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.
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).
Muirkirk
railway photographs on the Ayrshire Villages website
This site includes photographs of the south platform at Muirkirk Stations, locos leaving for Lanark and sitting at the station, the signal box, a mineral train (all steam) and the last train to leave Muirkirk for Lanark.
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
8th 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
Concentrating 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.
Fascinating 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.
Railways in Muirkirk
Muirkirk Railway Station photographed in 1958
Muirkirk Engine Shed in 1951
4-4-0-Engine Number 40575 at Muirkirk in September 1951
8th August 1888 - pedestrian killed crossing line
