Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway
The Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway was an early mineral railway running from a colliery at Monklands to the Forth and Clyde Canal at Kirkintilloch, Scotland.
The railway was Authorised on 17 May 1824 and it opened on 1 October 1826.[1] Its main function was intended to be the transportation of coal, but iron ore and passengers were also carried. It was built to the Scotch gauge of 4 ft 6 in (1371 mm).[1][2]
In 1848 it merged with two adjoining railway lines to become the Monkland Railways; which in turn were absorbed by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway.[1]
Contents
Formation of the railway
The Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway was set up by the owners of local canals, coal mines (coalmasters), iron works and iron mines (ironmasters). The railway was intended to work as a feeder, in conjunction with the canals, particularly the Monkland Canal, the Forth and Clyde Canal and the Union Canal, and the River Clyde, to transport these products to both Glasgow and Edinburgh. [3]
The engineer was Thomas Grainger.[3]
The route
The railway initially ran from the Palacecraig coal pit, near Airdrie, past Coatbridge and Gartsherrie, to a canal basin on the Forth and Clyde Canal at Kirkintilloch.[3] From here the goods could go by canal to either Glasgow or Edinburgh.
Particularly for goods which had previously been transported from Monklands, via the Monkland Canal, the River Clyde and the Forth and Clyde Canal, to Edinburgh it shortened the journey time by one week.
The opening of the Slamannan Railway in 1840 reduced the distance to Edinburgh by another 24 miles.[4]
Attempted take over and change of gauge
The opening of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway in 1841 provided a competitive route for the transportation of coal and iron ore.
The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway started negotiations in 1844 to take over the various Monkland Railways; and at the same time the railway companies applied for permission to change to Standard gauge.[3] In May 1846, the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway was refused permission to amalgamate and it decide to withdraw on 31 December 1846. The Caledonian Railway by that time had taken over the Wishaw and Coltness Railway and the Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway.[3]
The Ballochney Railway, the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway and the Slamannan Railway all obtained aurthorisation to change to Standard gauge between 1845 and 1846.[3] The three railways changed their gauge on 26 July and 27 July 1847.[3]
Amalgamation to form the Monkland Railways
On 14 August 1848 the Slamannan Railway merged with the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway and the Ballochney Railway to become the Monkland Railways.[1]
The Monkland Railways were absorbed by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway by an Act of Parliament, dated 5 July 1865, effective from 31 July 1865.[1] A day later (on 1 August 1865) the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway was absorbed into the North British Railway.
Links to other lines and modes of transportation
- The Ballochney Railway at Kipps.
- The Caledonian Railway, Main Line at Gartsherrie Junction
- The Forth and Clyde Canal at Kirkintilloch
- The Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway at Gartsherrie Junction
- The Slamannan Railway
- The Wishaw and Coltness Railway
References
Further reading
- Awdry, Christopher, (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. London: Guild Publishing.
- Robertson, C.J.A. (1983). The Origins of the Scottish Railway System: 1722-1844. Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers. ISBN 0-85976-088-X.
- Thomas, John (1971). A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain, Volume 6, Scotland: The Lowlands and the Borders. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5408-6.
- Popplewell, Lawrence (1989). A Gazetteer of the Railway Contractors and Engineers of Scotland 1831 - 1870. (Vol. 1: 1831 - 1870 and Vol. 2: 1871 - 1914). Bournmouth: Melledgen Press. ISBN 0-906637-14-7.
- Whishaw, Francis (1842). The Railways of Great Britain and Ireland practically described and illustrated. Second Edition. London: John Weale. Reprinted and republished 1969, Newton Abbott: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-4786-1.
See also
- RAILSCOT article.
- Historical, 1846, article on Monkland referring to coal, ironstone and canal and railway transportation.
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