List of waggonways in Scotland explained

Numerous horse-drawn waggonways were constructed in Scotland during the Industrial Revolution, mainly in connection with the iron and coal-mining industries of the Central Belt.

The earliest railways, beginning with the Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway in 1722, had wooden rails, and several lines had been built by the time the first cast-iron rails were produced in 1767.

Many of the later waggonways were built to the Scotch gauge of 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm), and were subsequently converted to standard-gauge steam railways.

Name of LineOpenedRouteNotes
Alloa Waggonway1768Collyland & Alloa Pits to Alloa glassworks 
Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway1831Kilwinning collieries to Ardrossan HarbourMerged with the Glasgow and South Western Railway
Auchincruive Waggonwayc.1784Newton-on-Ayr to AnnbankAbandoned
Bainsford waggonway1810Carron Works to the Forth & Clyde Canal at Burnhouse Basin[1]  
Ballochney Railway1828Arden Colliery, Ballochney to Kipps (connection with Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway)Merged into Monkland Railways
Brora colliery tramway1770Brora colliery to Brora Salt Works, Sutherland 
Calderbankc.1797Calderbank Ironworks to Monkland Canal 
Carron Railwayc.1766Kinnaird & Carronhall collieries to Carron Works 
Craigie Waggonwayc.1855Craigie Pits to AyrLifted after 1865
Drumpeller Railway1847Bankhead collieries to Monkland Canal at Cuilhill Gullet 
Dundee and Newtyle Railway1831Newtyle to DundeeTaken over by the Dundee and Perth Railway
Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway1831Dalkeith to Edinburgh (St Leonards) & Fisherrow Harbour, MusselburghSold to the North British Railway
Edmonstone Railway (or Newton Railway)1818Newton Colliery to Little France, Edinburgh[2]  
Elgin Wagonwayc.1773Berrylaw pits (west of Dunfermline) to the coast at Limekilns and Charlestown, FifeDeveloped as the Dunfermline and Charlestown Railway
Fairlie Mains1818Peatland coalworks to Kilmarnock and Troon Railway at Drybridge 
c.1752Fordell Collieries to St Davids Harbour, Inverkeithing Bay 
Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway1831Gartsherrie (Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway junction) to Garnkirk and GlasgowMerged into Monkland Railways
Govan Railway1775-78Govan Colliery to Wherry Wharf, Windmillcroft Quay, GlasgowExtended as Polloc and Govan Railway
Halbeath Railway1783Halbeath Colliery to Inverkeithing Harbour 
Hurlet Waggonway1820Hurlet Coal & Limeworks to Glasgow, Paisley & Ardrossan Canal at Rosshall quay, Paisley 
Irvine Collieryc.1836Irvine Colliery to Irvine Harbour 
1812Kilmarnock to Troon harbour 
Knightswood Waggonwayc.1750Woodside Colliery, Knightswood to River Clyde at Yoker 
Legbrannock Waggonway1800Legbrannock collieries to eastern end of Monkland Canal at Calderbank 
Marquis of Lothian's waggonway1832Coal pits at Arniston Engine to Dalhousie (connection with Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway)Sold to North British Railway
1826Palacecraig & Kipps collieries to the Forth and Clyde Canal at Kirkintilloch, plus branches 
Newbigging Limeworksc.1817Newbigging Limestone Mine to Carron Harbour, Fife[3]  
Newton-upon-Ayrc.1775 Newton-upon-Ayr pits to Ayr harbour 
Newtyle and Coupar Angus Railway1837Newtyle (junction with Dundee and Newtyle Railway) to Coupar AngusTaken over by the Scottish Midland Junction Railway
Newtyle and Glammis Railway1838Newtyle (junction with Dundee and Newtyle Railway) to GlamisTaken over by the Scottish Midland Junction Railway
Omoa Waggonway1813Newarthill collieries to Omoa Ironworks, Cleland, North Lanarkshire 
Paisley and Renfrew Railway1837Paisley to Renfrew Wharf on the River ClydeSold to the Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway in 1847
Pinkie Railway (Hopes Railway)1815Pinkie Hill pits to Musselburgh & Fisherrow Harbour 
Polloc and Govan Railway1840Rutherglen to Broomielaw Harbour, Glasgow 
Ravenscraig and Jameston Railway?Ravenscraig Quarry to Jameston Quarry, Dalry, North Ayrshire 
Sauchieby 1806Devonside & Tillicoultry pits & ironworks to Clackmannan Pow 
Shotts Ironworksby 1813  
Stevenston Waggonwayby 1812Stevenston Canal Basin at Saltcoats to the harbourClosed by 1852
Townhill waggonway1841Townhill colliery to the Halbeath Railway at Guttergates 
Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway1722Tranent coalpits to Cockenzie Salt Pans & Port Seton HarbourRe-routed to Cockenzie Harbour in 1815
Venture Fair waggonway (Symes' Railway)1812Venture Fair Colliery to Dunfermline 
Wemyss waggonwayby 1795Wemyss Coalpits to Methil Harbour 
Wilsontownc.1805Climpy colliery to Wilsontown Ironworks, South Lanarkshire 
Wishaw and Coltness Railway1833Chapel Colliery, Newmains to the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway near Whifflet 

References

Notes and References

  1. http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/bainsford-not-brian-s-ford-or-bairn-s-ford-1-3574544 Falkirk Herald 18 Oct 2014: Bainsford – Not ‘Brian’s Ford’ or ‘Bairn’s Ford’
  2. https://edinrail.wordpress.com/category/edmonstone-waggonway/ History of the railways of Edinburgh: The Waggonways Arrive
  3. http://www.scottishshale.co.uk/GazMines/Newbigging1+2Mine.html Shale Oil: Newbigging No.1 & 2 mines