Dalry and North Johnstone Line
Encyclopedia
The Dalry and North Johnstone Line (also known as the Lochwinnoch Loop Line or Kilbarchan Loop Line) was a branch of the Glasgow and South Western Railway
(G&SWR) 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
. This provided additional line capacity for Ayrshire Coast and Kilmarnock
services. The loop line was used for passenger services until the mid 1960s, when it was closed by the Beeching Axe
. The majority of the line's trackbed has since been absorbed into the Sustrans
National Cycle Network
.
. The main reason for the line was to provide a loop to relieve the pressure from the main line between Paisley
and Kilwinning
, where traffic was very dense. From the south the line left the G&SWR at Brownhill Junction, situated between Dalry
and Glengarnock
railway stations, and rejoined the main line at Cart Junction, situated between Johnstone
and Elderslie
railway stations.
Prior to closure the line had about twelve return passenger journeys a day, running from St Enoch
to Ardrossan
, Ayr
, Kilmarnock
and Largs
. A casualty of the Beeching Axe
, the line closed to regular passenger traffic on 27 June 1966. The line later closed to all traffic from Cart Junction to Kilbirnie on 3 July 1972, with the line between Kilbirnie and Brownhill Junction remaining open until 19 December 1977, primarily to serve Glengarnock Steel Works. The majority of the trackbed is now part of National Cycle Route 7
, which runs from Carlisle
to Inverness
via Glasgow
.
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 Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
and Ayrshire
Ayrshire
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...
, Scotland, connecting the stations in Elderslie
Elderslie
Elderslie is a village in the council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The village is situated midway between the nearby towns of Paisley and Johnstone....
and Dalry
Dalry, North Ayrshire
Dalry is a small town in the Garnock Valley in Ayrshire, Scotland.-History:Dalry means "King's Valley" or more simply the "Rye Meadow"; indicating a small settlement on the Rye Burn. Its history has signs of early inhabitants in the area...
via a route running parallel to the existing line built by 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...
. This provided additional line capacity for Ayrshire Coast and 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'...
services. The loop line was used for passenger services until the mid 1960s, when it was closed by 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 majority of the line's trackbed has since been absorbed into the Sustrans
Sustrans
Sustrans is a British charity to promote sustainable transport. The charity is currently working on a number of practical projects to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport, to give people the choice of "travelling in ways that benefit their health and the environment"...
National Cycle Network
National Cycle Network
The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom.The National Cycle Network was created by the charity Sustrans , and aided by a £42.5 million National Lottery grant. In 2005 it was used for over 230 million trips.Many routes hope to minimise contact with motor...
.
History
The line opened on 1 June 1905, replacing a short line which had run from Cart Junction to a terminal station to the north of JohnstoneJohnstone
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...
. The main reason for the line was to provide a loop to relieve the pressure from the main line between Paisley
Paisley railway station
Paisley railway station may refer to one of several railway stations in the town of Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland:- Those with Paisley in the station name :* Paisley Abercorn railway station * Paisley Canal railway station...
and 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 :...
, where traffic was very dense. From the south the line left the G&SWR at Brownhill Junction, situated between 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 :...
and 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...
railway stations, and rejoined the main line at Cart Junction, situated between 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 :...
and 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...
railway stations.
Prior to closure the line had about twelve return passenger journeys a day, running from St Enoch
St Enoch railway station
-External links:* *...
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...
, 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...
, 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 Largs
Largs
Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....
. A casualty 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 line closed to regular passenger traffic on 27 June 1966. The line later closed to all traffic from Cart Junction to Kilbirnie on 3 July 1972, with the line between Kilbirnie and Brownhill Junction remaining open until 19 December 1977, primarily to serve Glengarnock Steel Works. The majority of the trackbed is now part of National Cycle Route 7
NCR 7
-Route:For mapping purposes, the route is split at Glasgow into Lochs and Glens and -Carlisle to Glasgow:The route runs from Carlisle across the border to Dumfries; this section takes a long route at present, but may change following the construction of an "all-purpose route" alongside the M6...
, which runs from Carlisle
Carlisle railway station
Carlisle 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...
to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
via 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...
.