Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Encyclopedia
The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway (GPK&AR) was a railway in Scotland that provided train services between Glasgow
, Kilmarnock
and Ayr
. For a short period, it also provided West Coast services between Glasgow and London. Opened in stages between 1839 and 1848, the line ran from Paisley
in the north to Cumnock
and Ayr
in the south. The section between Paisley and Glasgow was jointly owned by the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
. The GPK&AR merged with the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
to form the Glasgow and South Western Railway
(G&SWR) in 1850, which was in turn incorporated into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMS) in 1923, and later nationalised to become part of British Rail
ways in 1948.
Since nationalisation the line has suffered numerous cutbacks and closures, mostly due to the Beeching Axe
. As a result over half of the stations on the line are now closed. Most of the line and remaining stations are still in use as part of the Ayrshire Coast Line
and Glasgow South Western Line
.
had been proposed for years, and in April 1836 a few individuals created a subscription for the creation of the railway. Soon, after several large monetary figures were received, a committee
was formed and design work on the line began. The committee consisted of several Glasgow business men and others, who hired Grainger & Miller, civil engineers from Edinburgh
, to elaborate the proposal. The proposal was met with general enthusiasm except from the residents of Kilmarnock
, who desired a line that passed through the town rather than a branch from elsewhere. With the help of engineers Scott, Stephen & Gale, they countered the Grainger & Miller proposal with their own, which envisioned a line that would head south past Paisley and Johnstone, and then head further south east from Beith towards Kilmarnock before heading to Ayr via Troon and Monkton. Although this line was shorter than the first proposal it had more severe gradients, and when both ideas were submitted to George Stephenson
he eventually chose the Grainger & Miller scheme.
Raising capital proved no problem for the committee, and by autumn 1836 the railway proposal had been forwarded to Parliament. As a result, the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway Company was incorporated by an Act of Parliament
, given Royal Assent
on 15 July 1837, the same day on which the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
(GP&GR) also received Royal Assent. The two companies agreed to share the line from Glasgow to Paisley, where the GP&GR would branch off to the north west towards Greenock, and the GPK&AR would head south west to Ayrshire. A separate committee was arranged to manage the joint line, chosen from board members of the parent companies. The Act gave the GPK&AR the power to raise a capital in joint stock of £625,000, with an additional £208,300 by loan.
The line, constructed by Grainger & Miller, opened in stages, the first being on 5 August 1839 between Ayr and Irvine
. Later it would extend to Kilwinning on 23 March 1840, and to Beith on 21 July 1840. On the same day the joint line and part of the GPK&AR opened between Glasgow and Howwood
opened, with the line opening fully between Ayr and Glasgow on 12 August 1840. A temporary terminus station at Howwood (or Howood) which had opened in July closed when the line fully opened. The joint line between Paisley and Glasgow was known as the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway
, via which trains terminated at Bridge Street in Glasgow. The GPK&AR moved their head offices to Bridge Street from Gordon Street in March 1841.
The line between Dalry and Kilmarnock opened on 4 April 1843, and on 28 May 1848 a line opened between Irvine and Crosshouse allowing more direct passenger services from Kilmarnock to Ardrossan
(via the Ardrossan Railway
). On 16 July 1846 the GPK&AR took over control of the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway
, and in 1847 the company bought the Paisley and Renfrew Railway
, however the sale would not be completed until 31 July 1852.
The last line to open by the original company was a branch to Muirkirk
from Auchinleck
on 9 August 1848. The railway amalgamated with the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway
(GD&CR) on 28 October 1850 to form the Glasgow and South Western Railway
(G&SWR).
In conjunction with the Ardrossan Railway
, which was regauged
in 1840, on alternate days a fast steamboat
service ran between Ardrossan Pier
and Liverpool, and vice versa. This connected with the Grand Junction Railway
and London and Birmingham Railway
's expresses to London. In 1841 the steamboat service was transferred from Liverpool to the new Port at Fleetwood
, Lancashire
.
The original locomotives
used on the line in 1839 were similar to those used on the London and Birmingham Railway
, having 12 inches (305 mm) cylinders, 18 inches (457 mm) stroke and four wheels. Designed by Bury
, the 2-2-0
locomotives cost around £1,200 per engine were given the names Mazeppa, Mercury, Marmion and Cutty-sark. Two more of the same design were obtained in 1841 named Stuart and Bute. The six original locomotives were withdrawn between 1858 and 1860. In 1840-1841 twelve 2-2-2
locomotives (designed by company engineer J. Miller) were built and given names such as Bruce, Eglinton, Phoenix, Prince Albert and Loudoun. Bruce and Cutty Sark hauled the first special train from Glasgow to Ayr on 11 August 1840.
