Full steam ahead
The Viator • Published 4 Jan 2011 14:00
3 Comments
Some time ago I wrote about the former Nine Arches bridge in Port Glasgow that carried the railway from Glasgow's St Enoch station to Princes Pier. I asked if readers had photographs of the line and two are reproduced today.
Jim Devenay of Port Glasgow handed in a remarkable image dating from 1895, above.
It shows the railway crossing Barr's Brae in Port Glasgow. Although the line, which was latterly single track, and bridge have gone, the location is clearly identifiable today.
On the right is the former Whitecroft Farm and the building still exists although with alterations since the photograph was taken.
The haystacks stand where the entrance to Moray Road is now. The two houses, shown left and centre, remain, although now in the company of other domestic properties.
I wonder where the nattily-dressed lady was headed as she walked along the side of the line. Two figures can be seen in the farmyard and a man is working on the roof.
The second of today's pictures, right, shows a Glasgow-bound train crossing the Nine Arches. My thanks to the Greenock reader who let me have this photograph which was a gift from a friend.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 04 Jan 11
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Violets49
41 posts
May 30, 22:56
Report commentThe second (Colour) picture shows a train pulled by two engines of power class five! the engines are of an LMSR design by William stanier and commonly known as a "BLACK fIVE" To distinguish it from the 5XP locos which in LMS days were painmted Crimson and were known as "RED FIVES" During the war they were painted black as an austerity measure and lin BR days were dark green so the RED FIVE name soon died out but the BLACK FIVE name for the 5MT's was used until the end of steam!
Unusually,they are coupled tender to tender! Given the severe gradients on this line,I would have imagined that loco's would have been worked Smokebox first to avoid uncovering the firebox crown!
The train is possibly either a liner special or an orange walk special! Both of which were common on this line!
Incidentally,there were no stations in Port Glasgow on the Greenock,Paisley and Ayrshire line because the Provost and Baillies of Greenock were major shareholders in the company and specified tha the line should not serve port Glasgow! eventually,it became part of the Glasgow & South Western Railway,tghe LMS Railway and Latterly British Railways who closed it!
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echosounder
130 posts
Jun 1, 23:12
Report commentWhat an excellent and interesting piece of history! This is the type of thing that will be forgotten by the younger generation. Very well done Violets49. Very informative.
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Violets49
41 posts
Jun 16, 20:13
Report commentThank you echosounder!
Two organisations exist to preserve the memory and history of the railways which operated into Inverclyde! The Caledonian Railway Association and the Glasgow & South Western Railway Association!
The Caledonian railway ran to Gourock and Wemyss Bay The CRA magazine "The True Line" had a series of articles a few years back about the Glasgow,Paisley and Greenock Railway and the extention to Gourock built by the Caley! these articles were by Mr John Paton,A CRA member and an expert on CR stations! The articles had a large number of photos rangeing from early 19th Centuary until the current state of Gourock station and pier!
The Glasgow & south Western Railway ran to Princes Pier by way of Bridge of Wier and Kilmacolm! The G&SWRA publish a "Journal" once a year and the princes Pier line has featured regularly mainly through the writings of the Association Arcivist Mr stuart Rankin who used to live in Greenock!
The CRA hold meetings in the Glasgow Metropolitan College,North Hanover Street on the first saturday of October,November,December and February!
The G&SWRA hold meetings in the white room Place of Paisley,Paisley Abbey Second Saturday of October,November,January and February and,this year,the THIRD Saturday of December! All of these meetings are open to the public! Tea/Coffee is provided at the interval for a small charge!
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