View source for Hamiltonhill Branch

{{Short description|Former railway line in Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Hamiltonhill Branch}}
The '''Hamiltonhill Branch''' was constructed by the [[Caledonian Railway]] in 1894 with the intention to provide a large goods yard at Hamiltonhill on the [[Forth and Clyde Canal]]. There was also a branch to the [[Saracen Foundry]] but this had to be closed as it was in breach of an agreement with the [[North British Railway]].

== History ==
{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}
The original act of parliament for the construction of the line was granted in 1876 but this lapsed before construction could begin. A second act was passed in the 1890s for the construction of the line. Most of the line opened between 1894 and 1896. in 1926 a branch was opened that served Robroyston Colliery. This branch closed in 1944. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Contributors |first=Ewan Crawford |title=Hamiltonhill Branch (Caledonian Railway) - RAILSCOT |url=https://www.railscot.co.uk/companies/H/Hamiltonhill_Branch_Caledonian_Railway/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=www.railscot.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> [[File:HamiltonHill1923.jpg|thumb|left|Map of the Hamiltonhill Branch in 1923]]The Hamiltonhill yard closed at an early date, however the section of the line was extended by the [[Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway]] to Dumbarton and gave the Caledonian Railway access to Balloch, linking through to the [[Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway]] to the east. Part of the route between Eastfield and Possil was built along the course of an old waggonway which had run from pits at Eastfield to the Forth and Clyde Canal at Ruchill.

Much of the former trackbed is still visible to this day.{{when|date=December 2020}}

==Current operations==
The line is now closed, having ceased operations in 1965 <ref>{{Cite web |last=Contributors |first=Ewan Crawford |title=Possil Junction - RAILSCOT |url=https://www.railscot.co.uk/locations/P/Possil_Junction/ |access-date=2025-05-26 |website=www.railscot.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==Connections to other lines==
* [[Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway]] at Possil Junction
* [[Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway]] at Balornock Junction
* [[The Switchback (CR)|The Caledonian Railway Switchback]] at Balornock Junction

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{Awdry-RailCo}}
* {{Jowett-Atlas}}

== External links ==
* [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en-GB&q=EH12+9DN&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Edinburgh+EH12+9DN,+United+Kingdom&ll=55.888406,-4.226046&spn=0.035138,0.111151&t=k&z=14 Google Maps]

{{Historical Scottish railway companies}}

[[Category:Closed railway lines in Scotland]]
[[Category:Caledonian Railway]]


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