Early passenger carriages were of similar design to those used on railways in England at the time, holding eighteen passengers on first class carriages, and thirty on second class. Third class carriages originally had seats, but on 15 April 1840 a board decision declared that all future third class carriages were to be made without seats. All existing third class carriages also had their seats removed. A later board decision on 3 July 1840 ordered that third class carriages would be situated closest to the engine, followed by second class, with first class at the rear.
Under the control of the Glasgow and South Western Railway, the former GPK&AR had several of its stations closed, and several new ones opened. Some stations, such as Stewarton
(later called Cunninghamhead) were closed and then later reopened. A new station in Ayr was built in 1857 by the Ayr and Dalmellington Railway
(who were absorbed by the G&SWR the following year), which became the new terminus for trains in the town, and as a result the original Ayr station
was closed to passengers, although it remained open for goods traffic.
Trains continued to run via the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway - now jointly managed by the G&SWR and the Caledonian Railway
- to Bridge Street station, which remained the Glasgow terminus of both companies until 1883. The City of Glasgow Union Railway
opened St Enoch railway station
in 1876; in 1883 it became the headquarters of the G&SWR, and a result all G&SWR passenger services were moved to St Enoch railway station. From Shields Junction
, G&SWR trains traversed the City of Glasgow Union Railway to reach St Enoch.
In 1892 a new Troon
station was built nearer the centre of the town. The original Troon station was closed and its line became a means of bypassing the loop built for the new station. The line was closed on 18 April 1966, with Glasgow trains being forced to use the newer line to reach Ayr, and vice versa.
Extensions and additional lines were added to the former GPK&AR during the Glasgow and South Western era: a line between Ayr and Mauchline
was opened on 1 July 1870, with a connecting line to Cronberry opening on 1 July 1882; a branch
to Darvel
was opened south-east of Kilmarnock on 1 June 1896, a short branch to Catrine
from Mauchline was opened on 1 September 1903, and an alternate route
from Johnstone was Dalry was opened on 1 June 1905.
In 1923, the Glasgow and South Western Railway merged with six other major companies and several other smaller companies to form the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
.
ways. Two years later the first of several line closures began with the line between Auchinleck and Cronberry closing to passenger traffic on 3 July 1950. However in 1951 services were reinstated for two weeks to accommodate trains travelling from Edinburgh
to Ayr. The entire line from Auchinleck to Muirkirk then closed to regular passenger traffic on 1 October 1950, however the line was used up until 1976. Muirkirk station remained open on other lines until 5 October 1964, when it was closed as a result of the Beeching Axe
.
Muirkirk was not the only casualty on this line from the Beeching Axe: the link between Irvine and Crosshouse, which had provided a direct link to Kilmarnock from Ardrossan (via a loop at Byrehill Junction) was closed to local passenger traffic on 6 April 1964, and closed completely 11 October 1965. The loop between Byrehill Junction and Dubbs Junction, which allowed Ardrossan trains to bypass Kilwinning, was also closed on 6 April 1964, however it remained open to passenger traffic until June 1977. During AyrLine electrification, this link was electrified.
The Dalry to Kilmarnock line had provided the G&SWR with a link between Kilmarnock and Glasgow (via the Paisley Canal Line
) without having to use lines that were jointly operated with the Caledonian Railway
. Again a result of the Beeching Axe, the line was closed to local passenger traffic on 18 April 1966. Despite this, the line remained open for long distance passenger services such as an overnight train from Glasgow to London via Paisley. The line closed to all traffic on 23 October 1973, was singled and later removed.
During the mid-1980s the line between Paisley and Ayr was electrified, with full electric passenger services beginning on 19 January 1987. The line between Kilmarnock and Cumnock was not electrified, and remains so to this day.
, and then from 2002, Network Rail
. The line between Paisley and Ayr is now part of the Ayrshire Coast Line
(which also incorporates the former Ardrossan Railway
), and the remaining line from Kilmarnock to Cumnock is part of the Glasgow South Western Line
. Local services are now run by First ScotRail
on behalf of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
.
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...
, Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
and Ayr
Ayr
Ayr is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde in south-west Scotland. With a population of around 46,000, Ayr is the largest settlement in Ayrshire, of which it is the county town, and has held royal burgh status since 1205...
. For a short period, it also provided West Coast services between Glasgow and London. Opened in stages between 1839 and 1848, the line ran from Paisley
Paisley Gilmour Street railway station
Paisley Gilmour Street railway station is one of four stations serving the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland . The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, 12 km west of...
in the north to Cumnock
Cumnock (original) railway station
Cumnock railway station was a railway station serving the town of Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :The station opened on 20 May 1850...
and Ayr
Ayr (original) railway station
Ayr railway station was a railway station serving the town of Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :...
in the south. The section between Paisley and Glasgow was jointly owned by the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
The Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway was an early railway, which merged with the Caledonian Railway. It was created to provide train services between Greenock and Glasgow.-History:...
