Beattock Summit

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Beattock Summit is a high point of the West Coast Main Line (WCML) railway and of the A74(M) motorway as they cross from Dumfries and Galloway to South Lanarkshire in south west Scotland.

The highest point on the WCML north of the border (built by the Caledonian Railway and opened on 15 February 1848), it is located 52 miles (83 km) south of Glasgow Central and 349 (558 km) miles north of London Euston stations. The height of the summit is 1033 feet (315 metre) above sea level.

Steam locomotives frequently required assistance in getting their trains up the incline but electric locomotives, as far back as the Class 86, as well as today's Virgin Trains services, climb the hill as if it were not there.

[edit] References

  • British Transport Films, (1974). "Wires over the Border". Disc One, Track 5, In: British Transport Films Collection. Volume 3: Running a Railway. (DVD Format), BFIVD720.

[edit] External links


Coordinates: 55.42035° N 3.59088° W