Lost
Railways of Glasgow (Part 1).
This and the next pages include more of Chris Jennings'
excellent photographs. For background information and commentary,
we recommend Glasgow Punter's blog on the 'Disused
Train Lines and Ghost Railway Stations of Glasgow' and the useful
map here,
which is an extract from this
much large original, published by the British Transport Commission.
The red and blue lines respectively indicate the first and second
stages of planned electrification, instead of which much of this
network got the Beeching treatment; and, as the years go by, urban
development makes it ever more difficult to recover what has been
lost. This is not a very smart result given that, in September 2017,
Glasgow Punter reported the city as having 'two of the most heavily
polluted streets in Scotland on recent measures'.
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Left:
The southern portal of Buchanan Street Tunnel,
seen here with the type of detritus that attends forgotten
places almost everywhere, is hidden behind some blocks of
student accommodation and has the M8 motorway passing literally
above the parapet; it is a very surprising survivor. The
eastern portal has long since been infilled. 2nd April 2016.
(Chris Jennings) |
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Above:
This swing bridge (at grid reference NS 59230 66627) was
on a branch that ran past St. Rollox Works, over Buchannan Street
Tunnel and on to Port Dundas. It was built in about 1890 by the Caledonian
Railway, and has hand-operated turning gear. Its construction features
stone abutments and bow-sided plate girders. 2nd April 2016. (Chris
Jennings) |
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Above:
There are many abandoned railways in Glasgow that look like
this; one can think of them as being of 'cut and not quite cover'
construction. This is the south portal of Kelvingrove Tunnel, which
was on the Caledonian's almost subterranean line from Kirklee to Finnieston
(now Stobcross). South of Kirklee, it passed through stations at Botanic
Gardens and Kelvinbridge before disappearing underground beneath Kelvingrove
Park. Kelvingrove Tunnel is one of Scotland's longest at 950 yards.
14th July 2016. (Chris Jennings) |
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Above:
Southbound trains popped out of Kelvingrove Tunnel into a
short cutting reinforced with metal braces at surface level before
plunging into the gloom of St. Vincent Crescent Tunnel, whose north
portal is seen here. This tunnel is only 80 yards long and took the
railway beneath the street of the same name; its roof is crossed by
two metal aqueducts, which probably carry sewers or water mains. 14th
July 2016. (Chris Jennings) |
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Above:
This is the south portal of St. Vincent Crescent Tunnel,
which opens into another short, steep-sided cutting. South of here,
the railway passed under the still open Partick-Charing Cross-Queen
Street Low Level line and into Stobcross Depot Tunnel before continuing
south to join the Central Low Level line just west of today's Stobcross
station. 14th July 2016. (Chris Jennings) |
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Above:
Almost hidden in the shadows beneath the vegetation lies
the north portal of Stobcross Depot Tunnel. A fascinating account
of this urban line, including photographs of the tunnels from within,
can be found here.
14th July 2016. (Chris Jennings) |
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Above:
The site of Kelvinhall (also Kelvin Hall) station on the
Caledonian Railway's line from Partick Central to Finnieston (now
Stobcross). The main station building was demolished only recently,
but part of the platform survives under the bridge. This whole area
is now a maze of student accommodation. 14th July 2016. (Chris Jennings) |
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Above:
A view beneath the bridge at Kelvinhall station site; the
edge of the island platform and the associated ramp can just be seen
through the double gates on the right. Kelvinhall still has a station,
but it is on the western side of the Glasgow Underground system and
was named Partick Cross until 1977. 14th July 2016. (Chris Jennings) |
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Above:
Kelvinhall Bridge (grid reference NS 563663) is situated
immediately east of Kelvinhall station site and carried the railway
over the River Kelvin. The mature trees growing from the decking indicate
a total lack of maintenance since the last trains ran in 1964. 14th
July 2016. (Chris Jennings) |