. The GPK&AR merged with 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...
to form 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...
(G&SWR) in 1850, which was in turn incorporated 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...
(LMS) in 1923, and later nationalised to become part of British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways in 1948.
Since nationalisation the line has suffered numerous cutbacks and closures, mostly due to the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
. As a result over half of the stations on the line are now closed. Most of the line and remaining stations are still in use as part of the Ayrshire Coast Line
Ayrshire Coast Line
The Ayrshire Coast Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland. It has 26 stations and connects the Ayrshire coast to Glasgow...
and 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 :...
.
Planning and construction
The idea of a railway connecting Glasgow and Paisley with the towns of AyrshireAyrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
had been proposed for years, and in April 1836 a few individuals created a subscription for the creation of the railway. Soon, after several large monetary figures were received, a committee
Committee
A committee is a type of small deliberative assembly that is usually intended to remain subordinate to another, larger deliberative assembly—which when organized so that action on committee requires a vote by all its entitled members, is called the "Committee of the Whole"...
was formed and design work on the line began. The committee consisted of several Glasgow business men and others, who hired Grainger & Miller, civil engineers from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, to elaborate the proposal. The proposal was met with general enthusiasm except from the residents of Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock is a large burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44,734. It is the second largest town in Ayrshire. The River Irvine runs through its eastern section, and the Kilmarnock Water passes through it, giving rise to the name 'Bank Street'...
, who desired a line that passed through the town rather than a branch from elsewhere. With the help of engineers Scott, Stephen & Gale, they countered the Grainger & Miller proposal with their own, which envisioned a line that would head south past Paisley and Johnstone, and then head further south east from Beith towards Kilmarnock before heading to Ayr via Troon and Monkton. Although this line was shorter than the first proposal it had more severe gradients, and when both ideas were submitted to George Stephenson
George Stephenson
George Stephenson was an English civil engineer and mechanical engineer who built the first public railway line in the world to use steam locomotives...
he eventually chose the Grainger & Miller scheme.
Raising capital proved no problem for the committee, and by autumn 1836 the railway proposal had been forwarded to Parliament. As a result, the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway Company was incorporated by an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
, given Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
on 15 July 1837, the same day on which the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
The Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway was an early railway, which merged with the Caledonian Railway. It was created to provide train services between Greenock and Glasgow.-History:...
(GP&GR) also received Royal Assent. The two companies agreed to share the line from Glasgow to Paisley, where the GP&GR would branch off to the north west towards Greenock, and the GPK&AR would head south west to Ayrshire. A separate committee was arranged to manage the joint line, chosen from board members of the parent companies. The Act gave the GPK&AR the power to raise a capital in joint stock of £625,000, with an additional £208,300 by loan.
The line, constructed by Grainger & Miller, opened in stages, the first being on 5 August 1839 between Ayr and Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
. Later it would extend to Kilwinning on 23 March 1840, and to Beith on 21 July 1840. On the same day the joint line and part of the GPK&AR opened between Glasgow and Howwood
Howwood
Howwood is a village in Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is between Johnstone and Lochwinnoch, just off the A737 dual carriageway between the nearby town of Paisley and the Ayrshire border. It is served by Howwood railway station...
opened, with the line opening fully between Ayr and Glasgow on 12 August 1840. A temporary terminus station at Howwood (or Howood) which had opened in July closed when the line fully opened. The joint line between Paisley and Glasgow was known as the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway
Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway
The Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway company was formed in 1837 to provide a railway link between Glasgow and Paisley, Scotland. It was promoted jointly by the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway and the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway....
, via which trains terminated at Bridge Street in Glasgow. The GPK&AR moved their head offices to Bridge Street from Gordon Street in March 1841.
The line between Dalry and Kilmarnock opened on 4 April 1843, and on 28 May 1848 a line opened between Irvine and Crosshouse allowing more direct passenger services from Kilmarnock to Ardrossan
Ardrossan
Ardrossan is a town on the North Ayrshire coast in south-western Scotland. The name "Ardrossan" describes its physical position — 'ard' from the Gaelic àird meaning headland, 'ros' a promontory and the diminutive suffix '-an' - headland of the little promontory...
(via the Ardrossan Railway
Ardrossan Railway
The Ardrossan Railway was a railway company in Scotland built in the mid 19th century that primarily ran services between Kilwinning and Ardrossan, as well as freight services to and from collieries between Kilwinning and Perceton...
). On 16 July 1846 the GPK&AR took over control of the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway
Kilmarnock and Troon Railway
The Kilmarnock and Troon Railway was the first railway line in Scotland authorised by Act of Parliament, in 1808; the engineer was William Jessop. It was the first railway in Scotland to use a steam locomotive; and it was the only one in Scotland for fourteen years...
