Paisley Canal Line
| Paisley Canal line | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Overview | |
| System | National Rail |
| Locale |
Glasgow Scotland |
| Termini |
Glasgow Central Paisley Canal |
| Stations | 7 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1885 |
| Owner | Network Rail |
| Operator(s) | ScotRail |
| Rolling stock |
Class 314 Class 380 |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) |
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC |
The Paisley Canal Railway line was originally a Glasgow and South Western Railway branch line running from Glasgow, Scotland, through three stations in Paisley, to North Johnstone. After leaving Paisley West station, near Ferguslie, the line continued to Elderslie junction where it met and crossed under the main Glasgow and South Western Railway line running from Paisley Gilmour Street station to Johnstone, and beyond. After Elderslie, the line terminated at North Johnstone, however another junction allowed services from the Paisley Canal line (also part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company) to continue onto the Bridge of Weir Railway and Greenock and Ayrshire Railway to the latter's terminus at Greenock Princes Pier.
The line is electrified at 25 kV AC.
The 12th Earl of Eglinton developed Ardrossan Harbour in the early years of the nineteenth century, at a cost of more than £100,000: he intended it as a sea port to serve the City of Glasgow, as the River Clyde was not navigable for large vessels at the time. In 1806 he obtained Parliamentary authority to construct the Glasgow, Paisley and Ardrossan Canal. He hoped that other businessmen would subscribe to his scheme, but in fact only £44,342 was forthcoming. Work started at the Glasgow end, but the canal only reached Johnstone, by which time all of the money had been spent, and debts of £71,209 had been accumulated. As part of a financial reconstruction, the canal's name was changed to the Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal.
His attention later turned to building a railway at the Ardrossan end, and this became the Ardrossan Railway; it too was to connect Ardrossan to Glasgow, and it too ran out of money, reaching only Kilwinning and Eglinton's collieries in the vicinity. On 5 July 1865 the G&SWR was authorised by Act of Parliament to acquire the canal (for £91,000); it had long since controlled the Canal Company, having purchased its debt in connection with acquisition of the Ardrossan Railway, with which its financial affairs had been intertwined.
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Wikipedia