RailwayLanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway- Early days :The Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway was authorised in 1891, and opened in stages between 26 November 1894 and 1 October 1896.On 16 August 1909 the Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway was absorbed into the Caledonian Railway...
at Dumbarton Joint Line Junction and Bowling Link Line
Current operations
The line is still open as part of the North Clyde LineNorth Clyde Line
The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...
with the exception of two sections:-
- Bowling railway stationBowling railway stationThe station is managed by First ScotRail who also provide the train service.The station was made famous by a painting by the renowned railway artist, the late Terence Cuneo, who depicted a then new Blue train heading westbound into Bowling, passing a steam engine, which the 303 had replaced, in a...
to Dumbarton Joint Line Junction (abandoned in favour of the parallel Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire RailwayLanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway- Early days :The Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway was authorised in 1891, and opened in stages between 26 November 1894 and 1 October 1896.On 16 August 1909 the Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway was absorbed into the Caledonian Railway...
during electrification in 1961). - BallochBalloch railway stationBalloch railway station is a railway station serving the town of Balloch in Scotland. The station is a terminus on the North Clyde Line, 31 km north west of Glasgow Queen Street railway station...
to Balloch PierBalloch Pier railway stationBalloch Pier railway station was a railway station serving the southern end of Loch Lomond on the northern edge of Balloch in Scotland.It was closed on 28 September 1986 as a result of the 1984 Strathclyde Rail Review. The steamer service on Loch Lomond provided by the PS Maid of the Loch had...
.