, and in 1847 the company bought the Paisley and Renfrew Railway
Paisley and Renfrew Railway
The Paisley and Renfrew railway was a railway line from the town of Paisley to its neighbouring town Renfrew; and to the River Clyde at Renfrew wharf. The railway was built to the Scotch gauge of...
, however the sale would not be completed until 31 July 1852.
The last line to open by the original company was a branch to Muirkirk
Muirkirk
Muirkirk is a small village in East Ayrshire, southwest Scotland. It is located on the north bank of the River Ayr, between Cumnock and Glenbuck on the A70...
from Auchinleck
Auchinleck
Auchinleck ; is a village five miles south-east of Mauchline, and a couple of miles north-west of Cumnock in East Ayrshire, Scotland.Near the village is Auchinleck House, past home of the lawyer, diarist and biographer James Boswell, 9th Laird of Auchinleck.Auchinleck has much been associated...
on 9 August 1848. The railway amalgamated with 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...
(GD&CR) on 28 October 1850 to form 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...
(G&SWR).
Services
The first services on the line in 1839, between Irvine and Ayr, travelled at an average of 21 miles per hour (9.4 m/s) with stoppages averaging 1 min 6 secs per station, meaning a trip along the entire 10.5 miles (16.9 km) line at that point would have taken around 35½ minutes. The maxiumum fare for passengers at the time was 2d, 1½d and 1d for first, second and third class respectively. 137,117 passengers travelled on the line during the first year of services.In conjunction with the Ardrossan Railway
Ardrossan Railway
The Ardrossan Railway was a railway company in Scotland built in the mid 19th century that primarily ran services between Kilwinning and Ardrossan, as well as freight services to and from collieries between Kilwinning and Perceton...
, which was regauged
Gauge conversion
In rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks...
in 1840, on alternate days a fast steamboat
Steamboat
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...
service ran between Ardrossan Pier
Ardrossan Winton Pier railway station
Ardrossan Winton Pier railway station was a railway station serving the town of Ardrossan and its harbour, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station allowed train passengers to link with the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry sailings to Brodick on the Isle of Arran and other destinations.- History :The...
and Liverpool, and vice versa. This connected with the Grand Junction Railway
Grand Junction Railway
The Grand Junction Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed between 1833 and 1846 when it was merged into the London and North Western Railway...
and London and Birmingham Railway
London and Birmingham Railway
The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway ....
's expresses to London. In 1841 the steamboat service was transferred from Liverpool to the new Port at Fleetwood
Fleetwood
Fleetwood is a town within the Wyre district of Lancashire, England, lying at the northwest corner of the Fylde. It had a population of 26,840 people at the 2001 Census. It forms part of the Greater Blackpool conurbation. The town was the first planned community of the Victorian era...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
.
Rolling stock
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
used on the line in 1839 were similar to those used on the London and Birmingham Railway
London and Birmingham Railway
The London and Birmingham Railway was an early railway company in the United Kingdom from 1833 to 1846, when it became part of the London and North Western Railway ....
, having 12 inches (305 mm) cylinders, 18 inches (457 mm) stroke and four wheels. Designed by Bury
Bury Bar Frame locomotive
The Bury Bar Frame locomotive was an early type of steam locomotive, developed at the works of Edward Bury and Company, later named Bury, Curtis, and Kennedy....
, the 2-2-0
2-2-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-0 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle, two powered driving wheels on one axle, and no trailing wheels...
locomotives cost around £1,200 per engine were given the names Mazeppa, Mercury, Marmion and Cutty-sark. Two more of the same design were obtained in 1841 named Stuart and Bute. The six original locomotives were withdrawn between 1858 and 1860. In 1840-1841 twelve 2-2-2
2-2-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 2-2-2 represents the wheel arrangement of two leading wheels on one axle two powered driving wheels on one axle, and two trailing wheels on one axle. The wheel arrangement both provided more stability and enabled a larger firebox...
locomotives (designed by company engineer J. Miller) were built and given names such as Bruce, Eglinton, Phoenix, Prince Albert and Loudoun. Bruce and Cutty Sark hauled the first special train from Glasgow to Ayr on 11 August 1840.
Early passenger carriages were of similar design to those used on railways in England at the time, holding eighteen passengers on first class carriages, and thirty on second class. Third class carriages originally had seats, but on 15 April 1840 a board decision declared that all future third class carriages were to be made without seats. All existing third class carriages also had their seats removed. A later board decision on 3 July 1840 ordered that third class carriages would be situated closest to the engine, followed by second class, with first class at the rear.
