Ayr to Mauchline Branch

Ayr to Mauchline Branch
Cronberry
Cronberry Junction
Cumnock
Dumfries House
Skares
Ochiltree
Belston Junction
Rankinston
Cairntable Halt
Holehouse Junction
Killoch Colliery and Washery
Drongan
Trabboch
Weston Bridge Halt
Mauchline Junction
Mauchline
Tarbolton
Annbank
Mossblown Junction
Auchincruive
Newton Junction
Hawkhill Junction
Ayr

The Ayr to Mauchline Branch was a railway line in Scotland and ran services between Ayr and Mauchline as part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway.

History

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The line between Ayr and Mauchline opened on 1 September 1870 to regular passenger services.[1] The line was extended south from Annbank through Ochiltree to Cronberry on 1 July 1872.[2] A line was also opened from Ochiltree to Holehouse Junction allowing services access to and from the Ayr and Dalmellington Railway.

The section between Annbank and Mauchline closed to regular passenger services on 4 January 1943,[1] with the remaining line between Ayr and Cronberry closing on 10 September 1951,[2] with freight services continuing at most stations until 1964. The connecting line between Ochiltree and Holehouse had already closed to passengers on 3 May 1950.[3] The Ayr to Mauchline line occasionally saw special passenger service use until May 1975.[1] This line continued to be used for freight until 1983.[1]

Today the line between Ayr and Mauchline still exists and is active after being reopened to freight traffic in March 1988.[1][4] The line running south from Annbank is now cut back to Drongan, where the line that once served the Killoch Colliery now serves the Killoch Washery on the same site.

Context

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The context of the development of this route is discussed in the article Cross-country lines of the Glasgow and South Western Railway.

Connections to other lines

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Stansfield, page 4
  2. ^ a b Stansfield, page 13
  3. ^ Stansfield, page 26
  4. ^ ScotRail Freight Boost Rail issue 80 May 1988 page 5

References

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  • Jowett, Alan (March 1989). Jowett's Railway Atlas of Great Britain and Ireland: From Pre-Grouping to the Present Day (1st ed.). Sparkford: Patrick Stephens Ltd. ISBN 978-1-85260-086-0. OCLC 22311137.
  • Stansfield, G. (1999). Ayrshire & Renfrewshire's Lost Railways. Ochiltree: Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 1-8403-3077-5.