muirkirk in the hills of ayrshire - from the muirkirk enterprise group

   

MuirkirkRailways in Muirkirk

The railway came to Muirkirk on 9th August 1848 with the opening of the Auchinleck to Muirkirk branch line of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway (GPK&AR) and the arrival of Engine No 31, The Orion.

The original Muirkirk Railway Station was opened on 9 August 1848 as the terminus of the Muirkirk branch of the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway. (later absorbed into the Glasgow and South-Western Railway). This station was located at NGR NS 692 263 This station was replaced by a new station in 1896.

The new Muirkirk Railway Station was opened in 1896, becoming the terminus of the Muirkirk branch of the Glasgow and South-Western Railway. This station had an end-on junction with the Carstairs, Glenbuck, Muirkirk junction of the Caledonian Railway. The new station closed to regular passenger traffic on 5 October 1964 when the last train left for Lanark.. 

THE "NEW" RAILWAY, 1918 - Extracted from Cairntable Echoes - Glenbuck Memories
What was termed the "new" railway when it was laid between ten and twenty years ago, by the Caledonian Railway Company, linking up the existing railway from Lesmahagow to Gallawhistle Pit, Glenbuck, with that at Muirkirk, it is now approaching probably its last phase. The railway was completed, but was never opened for traffic. Some years ago the rails were lifted. These are being re-laid by contractors for the purpose of dismantling the bridges and removing the iron girders from the several inconsiderably viaducts which spans the glens at Crossflatt, Ponesk, and Glenbuck, for, it is said, use in France.

Picture of Muirkirk railwaymen - click to enlarge the picture

 

This is believed to be be a picture taken at Muirkirk Railway Station.

Front row, third from left is understood to be Thomas Palmer, originally from Cumbria.

Can anyone put any more names to faces? Or a guess at the date?

Click on the picture for a larger image.

 

Muirkirk railwaymen Thomas Palmer (right) and Will Parker pictured at Kilmarnock Station

 

This picture originally appeared in the Daily Record with the headline "Is This My Holiday train?" and caption "This wee girl with her holiday kit made sure she boarded the right train at Kilmarnock Station on Saturday, at the beginning of the Kilmarnock Grozet Fair, when large numbers left the town for coast and country."

On the footplate are Muirkirk railwaymen Will Parker (left) and Thomas Palmer (right).

Send any info to

Click on the picture for a larger image.

 

 

 

 

Muirkirk Railway Station in May 1958Muirkirk Railway Station photographed in 1958

Muirkirk Engine Sheds 1951Muirkirk Engine Shed in 1951. For railway buffs, the engine is the ex Caledonian Railway 4-4-0 LMS 3P No 54504.

4-4-0-Engine Number 40572 at Muirkirk in September 19514-4-0-Engine Number 40575 at Muirkirk in September 1951

LNER B1 61342 at Muirkirk April 1966Rail Tour at Muirkirk April 1966 LNER B1 61342 at Muirkirk 10th April 1966

Caledonian Railway 123 at MuirkirkCaledonian Railway engine 123 refuelling at Muirkirk

Muirkirk Signal Box No. 2 1951Muirkirk Signal Box No. 2

Accidents on Muirkirk's Railways

  • 14th December 1867 - train misroute was reported by the Glasgow and South Western Railway
  • 17th May 1875 - collision was reported by the Glasgow and South Western Railway
  • Memorial near Commondyke Station to Sister Laurienne8th August 1888 - pedestrian killed crossing line
    To the north of Commondyke station is a memorial a cross, in memory of Sister Laurienne who was struck by a train when crossing the railway line. The memorial reads "AT THE DISTANCE OF EIGHT FEET IN FRONT OF THIS SPOT THE REV SISTER LAURIENNE WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED ON THE 8TH DAY OF AUGUST 1888." The driver was Johnnie Goodfellow, and the engine No. 90, an 0-4-0 from Muirkirk.
  • 7th June 1956 - Railway Fatal Accident
    When the 1pm train from Lanark arrived at Muirkirk Station, a man's cap was discovered on the front of the engine.
    On investigation the body of 68 year old William Findlay of 17 Lapriak Avenue was found on the line about a quarter of a mile east of the Station. It was thought that Mr Findlay, who had some deafness, had been walking towards the station when the accident happened.

Muirkirk Railway Closures

  • Cronberry, GASSWATER SIDING g f to Muirkirk - Glasgow & S Western - 07-Feb-1969 - Used by rail tour 10-May-1969
  • Ponfeigh to Muirkirk - Caledonian - 05-Oct-1964
  • Muirkirk to Lanark
    Passenger services from Muirkirk ceased in October 1964 when the last diesel multiple unit left for Lanark, driven by John Shankley. A photograph of this train can be seen here on the Ayrshire Villages website

Ayrshire's last days of steamConcentrating on the 1950s and '60's, the last days of steam before diesel, electric power, and Dr Beeching's deadly axe changed the railways for ever. This collection of photographs from that era, taken by acclaimed railway historian and photographer W.A.C. Smith, are an invaluable record of the time when steam ruled and trains were never late. Featuring many of the stations which once served all of Ayrshire, the 59 excellent photographs include locations at Kilmarnock, Darvel, Mauchline, Dalry, Kilwinning, Saltcoats, and others together with familiar rolling stock of the day.

More information on this book can be found on the Stenlake Publishing website

 

 

Lost railways of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire by Stenlake PublishingFascinating statistics on the now closed lines and demolished stations from these two counties, accompanied by 52 old photographs showing many of the locations in their prime. The original Wemyss Bay station, forerunner to the extravagant mock-Tudor structure that exists today, a railbus at Crosshouse, and the sorry spectacle of Kilwinning East station during demolition are some of the many subjects.

More information on this book can be found on the Stenlake Publishing website

 

 

 

 

This page features in the list of railway sites mentioned in the ScotlandOne Directory. If you are interested in Scottish railways you might find this page of interest.

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