Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier railway station
Encyclopedia
Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier railway station was a railway station
serving the town of Ardrossan
, North Ayrshire
, Scotland
as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
(L&AR). The station was opened to compete with the Glasgow and South Western Railway
(G&SWR) owned station at Winton Pier
on the opposite side of the harbour.
as the new terminus for the line in Ardrossan (although that station would continue to operate as an intermediate station). It was closed from 1 January 1917 to 1 February 1919 due to wartime economy, and upon the grouping of the L&AR into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
(LMS) in 1923, the station was renamed Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier on 2 June 1924. The name change was to avoid confusion with the nearby G&SWR station of the same name
, which was also incorporated into the LMS. Montgomerie Pier survived the former L&AR station closures of 1932,.
The station then passed on to the Scottish Region of British Railways
on nationalisation in 1948, and continued to operate until it officially closed to passengers by the British Railways Board
on 6 May 1968, although the last train ran on 25 September 1967. Despite track removal in 1970, the station was still intact in 1974. Today Montgomerie Pier is the site of private flats overlooking the Ardrossan Marina
, and no trace of the station remains.
s in an iron-framed wooden-clad building, and originally had a glazed roof supported on lattice girders. A booking office for boats to Belfast
was situated at the pier end of the platforms.
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
serving the town of 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...
, North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire
North Ayrshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland with a population of roughly 136,000 people. It is located in the south-west region of Scotland, and borders the areas of Inverclyde to the north, Renfrewshire to the north-east and East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire to the East and South...
, Scotland
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...
as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway
The Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway was a railway company in Scotland built in the late 19th century that provided services between Ardrossan and Glasgow, with branches to Irvine and Kilbirnie. The line was operated by the Caledonian Railway with an aim to compete with the Glasgow and South...
(L&AR). The station was opened to compete with 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) owned station at Winton 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...
on the opposite side of the harbour.
History
The station opened on 30 May 1890 as Ardrossan Pier, replacing the L&AR Ardrossan stationArdrossan North railway station
Ardrossan North railway station was a railway station serving the town of Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland as part of the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway . The station was the original Ardrossan terminus for this line until the nearby pier station opened two years later...
as the new terminus for the line in Ardrossan (although that station would continue to operate as an intermediate station). It was closed from 1 January 1917 to 1 February 1919 due to wartime economy, and upon the grouping of the L&AR 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, the station was renamed Ardrossan Montgomerie Pier on 2 June 1924. The name change was to avoid confusion with the nearby G&SWR station of the same name
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...
, which was also incorporated into the LMS. Montgomerie Pier survived the former L&AR station closures of 1932,.
The station then passed on to the Scottish Region of British Railways
Scottish Region of British Railways
The Scottish Region was one of the six regions created on British Railways and consisted of ex-London, Midland and Scottish Railway and ex-London and North Eastern Railway lines in Scotland...
on nationalisation in 1948, and continued to operate until it officially closed to passengers by the British Railways Board
British Railways Board
The British Railways Board was a nationalised industry in the United Kingdom that existed from 1962 to 2001. From its foundation until 1997, it was responsible for most railway services in Great Britain, trading under the brand names British Railways and, from 1965, British Rail...
on 6 May 1968, although the last train ran on 25 September 1967. Despite track removal in 1970, the station was still intact in 1974. Today Montgomerie Pier is the site of private flats overlooking the Ardrossan Marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
, and no trace of the station remains.
Station description
The station consisted of two side platformSide platform
A Side platform is a platform positioned to the side of a pair of tracks at a railway station, a tram stop or a transitway. A pair of side platforms are often provided on a dual track line with a single side platform being sufficient for a single track line...
s in an iron-framed wooden-clad building, and originally had a glazed roof supported on lattice girders. A booking office for boats to Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
was situated at the pier end of the platforms.