Barrhead Branch

The Barrhead Branch was a short lived branch line of the Glasgow and South Western Railway in Scotland] that connected the G&SWR Paisley Canal Branch to the G&SWR / CR Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway.

History

The line opened on 1 June 1886.Butt, page 190] Passenger services ceased between Barrhead and Potterhill in 1913. After Potterhill closed to passengers on 1 January 1917, [Butt] freight trains continued to use the line for some time, including trains delivering to the nearby Cadbury's Depot until the late 1960s.Wham] The line closed on 2 March 1970.citeweb|url=http://www.closedlines.free-online.co.uk/gb_sc_x.htm|title=Closed railway lines in Britain and Ireland - Scotland|accessdate=2007-09-19] Gammell]

There was one passenger train after 1917; a rail tour operated by the Stephenson Locomotive Society on 1 September 1951. Seller and Stevenson] citeweb|url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sealed/paisley/railpage/lastjourney.htm|title= Photographs of only passenger train journey in 1951 |accessdate=2007-10-06] The train started at Paisley East Goods on the Paisley and Barrhead District Railway at Cecil Street and made its way to Barrhead South. It then travelled , via Elderslie and Johnstone to Paisley West, and from there to the goods station at Gleniffer Depot on the Barrhead Branch. On the return journey, the train called at Paisley for some of the passengers to alight, and then continued to St Enoch railway station."The Railway Magazine"]

Description of route

The line started at Paisley West railway station. There was only one intermediate railway station at Potterhill and a short branch to Gleniffer Goods Depot that served Glenfield works (Fulton Textile Mills) which closed in 1966.Wham] A very large stone bridge, still visible today was built where the branch crossed the Paisley and Barrhead District Railway near Caplethill Road, Paisley. [Barrhead Branch web page ] It had a terminus independent of the Caledonian Railway at Barrhead Central. It is possible to follow the route of the former railway from Paisley West to Potterhill on the current online Ordnance Survey map by entering grid reference NS479627.citeweb|url=http://getamap.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/getamap/frames.htm|title=Ordnance Survey map|accessdate=2007-11-08]

Connections with other lines

* G&SW Paisley Canal Branch at Corsebar and Potterhill Junctions
* Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Railway at BarrheadThere was no connection with Paisley and Barrhead District Railway which was routed close by with several bridges over the G&SW Barrhead Branch.

References

Notes

ources

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* The Railway Magazine Nov 1951 issue page 784
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* [http://www.railscot.co.uk/Barrhead_Branch/frame.htm RAILSCOT on the G&SWR Barrhead Branch]
* [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/sealed/paisley/railpage/potterhill.htm Barrhead Branch web page with Google satellite images, past and current and photographs]
* [http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=55.833132,-4.432511&spn=0.009279,0.028582&z=15 Google satellite image - curve around Meikleriggs Cricket Ground (top left) to Potterhill Station near former Cadbury's factory at Neilston Road]
* [http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=55.820091,-4.420366&spn=0.009282,0.028582&z=15 Google satellite image - Curve from Potterhill Line into Gleniffer depot - PBDR line from Glenfield station can also be seen crossing it]