Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway.html



The Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway was Incorporated on 26 May 1826; and it was ceremonially opened on 27 September 1831.^[1] It was built to the, so called, Scotch gauge of 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm).^[1] The engineers were Grainger and Miller from Edinburgh: (Thomas Grainger and John Miller).^{[2] [3]}

It was extended to Coatbridge in 1843; and in 1844 it became the Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway.^[1]

In 1844 it was bought by the Caledonian Railway; and in the 1921 Railway Grouping it became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS).

The Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway

In addition to the original 26 May 1826 Act of Parliament, to raise £28,949 (Pound sterling) of joint stock capital, a further three Acts were obtained:

• 14 May 1827 to raise a further £9,350;
• 7 June 1827 to raise a further £21,150;
• 7 June 1830 to raise a further £21,150.^[2]

Its main function was intended to be the transportation of coal to Glasgow; however it also provided regular goods and passenger services.^[1]

It was linked the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway, at Gartsherrie, near the Gargill Colliery.^[2][1] The chief sponsors include Charles Tennant & Co, who had their St. Rollox chemical works at Townhead, Glasgow, adjacent to the Monkland Canal.^[4] They wished to use it to import coal in competition against the Monkland Canal, which was unable to transport sufficient coal for their needs.^[4]

The route

On 24 July 1854 parts of the line were vested with the Caledonian Railway; and final amalgamation occurred on 29 June 1865.^[1]

The Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway

The Glasgow, Garnkirk and Coatbridge Railway was formed on 19 July 1844 when the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway obtained Parliamentary approval for its Coatbridge extension.^[1]

On 3 August 1846 an Act of Parliament was obtained for the Caledonian Railway to buy it.^[1] The company was not, however dissolved until 2 August 1880.^[1]

References

Notes

Sources

• Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0049-7. OCLC 19514063. 

• Cunnison, J. and Gilfillan, J.B.S., (1958). The Third Statistical Account of Scotland: Glasgow. Glasgow: William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd.
• Jowett, Alan (March 1989). Jowett's Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland: From Pre-Grouping to the Present Day, 1st, Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 1-8526-0086-1. OCLC 22311137. 

• Little, M., (1979). Greater Glasgow's Railway Network. In: Scottish Transport, 33, Scottish Tramway Museum Society. ISSN 0048-9808.
• Robertson, C.J.A. (1983). The Origins of the Scottish Railway System: 1722-1844, 1st, Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers Ltd. ISBN 0-8597-6088-X. 

• Smith, W.A.C. (compiler); Thomas, John (Introduction) (not dated, but post-1977 and pre-1982). Rails Around Glasgow. Paisley: Scottish Steam Railtours Group. ISBN 0-9506-9090-2. 

• Thomas, John (1971). A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain. Volume VI Scotland: The Lowlands and the Borders, 1st edition, Newton Abbot, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5408-6. OCLC 16198685. 
• Thomas, John; Paterson, Rev A.J.S. (1984). A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain. Volume VI Scotland: The Lowlands and the Borders, 2nd edition, Newton Abbott, Devon: David & Charles. ISBN 0-9465-3712-7. OCLC 12521072. 

• Whishaw, Francis [1840] (Reprinted and republished 1969). The Railways of Great Britain and Ireland practically described and illustrated, 3rd, Newton Abbott: David & Charles (1842 edition - London: John Weale). ISBN 0-7153-4786-1. 

• RAILSCOT on Glasgow and Garnkirk Railway
• Historical, 1846, article on Monkland referring to coal, ironstone and canal and railway transportation.