Solway Junction Railway

The Solway Junction Railway was opened in 1869, between Bowness-on-Solway and Annan across the Solway Firth in Scotland. It connected to the Maryport and Carlisle Railway. It was built to carry iron ore from West Cumberland to Scotland, without having to pass through Carlisle.

History

The construction of the railway necessitated a convert|1|mi|8|chain|km iron girder viaduct across the Solway, the remains of which can still be seen today. It was designed by Sir James Brunlees, took 3½ years to build and cost about £100,000. It had 193 spans with 2,892 tons of cast iron for the piles and 1,807 tons of wrought iron. It was first used by freight traffic on 13 September 1869, and to passengers on 8 August 1870. In 1875 and 1881 the viaduct was damaged by ice, and by altering sediment-carrying currents it caused nearby Port Carlisle to silt up and lose trade. In turn this resulted in the abandonment of the Port Carlisle to Carlisle railway.

It was absorbed by the Caledonian Railway in 1896.

In 1914 the railway was restricted to carrying freight only. In 1921 the viaduct was closed entirely, and in 1934 it was demolished. The section of line between Annan and Kirtlebridge remained in use until 1931.

The route

The line ran from Kirtlebridge on the Caledonian Railway Main Line, to Annan (where a new station, Annan Shawhill, was built), and a connection with the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway was made. After crossing the Solway, it passed through Bowness-on-Solway and Whitrigg, before connecting with the Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway and Dock Company and finally to the Maryport and Carlisle Railway near Brayton.

Connections to other lines

* Caledonian Railway Main Line at Kirtlebridge
* Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway at Annan
* Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway and Dock Company at Abbeyholme
* Maryport and Carlisle Railway at Brayton

Current operations

The line is closed.

ources

* Aston, G.J. and Barrie, D.S. (1932) " [http://www.ukrailarchive.org/lancs/rm1932-70-026.PDF The Solway Junction Railway] ", "Railway Magazine", 70 (415), p. 26–34
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*Edgar, S. and Sinton, J.M. (1990) "The Solway Junction Railway", Locomotion Papers 176, The Oakwood Press, ISBN 0-85361-395-8
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* [http://www.cumbria-railways.co.uk/solway_junction_railway.html Solway Junction Railway - Cumbria Railways]
* [http://www.cumbria-railways.co.uk/solway_viaduct.html Solway Junction Railway - Solway Viaduct]
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* [http://www.railscot.co.uk/Solway_Junction_Railway/frame.htm RAILSCOT on Solway Junction Railway]