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THE LANARKSHIRE AND AYRSHIRE RAILWAY LINE

The Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway had its origins in The Barrmill and kilwinning Railway which was authorised in 1883 to construct a railway between Barrmill and Kilwinning. Under the powers of The Lanarkshire and Ayrshire (Additional Powers) Act of 1884 The Barrmill and Kilwinning Railway extended its lines to Montgomerie Pier, Ardrossan, constructed branches to Irvine and Kilbirnie and changed its name to The Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway. The line to Ardrossan was opened on 3rd September 1888 and to Montgomerie Pier on May 1890. The branch line to Irvine was opened in 1890 and that to Kilbirnie in 1889. These new lines enabled The Caledonian Railway to have access to an Ayrshire harbour and therefore made the transport of coal from the Lanarkshire coalfields cheaper and quicker.It also gave access to the steelworks at Glengarnock and the various works in and around Stevenston.

However, the Lanarkshire coal owners wished a more direct route to the coast and promoted an extension to the L.& A. which was eventually authorised under The Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway Act of 1897. This railway was authorised to construct lines from Giffen Junction to Kirkhill Junction at Newton. The lines from Giffen to Williamwood were constructed by the new company and from Williamwood to Newton and the various junctions at Cathcart by The Caledonian Railway and the entire line was opened to traffic in 1903. At last the export of coal from Lanarkshire became cheaper and quicker. The Caledonian Railway were also able to run Boat Trains to Ardrossan in connection with their steamers to Arran and other Clyde resorts as well as Ireland and The Isle of Man.

The demise of the L.& A. began with the opening of Rothesday Dock in 1907. This allowed bigger ships to sail up the Clyde and with the opening of the Caley's Lanarkshire & Dumbartonshire Railway offered a shorter route to Lanarkshire and coal traffic was diverted from the L.& A. to the L.& D.The Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway remained an independent company until it was absorbed into the L.M.S. in 1923. The other reason for its decline was the limited populated areas along its route. Alternative forms of transport began to emerge (buses and motor cars) and this resulted in the closures of the branches in 1930 for passengers and 1939 for goods.In 1932 local passengers ceased beyond Uplawrnoor although boat trains and goods trains continued to use the line until 1939. Uplawmoor was eventually closed in the 1960's and the line terminated at Neilston and was ultimately electrified and so it is in 2003 with a fairly good service to and from Glasgow.

By Mr T McGhie
Caledonia Railway Association