Thornhill (Dumfries) railway station
Encyclopedia
Thornhill is a closed station. It served the country town of Thornhill
in Dumfries and Galloway. The station site is a mile or so from the town. Four miles north of Thornhill is Drumlanrig Castle
, home to the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. The Glasgow and South Western main line rail route between Kilmarnock and Dumfries is forced to make a long detour to the east of Thornhill and through a long tunnel, rather than the more logical route nearer Thornhill town centre and up the Nith Valley, so as not to be seen from the Buccleugh estate. The distance of the station from Thornhill may be one reason that passenger use was light and stopping services ended in 1965. There was formerly a busy livestock market near to the station, which eventually closed around 2001.http://www.cdfarmersmart.co.uk/about/index.html
signalling is still used here.
Despite the positive case for reopening, some local residents opposed the plans in 2009, which involved some property development to pay for new a new station involving platforms to be built slightly north of the present station site.
Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway
Thornhill is a town in the Mid Nithsdale area of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, south of Sanquhar and north of Dumfries.A monument to the explorer Joseph Thomson , who lived in neighbouring Penpont and Gatelawbridge, can be found close to the school...
in Dumfries and Galloway. The station site is a mile or so from the town. Four miles north of Thornhill is Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle
Drumlanrig Castle sits on the Queensberry Estate in Scotland's Dumfries and Galloway.The Castle is the Dumfriesshire family home to the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry...
, home to the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry. The Glasgow and South Western main line rail route between Kilmarnock and Dumfries is forced to make a long detour to the east of Thornhill and through a long tunnel, rather than the more logical route nearer Thornhill town centre and up the Nith Valley, so as not to be seen from the Buccleugh estate. The distance of the station from Thornhill may be one reason that passenger use was light and stopping services ended in 1965. There was formerly a busy livestock market near to the station, which eventually closed around 2001.http://www.cdfarmersmart.co.uk/about/index.html
Views at the station in 2009
The southbound loop has recently been opened to increase traffic paths on this line. The platforms, signal box and main building still stand at this closed station. SemaphoreRailway semaphore signal
One of the earliest forms of fixed railway signal is the semaphore. These signals display their different indications to train drivers by changing the angle of inclination of a pivoted 'arm'. Semaphore signals were patented in the early 1840s by Joseph James Stevens, and soon became the most...
signalling is still used here.
Re-opening
Suggestions have been made for a re-opening of the station.Despite the positive case for reopening, some local residents opposed the plans in 2009, which involved some property development to pay for new a new station involving platforms to be built slightly north of the present station site.
External links
- RAILSCOT on Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway: map and historical notes
- Disused stations