Stations opened / closed
| Date | Stations opened |
|---|---|
| 5 August 1839 | Ayr Ayr (original) railway station Ayr railway station was a railway station serving the town of Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :... , Barassie Barassie railway station Barassie railway station is a railway station serving Barassie, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line.- History :... , Irvine Irvine railway station Irvine railway station is a railway station serving the town of Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, south west of .- History :... , Monkton Monkton railway station Monkton railway station was a railway station serving the village of Monkton, South Ayrshire, Scotland.The site of the former station is occupied by fuel sidings used by Prestwick Airport.- History :... , Prestwick Prestwick Town railway station Prestwick Town railway station is a railway station serving the town of Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line.... , Troon Troon (old) railway station Troon railway station was a railway station serving the town of Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :... |
| 23 March 1840 | Bogside Bogside railway station Bogside railway station was a railway station serving the north of the town of Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .-History:... , Dalry Dalry railway station Dalry railway station is a railway station serving the town of Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line.- History :... , Kilwinning Kilwinning railway station Kilwinning railway station is a railway station serving the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line.- History :... |
| 21 July 1840 | Beith Beith North railway station Beith North railway station was a railway station serving the north of the town of Beith, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .-History:The station opened on 21 July 1840 when it was simply known as Beith... , Cochrane Mill Milliken Park railway station Milliken Park railway station is a railway station serving the west end of Johnstone and the south west of the village of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire, Scotland... , Elderslie Elderslie railway station Elderslie railway station was a railway station serving the west of Elderslie, Scotland, originally as part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .- History :The station opened on 21 July 1840... , Glengarnock Glengarnock railway station Glengarnock railway station is a railway station in the village of Glengarnock, North Ayrshire, Scotland, serving the towns of Beith and Kilbirnie... , Howood Howwood (Renfrewshire) railway station Howwood railway station is a railway station serving the village of Howwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line south west of Glasgow Central.- History :... , Johnstone Johnstone railway station Johnstone railway station is a railway station serving the town of Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line south west of Glasgow Central.- History :... , Paisley Gilmour St Paisley Gilmour Street railway station Paisley Gilmour Street railway station is one of four stations serving the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland . The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, 12 km west of... |
| 12 August 1840 | Lochwinnoch Lochwinnoch railway station Lochwinnoch railway station is a railway station serving the village of Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line.-History:... |
| 4 April 1843 | Busby Crosshouse railway station Crosshouse railway station was a railway station serving the village of Knockentiber and nearby Crosshouse, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... , Dalry Junction Dalry Junction railway station Dalry Junction railway station was a railway station near the town of Dalry, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .- History :... , Stewarton Cunninghamhead railway station Cunninghamhead railway station was a railway station serving Cunninghamhead Estate, the village of Crossroads , North Ayrshire and the town of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland... |
| 28 May 1848 | Dreghorn Dreghorn railway station Dreghorn railway station was a railway station serving the village of Dreghorn, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :... |
| 9 August 1848 | Auchinleck Auchinleck railway station Auchinleck railway station is a railway station in the town of Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Glasgow South Western Line.- History :... , Commondyke Commondyke railway station Commondyke railway station was a railway station serving the mining village of Commondyke, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- References :... , Cronberry Cronberry railway station Cronberry railway station was a railway station serving the hamlet of Cronberry, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :... , Hurlfold Hurlford railway station Hurlford railway station was a railway station serving the village of Hurlford, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... , Lugar Lugar railway station Lugar railway station was a railway station serving the Lugar Ironworks, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- References :... , Mauchline Mauchline railway station Mauchline railway station was a railway station serving the town of Mauchline, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... , Muirkirk Muirkirk railway station Muirkirk railway station was a railway station serving the village of Muirkirk, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway. It closed on 5th October 1964... |
| 20 May 1850 | Cumnock Cumnock (original) railway station Cumnock railway station was a railway station serving the town of Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :The station opened on 20 May 1850... |
| Date | Stations closed |
| 11 August 1840 | Howood Howwood (Renfrewshire) railway station Howwood railway station is a railway station serving the village of Howwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line south west of Glasgow Central.- History :... |
| 22 May 1848 | Stewarton Cunninghamhead railway station Cunninghamhead railway station was a railway station serving Cunninghamhead Estate, the village of Crossroads , North Ayrshire and the town of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland... |
| 15 April 1850 | Busby Crosshouse railway station Crosshouse railway station was a railway station serving the village of Knockentiber and nearby Crosshouse, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... |
1850 - 1923: Glasgow and South Western Railway
Under the control of the Glasgow and South Western Railway, the former GPK&AR had several of its stations closed, and several new ones opened. Some stations, such as Stewarton
Cunninghamhead railway station
Cunninghamhead railway station was a railway station serving Cunninghamhead Estate, the village of Crossroads , North Ayrshire and the town of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland...
(later called Cunninghamhead) were closed and then later reopened. A new station in Ayr was built in 1857 by the Ayr and Dalmellington Railway
Ayr and Dalmellington Railway
The Ayr and Dalmellington Railway was a railway in Scotland that provided services between Ayr and Dalmellington in Ayrshire.- History :The Ayr and Dalmellington Railway began life as the Ayrshire and Galloway Railway, which received Royal Assent on 8 June 1847...
