Wednesday 13 November 2013

The Garlieston Link


Last year I went for a long weekend in Garlieston which is a small fishing village in Scotland. Before  I went I checked out the Ordnance Survey  maps to check what was there, I was pleased to see there had once been a railway there so I set out to find where it had been and to see what was left. I will start at the station I finished by on the main line and work back to the village.

This was Millisle station or Millisle for Garlieston as it was known it was on the Port Patrick & Wigtownshire Joint Railway.




I found this photo on the Internet and it show the station when it was in use.










Here is another I found which shows the platforms and station buildings, by now though the railway had been removed though over to the right you can see what is probably the line which went to Garlieston.




This view shows the old station and to the right a line of trees where the railway ran



It would have gone across the bridge here







 The bridge deck has been removed to allow the heavy lorries we have now to go through




You can see the line of the railway here as it runs to Whithorn the next station.










Not far from the old road bridge is this one over a burn



 The bridge deck is still in good condition though the parapets are in a bad state






I walked along the adjoining field  to get a photo of the bridge and after some effort climbed the embankment to get to the old rail bed. I was surprised how clear it was




Though mostly covered with long grass  





I followed it back to the road bridge and climbed down a path which at one time was the access for the rail workers but now a footpath though on the occasion I was there it was closed off.
















 Somewhere around here the link came from the direction in front from the station



Crossing around here past the entrance to the church you can see over on the right.









Then the line went off towards Garlieston in the direction I am looking. A road parallels it and you can see fence posts still in place.









The old railway is over to the left of this photo










Just outside Garlieston you can see this house which was the old crossing house. I went and had a chat with the owner and they told me all about it and showed







me these pillars in the burn nearby, the railway had turned towards the port and crossed the burn here
 The bridge pillars were still there even if the bridge was not





I'm stood where the railway would have come to cross the road









and gone somewhere past the tree you see.














The railway crossed this burn nearby but no sign is there of where it went























Though you can make out it went along to the right where the trees are  by this estate in Garlieston




And through this entrance which lead to the wood mill , the wall has been restored so well it's hard to make out where the railway ran





Though it was obvious it ran here which I though would have been the Goods Station as you can see from the map below. The caravan club now owns site and nothing remains of station that was once there.





 The line then ran on across the road here in the photo










 and along to the left of the road here









 To end round here where it looks like the station would have been. A few buildings from the era remain though again any remnants of the station have now gone.  I thought it was an interesting little walk to see what was left though I feel it is a shame that we have lost such history.


24 comments:

  1. A wonderful walk, I thoroughly enjoyed it

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  2. Thank you Mo, so did I, it's great looking for clues I'm only vexed I did not pop up and see the old station.

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  3. Thanks! I enjoyed the journey back in time.

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    1. No problem I like your blog on Berlin so am following you now

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  4. The station building looks lovely as you show it on the top shot.

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    1. It does and is now a bed and breakfast that you can stay at.

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  5. Great post. I like doing what you did! I feel the same about the old dairies that stand (or don't stand) derelict in our area. I'd love to win the lottery and try to restore them and repurpose them.

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    1. Thanks for that. There is no reason not to document them. Not a lot you can do when they are gone and lost forever but if you have them recorded then people will know what was there

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  6. That's a great exploration and an excellent series of photos.

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  7. Very nice bit of detective work here Bill and a tres interesting walk into the bargain, merci beaucoup :)

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    1. Thanks but you need to check out the Didcot, Newbury& Southampton Railway one for my detective work

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  8. Replies
    1. It was nice round there though very wind blown as it was on the coast

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  9. The line didn't end where the caravan site is now - it actually went as far as the harbour.

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    1. You know I thought it did, the bridge over the burn looks in line. Thanks for the info

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  10. You can see the line on this 1908 O.S. map -

    http://maps.nls.uk/view/82909332#jp2=82909332&zoom=5&lat=9435.5&lon=6710&layers=BT

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    1. Thank you Jim I will update accordingly and use the map

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  11. Very nice place ! Your comment link on my post leads me to the Google + page and I can't find your blog with the Skywatch theme. Under no circumstances I want to be forced into Google +, lol !

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  12. Rather interesting work! I like comparing new and old!
    Cheers from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

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  13. It's remarkable how when you start looking for the signs, they're still there, after all this time. Beautiful shots!

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