Leadhills and Wanlockhead Branch

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Leadhills and Wanlockhead Branch
LUECKE
- - Caledonian Railway Main Line
eBHF
Elvanfoot
xABZlf HLUECKE
- - Caledonian Railway Main Line
exSTR
exBHF
Leadhills
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Wanlockhead

The Leadhills and Wanlockhead Light Railway was promoted by the Caledonian Railway, using the provisions of 1896 Light Railways Act.[1] It opened to traffic between Elvanfoot and Leadhills on 1 October 1901, with the remaining section to Wanlockhead on 19 September 1902.[1]

Contents

[edit] The line

It had a summit of 1,498 feet, which was the highest, for a standard gauge line, in Great Britain.[1][2]

The line closed to passengers on 31 December 1938 and to freight shortly afterwards.[1][2]

Rispin Cleugh viaduct shortly before being demolished.Photographer:- Stewart D. MacfarlaneDate:- 11 November 1990
Rispin Cleugh viaduct shortly before being demolished.
Photographer:- Stewart D. Macfarlane
Date:- 11 November 1990

A significant viaduct on the line (Rispin Cleugh viaduct) was built by Sir Robert McAlpine. It was built from concrete; but was clad with terracotta bricks to improve its appearance.[2] It was demolished with explosives in 1991 as the terracotta bricks were falling off.[2]

A 2 ft (610 mm) gauge tramway crossed the line at a flat crossing to the north of Leadhills station.

[edit] Reuse

The narrow gauge Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway, which is also a light railway, has been built on the track formation, west from Leadhills. Some terracotta bricks from the demolished viaduct were used to clad a signal box at Leadhills station.[2]

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d Awdry
  2. ^ a b c d e Atterbury, pages 228 - 229

[edit] Sources

  • Jowett, Alan (1989). Jowett's railway atlas of Great Britain and Ireland : from pre-grouping to the present day, 1st, Sparkford, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0086-1. OCLC 22311137.