(who were absorbed by the G&SWR the following year), which became the new terminus for trains in the town, and as a result the original Ayr station
Ayr (original) railway station
Ayr railway station was a railway station serving the town of Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :...
was closed to passengers, although it remained open for goods traffic.
Trains continued to run via the Glasgow and Paisley Joint Railway - now jointly managed by the G&SWR and 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...
- to Bridge Street station, which remained the Glasgow terminus of both companies until 1883. The City of Glasgow Union Railway
City Union Line
The City of Glasgow Union Railway - City Union Line , is a railway line in Glasgow, Scotland. The line is still open, with the section north of Bellgrove still open to passenger trains.-Description of the route:...
opened St Enoch railway station
St Enoch railway station
-External links:* *...
in 1876; in 1883 it became the headquarters of the G&SWR, and a result all G&SWR passenger services were moved to St Enoch railway station. From Shields Junction
Shields Junction
Shields Junction is the name given to the busy railway junction in the Shields Road area of Glasgow, Scotland.The junction is heavily used by both passenger and freight services running on three separate railway lines out of Glasgow Central station...
, G&SWR trains traversed the City of Glasgow Union Railway to reach St Enoch.
In 1892 a new Troon
Troon
Troon is a town in South Ayrshire. It is situated on the west coast of Scotland, about eight miles north of Ayr and three miles northwest of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. Lying across the Firth of Clyde, the Isle of Arran can be seen. Troon is also a port with freight and ferry services...
station was built nearer the centre of the town. The original Troon station was closed and its line became a means of bypassing the loop built for the new station. The line was closed on 18 April 1966, with Glasgow trains being forced to use the newer line to reach Ayr, and vice versa.
Extensions and additional lines were added to the former GPK&AR during the Glasgow and South Western era: a line between Ayr and Mauchline
Ayr to Mauchline Branch
The Ayr to Mauchline Branch was a railway line in Scotland and ran services between Ayr and Mauchline as part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway.-History:...
was opened on 1 July 1870, with a connecting line to Cronberry opening on 1 July 1882; a branch
Darvel Branch
The Darvel Branch was an extension of the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway in Scotland built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway to allow trains to travel between Kilmarnock and Darvel.-History:...
to Darvel
Darvel
Darvel is a small town in East Ayrshire, Scotland, located at the eastern end of the Irvine Valley and is sometimes referred to as "The Lang Toon" due to its quaint appearance on Ordnance Survey maps....
was opened south-east of Kilmarnock on 1 June 1896, a short branch to Catrine
Catrine
Catrine is a village in East Ayrshire, Scotland which was formerly a centre of cotton manufacture.-Geography:The village lies on the River Ayr which previously provided water power for local industry. It is in the parish of Sorn, 2 miles south east of Mauchline.-Transport:The A76 road lies south...
from Mauchline was opened on 1 September 1903, and an alternate route
Dalry and North Johnstone Line
The Dalry and North Johnstone Line was a branch of the Glasgow and South Western Railway in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, Scotland, connecting the stations in Elderslie and Dalry via a route running parallel to the existing line built by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway...
from Johnstone was Dalry was opened on 1 June 1905.
In 1923, the Glasgow and South Western Railway merged with six other major companies and several other smaller companies to form 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...
.
Stations opened / closed
| Date | Stations opened |
|---|---|
| November 1850 | Stewarton Cunninghamhead railway station Cunninghamhead railway station was a railway station serving Cunninghamhead Estate, the village of Crossroads , North Ayrshire and the town of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland... (later Cunninghamhead) |
| 5 August 1859 | Gailes Gailes railway station Gailes railway station was a railway station approximately two miles south of the town of Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .- Accidents :... , Monkton Monkton railway station Monkton railway station was a railway station serving the village of Monkton, South Ayrshire, Scotland.The site of the former station is occupied by fuel sidings used by Prestwick Airport.- History :... |
| 1 September 1872 | Crosshouse Crosshouse railway station Crosshouse railway station was a railway station serving the village of Knockentiber and nearby Crosshouse, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... (previously Busby) |
| 1 December 1876 | Howwood Howwood (Renfrewshire) railway station Howwood railway station is a railway station serving the village of Howwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line south west of Glasgow Central.- History :... (previously Howood) |
| 1 February 1878 | Montgreenan Montgreenan railway station Montgreenan railway station was a railway station near the village of Benslie, three miles north east of the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland... |
| 1890 | Springside Springside railway station Springside railway station was a railway station serving the village of Springside, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... |
| 2 May 1892 | Troon Troon railway station Troon railway station is a railway station serving the town of Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line.- History :... (new) |
| Date | Stations closed |
| 1 July 1857 | Ayr Ayr (original) railway station Ayr railway station was a railway station serving the town of Ayr, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :... |
| 2 January 1860 | Dalry Junction Dalry Junction railway station Dalry Junction railway station was a railway station near the town of Dalry, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .- History :... |
| 2 May 1892 | Troon Troon (old) railway station Troon railway station was a railway station serving the town of Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :... (old) |
1923 - 1948: London, Midland and Scottish Railway
Stations closed
| Date | Stations closed |
|---|---|
| 28 October 1940 | Monkton Monkton railway station Monkton railway station was a railway station serving the village of Monkton, South Ayrshire, Scotland.The site of the former station is occupied by fuel sidings used by Prestwick Airport.- History :... |
1948 - 1994: Nationalisation and line closures
With nationalisation in 1948, ownership of the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway fell to British RailBritish Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways. Two years later the first of several line closures began with the line between Auchinleck and Cronberry closing to passenger traffic on 3 July 1950. However in 1951 services were reinstated for two weeks to accommodate trains travelling from Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
to Ayr. The entire line from Auchinleck to Muirkirk then closed to regular passenger traffic on 1 October 1950, however the line was used up until 1976. Muirkirk station remained open on other lines until 5 October 1964, when it was closed as a result of the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
.
