On Saturday 22nd May 1897 at the Burgh Police Court, fourteen year old Blantyre miner, Patrick O Brien stood in the dock, accused of being an “annoyance” to train drivers. O’Brien pled guilty of standing in front of locomotives, a practice which was prevalent in Blantyre in the months preceding this. It was becoming a […]
A train crash occurred in Blantyre on Monday 21st December 1914, exactly 106 years ago today. That Monday evening an alarming collision between a passenger train and a mineral train took place between Blantyre and Newton on the Caledonian Railway. The track was which was blocked was cleared on the Tuesday morning and services resumed […]
In September 1925, a serious situation arose in Blantyre when coal and mineral trains were continually being raided. In the dock in early October that year was James Cotter, miner, 52 Auchenraith Road, Blantyre, who was charged with stealing a quantity of coal from moving waggons at Auchinraith Road on the branch of the […]
Pictured is High Blantyre Railway Station, just off Craigmuir Road. The railway stopped to foot passengers in 1945, but this photo dates a little earlier, possibly from 1930s. Photographed from the pedestrian bridge, the scene looks Southwards towards Sydes Brae. On the left you can see Craigmuir road rising gently, the Old Parish Church just […]
This excellent diagram not only indicates the route of local historical railway lines, (including how the railway ran from Bothwell over the Craighead Viaduct then along to Burnbank to Peacock station), but it also gives exact dates of closure for each various line. A very useful reference tool. Click For example: High Blantyre line running […]
How I wish the High Blantyre Station was still there. Wouldn’t it have been amazing to jump in a train and go directly to Strathaven for a day out! Here’s the track route with stations, High Blantyre on the left, heading up to Quarter, then on to Strathaven.
The 4th June 1949, and a steam train arrives into Blantyre Station (just off Station Road). This is apparently an excursion from Springburn, but alas, i have no other information, or indeed any reason as to why there’s a band playing on the platform. Do you know more?