Ardrossan Railway
Encyclopedia
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
. The line was later merged with the Glasgow and South Western Railway
, and is today part of the Ayrshire Coast Line
.
of and was worked by horse
s. For passenger services, a carriage held 24 passengers; 16 inside and 8 outside.
The railway was built by the Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal
company. It commenced on the west side of Ardrossan harbour. It was intended to terminate at Johnstone
, to connect with the Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal. However, this never occurred due to lack of money. It therefore terminated at Kilwinning.
The 3 miles (4.8 km) long Doura branch
left the main line near Stevenston and crossed under the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
to reach the Doura
coal
pit. The 0.5 miles (805 m) Fergus Hill branch left the Doura branch just after the Lugton Water crossing to reach the Fergus Hill
coal pit.
In 1840 the line was regauged
to standard gauge
and connected with the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
at Kilwinning station
; and in 1854 both lines merged with the new Glasgow and South Western Railway
.
. The only sections closed are the entire Doura branch and Ardrossan Winton Pier railway station
(now cut back to Ardrossan Harbour railway station
).
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...
built in the mid 19th century that primarily ran services between Kilwinning
Kilwinning
Kilwinning is a historic town in North Ayrshire, Scotland. It is known as The Crossroads of Ayrshire. The 2001 Census recorded it as having a population of 15,908.-History:...
and 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...
, as well as freight services to and from collieries
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
between Kilwinning and Perceton
Perceton
Perceton is a medieval settlement and estate in North Ayrshire, Scotland, near the town of Irvine. The old church in Perceton is one of the oldest buildings in the Irvine district...
. The line was later merged 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...
, and is today 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...
.
History
The line began life as a waggonway which opened in 1831 between Ardrossan and Kilwinning and was known as the Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway. It was initially built to the Scotch gaugeScotch gauge
Scotch gauge was the name given to a track gauge, that was adopted by early 19th century railways mainly in the Lanarkshire area of Scotland. It differed from the gauge of that was used on some early lines in England; and from the standard gauge of...
of and was worked by horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
s. For passenger services, a carriage held 24 passengers; 16 inside and 8 outside.
The railway was built by the Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal
Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal
The Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal was a canal in the west of Scotland, running between Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone which later became a railway. Despite the name, the canal was never completed down to Ardrossan, the termini being Port Eglinton in Glasgow and Thorn Brae in Johnstone...
company. It commenced on the west side of Ardrossan harbour. It was intended to terminate at Johnstone
Johnstone
Johnstone is a town in the council area of Renfrewshire and larger historic county of the same name in the west central Lowlands of Scotland.The town lies three miles west of neighbouring Paisley and twelve miles west of the centre of the city of Glasgow...
, to connect with the Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal. However, this never occurred due to lack of money. It therefore terminated at Kilwinning.
The 3 miles (4.8 km) long Doura branch
Benslie
Benslie is a small village in North Ayrshire, in the parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. Map reference NS 336 429.- History :This village, previously Benislay , Beinslay , Bainsley in 1821 , Bensley , Benslee or Benslee square on the 1860 OS map, Bendslee is situated next to Benslie wood...
left the main line near Stevenston and crossed under the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway 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...
to reach the Doura
Benslie
Benslie is a small village in North Ayrshire, in the parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. Map reference NS 336 429.- History :This village, previously Benislay , Beinslay , Bainsley in 1821 , Bensley , Benslee or Benslee square on the 1860 OS map, Bendslee is situated next to Benslie wood...
coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
pit. The 0.5 miles (805 m) Fergus Hill branch left the Doura branch just after the Lugton Water crossing to reach the Fergus Hill
Fergushill
Fergushill is a small community in North Ayrshire, Parish of Kilwinning, Scotland. The Barony of Fergushill was held by the Fergushill family of that Ilk and the area has a complex history.-The Fergushills of that Ilk:...
coal pit.
In 1840 the line 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...
to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
and connected with the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway
The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway 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...
at Kilwinning station
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 :...
; and in 1854 both lines merged with the new 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...
.
Current operations
The majority of this line is still in use as part of the Ayrshire Coast LineAyrshire 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...
. The only sections closed are the entire Doura branch and Ardrossan Winton Pier railway station
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...
(now cut back to Ardrossan Harbour railway station
Ardrossan Harbour railway station
Ardrossan Harbour railway station is one of three remaining railway stations in the town of Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is on the Ayrshire Coast Line, south west of...
).