Kilmarnock and Troon Railway

The Kilmarnock and Troon Railway was the first railway line in Scotland authorised by Act of Parliament, in 1808; the engineer was William Jessop.Lewin (1925), Page 5] Awdry (1990), Page 84] Robertson (1983)] It was the first railway in Scotland to use a steam locomotive; and it was the only one in Scotland for fourteen years.Thomas (1971)] Its representation appeared in the Coat of Arms of the Burgh of Troon.

The line was intended to carry coal for the Duke of Portland; and ran services between Kilmarnock and Troon Harbour.

History

The line began life as a 9.5 mile (16 km), double track RailGauge|48 gauge, horse-drawn waggonway which opened on 6 July 1812. It was built using cast iron plate rails with an inner flange.cite web | url = http://www.ladyisle.com/Kilmarnock%20and%20Troon%20Railway/page_793.htm | title = The Kilmarnock & Troon Railway Act | accessdate = 2007-12-07 ]

A 2.5 mile (4 km) branch to Drybridge and Fairle colleries was built to 3ft 4in (1016 mm) gauge. It opened in 1818. The branch had "fish bellied" edge rails set in iron chairs spiked to stone blocks.A George Stephenson built locomotive, his second one from Killingworth colliery, was tried on the main line in 1817, but the weight of the engine broke the cast iron plate rails. It worked better when wooden rails were used; and the locomotive remained in use until 1848. Wooden wheels are mentioned by Mackintosh.Mackintosh, Ian M. p. 44.] In 1837 an Act of Parliament was obtained to convert the line for locomotive use; and these services commenced on 27 September 1841.

On 16 July 1846 the line was leased to the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway (GPK&A). On 16 July 1899 the line was bought by the GPK&A's successor, the Glasgow and South Western Railway, who ran services until the 1923 Grouping. Services continued under the London, Midland and Scottish Railway and then British Rail until the line's closure on 3 March 1969.Stansfield, p. 8]

The Drybridge branch was abandoned in 1846 or 1849.

Connections to other lines

* Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway at Barassie and Kilmarnock
* Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway at Kilmarnock

Current operations

On 5 May 1975 the line was reopened and today is part of the Glasgow South Western Line providing services to Stranraer via Kilmarnock. The intermediate stations between Barassie and Kilmarnock remain closed, and the line remains unelectrified. As part of the resignalling prior to the electrification of the Ayrshire Coast Line, the Kilmarnock line through Barassie station was singled and the platforms taken out of use.

See also

* Laigh Milton viaduct - Scotland's oldest railway viaduct - situated on this route.

References

Notes

ources

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* Mackintosh, Ian M. (1969), "Old Troon and District." Pub. George Outram, Kilmarnock.
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