Ayr and Dalmellington Railway

[v · d · e]Ayr and Dalmellington Railway
Legend - - Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway Newton-on-Ayr Newton Junction - - Ayr to Mauchline Branch Hawkhill Junction Ayr Alloway Junction - - Maidens and Dunure Railway Ailsa Hospital Maybole Junction Maybole (Dalrymple) Junction - - Ayr and Maybole Junction Railway Hollybush - - Ayr to Mauchline Branch Holehouse Junction Holehouse Junction Patna Waterside Waste Tip Dalmellington

The Ayr and Dalmellington Railway was a railway in Scotland that provided services between Ayr and Dalmellington in Ayrshire.

History

The Ayr and Dalmellington Railway began life as the Ayrshire and Galloway (Smithstown & Dalmellington) Railway, which received Royal Assent on 8 June 1847.^[1] Although the line was originally to run between Waterside and Sillyhole near Dalmellington, the company evolved into the Ayr and Dalmellington Railway, which received Royal Assent on 4 August 1853 and had new plans to extend the line to both namesaked towns.^[1]

The Burnton Viaduct near Dalrymple in 2008

The line opened to freight on 15 May 1856, and to passengers on 7 August of the same year.^[1] The Glasgow and South Western Railway took over the line a short time later on 1 August 1858.^[1]

The line closed to passengers on 6 April 1964.^[2] The majority of the line is still open today for freight trains accessing open-pit mining sites in the area. The line between Newton-on-Ayr and the Maybole Junction is still used by passenger services as part of the Ayrshire Coast Line and Glasgow South Western Line.

Connections to other lines

• Ayr to Mauchline Branch at Newton and Hawkhill Junctions
• Ayr and Maybole Junction Railway at Maybole/Dalrymple Junction
• Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway at Falkland Junction
• Maidens and Dunure Railway at Alloway Junction

References

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Awdry, page 59
2. ^ Stansfield, page 14

Sources

• Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063. 
• Stansfield, G. (1999). Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways. Ochiltree: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 1-8403-3077-5.