The Dalry to Kilmarnock line had provided the G&SWR with a link between Kilmarnock and Glasgow (via the Paisley Canal Line
Paisley Canal Line
The Paisley Canal Railway line was originally a Glasgow and South Western Railway branch line running from Glasgow, Scotland, through three stations in Paisley, to North Johnstone...
) without having to use lines that were jointly operated with 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...
. Again a result of the Beeching Axe, the line was closed to local passenger traffic on 18 April 1966. Despite this, the line remained open for long distance passenger services such as an overnight train from Glasgow to London via Paisley. The line closed to all traffic on 23 October 1973, was singled and later removed.
During the mid-1980s the line between Paisley and Ayr was electrified, with full electric passenger services beginning on 19 January 1987. The line between Kilmarnock and Cumnock was not electrified, and remains so to this day.
Stations opened / closed
| Date | Stations closed |
|---|---|
| 3 July 1950 | Commondyke Commondyke railway station Commondyke railway station was a railway station serving the mining village of Commondyke, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- References :... , Lugar Lugar railway station Lugar railway station was a railway station serving the Lugar Ironworks, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- References :... |
| 4 June 1951 | Beith North Beith North railway station Beith North railway station was a railway station serving the north of the town of Beith, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .-History:The station opened on 21 July 1840 when it was simply known as Beith... (previously Beith) |
| 10 December 1951 | Cronberry Cronberry railway station Cronberry railway station was a railway station serving the hamlet of Cronberry, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :... |
| 1 January 1955 | Cunninghamhead Cunninghamhead railway station Cunninghamhead railway station was a railway station serving Cunninghamhead Estate, the village of Crossroads , North Ayrshire and the town of Stewarton, East Ayrshire, Scotland... |
| 7 March 1955 | Howwood, Hurlford Hurlford railway station Hurlford railway station was a railway station serving the village of Hurlford, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... , Montgreenan Montgreenan railway station Montgreenan railway station was a railway station near the village of Benslie, three miles north east of the town of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire, Scotland... |
| 6 April 1964 | Dreghorn Dreghorn railway station Dreghorn railway station was a railway station serving the village of Dreghorn, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :... , Springside Springside railway station Springside railway station was a railway station serving the village of Springside, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... |
| 5 October 1964 | Muirkirk Muirkirk railway station Muirkirk railway station was a railway station serving the village of Muirkirk, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway. It closed on 5th October 1964... |
| 6 December 1965 | Auchinleck Auchinleck railway station Auchinleck railway station is a railway station in the town of Auchinleck, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Glasgow South Western Line.- History :... , Cumnock Cumnock (original) railway station Cumnock railway station was a railway station serving the town of Cumnock, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.- History :The station opened on 20 May 1850... , Mauchline Mauchline railway station Mauchline railway station was a railway station serving the town of Mauchline, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... |
| 14 February 1966 | Elderslie Elderslie railway station Elderslie railway station was a railway station serving the west of Elderslie, Scotland, originally as part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .- History :The station opened on 21 July 1840... |
| 18 April 1966 | Crosshouse Crosshouse railway station Crosshouse railway station was a railway station serving the village of Knockentiber and nearby Crosshouse, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway.-History:... , Milliken Park Milliken Park railway station Milliken Park railway station is a railway station serving the west end of Johnstone and the south west of the village of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire, Scotland... (previously Cochrane Mill) |
| 2 January 1967 | Bogside Bogside railway station Bogside railway station was a railway station serving the north of the town of Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .-History:... , Gailes Gailes railway station Gailes railway station was a railway station approximately two miles south of the town of Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station was originally part of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway .- Accidents :... |
| Date | Stations reopened |
| 28 October 1988 | Howwood Howwood (Renfrewshire) railway station Howwood railway station is a railway station serving the village of Howwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line south west of Glasgow Central.- History :... |
| 15 May 1989 | Milliken Park Milliken Park railway station Milliken Park railway station is a railway station serving the west end of Johnstone and the south west of the village of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire, Scotland... |
1994 - present: Privatisation and current operations
Privatisation resulted in the former GPK&AR being under the ownership of RailtrackRailtrack
Railtrack was a group of companies that owned the track, signalling, tunnels, bridges, level crossings and all but a handful of the stations of the British railway system from its formation in April 1994 until 2002...
, and then from 2002, Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
. The line between Paisley and Ayr is now part of the Ayrshire Coast Line
Ayrshire Coast Line
The Ayrshire Coast Line is one of the lines within the Strathclyde suburban rail network in Scotland. It has 26 stations and connects the Ayrshire coast to Glasgow...
(which also incorporates the former Ardrossan Railway
Ardrossan Railway
The Ardrossan Railway was a railway company in Scotland built in the mid 19th century that primarily ran services between Kilwinning and Ardrossan, as well as freight services to and from collieries between Kilwinning and Perceton...
), and the remaining line from Kilmarnock to Cumnock is part of 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 :...
. Local services are now run by First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
on behalf of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is a public body which is responsible for planning and co-ordinating regional transport, and especially the public transport system, in the Strathclyde area of western Scotland...
.
Stations opened
| Date | Stations opened |
|---|---|
| 5 September 1994 | Prestwick International Airport |
Connections to other lines
- Ardrossan RailwayArdrossan RailwayThe Ardrossan Railway was a railway company in Scotland built in the mid 19th century that primarily ran services between Kilwinning and Ardrossan, as well as freight services to and from collieries between Kilwinning and Perceton...
at Kilwinning and Dubbs Junction - Ayr and Dalmellington RailwayAyr and Dalmellington RailwayThe Ayr and Dalmellington Railway was a railway in Scotland that provided services between Ayr and Dalmellington in Ayrshire.- History :The Ayr and Dalmellington Railway began life as the Ayrshire and Galloway Railway, which received Royal Assent on 8 June 1847...
at Falkland Junction - Ayr to Mauchline Branch and associated linesAyr to Mauchline BranchThe Ayr to Mauchline Branch was a railway line in Scotland and ran services between Ayr and Mauchline as part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway.-History:...
at Prestwick, Falkland Junction, (near Newton-on-Ayr station) and Mauchline - Bridge of Weir RailwayBridge of Weir RailwayThe Bridge of Weir Railway ran from Elderslie, Scotland, to Bridge of Weir. It was closed in January 1983.- Formation :The line from Elderslie to Bridge of Weir was built originally as the Bridge of Weir Railway, which had opened to passengers in 1864 between Johnstone and Bridge of Weir...
at Elderslie - Dalry and North Johnstone LineDalry and North Johnstone LineThe Dalry and North Johnstone Line was a branch of the Glasgow and South Western Railway in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire, Scotland, connecting the stations in Elderslie and Dalry via a route running parallel to the existing line built by the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway...
at Brownhill Junction, north east of Dalry - Darvel BranchDarvel BranchThe Darvel Branch was an extension of the former Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway in Scotland built by the Glasgow and South Western Railway to allow trains to travel between Kilmarnock and Darvel.-History:...
at Hurlford Junction, south east of Kilmarnock - Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint RailwayGlasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint RailwayThe Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway was a railway co-owned by Caledonian Railway and Glasgow and South Western Railway and was an amalgation of two different lines: the Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Direct Railway and the Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway.-Glasgow, Barrhead and...
at Kilmarnock - 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 Cumnock - Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock RailwayGlasgow, Paisley and Greenock RailwayThe Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway was an early railway, which merged with the Caledonian Railway. It was created to provide train services between Greenock and Glasgow.-History:...
at Paisley Gilmour Street - Kilmarnock and Troon RailwayKilmarnock and Troon RailwayThe Kilmarnock and Troon Railway was the first railway line in Scotland authorised by Act of Parliament, in 1808; the engineer was William Jessop. It was the first railway in Scotland to use a steam locomotive; and it was the only one in Scotland for fourteen years...
at Barassie and Kilmarnock - Paisley Canal LinePaisley Canal LineThe Paisley Canal Railway line was originally a Glasgow and South Western Railway branch line running from Glasgow, Scotland, through three stations in Paisley, to North Johnstone...
at Elderslie and at Shields JunctionShields JunctionShields Junction is the name given to the busy railway junction in the Shields Road area of Glasgow, Scotland.The junction is heavily used by both passenger and freight services running on three separate railway lines out of Glasgow Central station...