Darvel Branch

The line was built in stages, and originally opened as far as Galston on 9 August 1848.[1] The branch was extended to Newmilns on 20 May 1850,[1] and finally reached Darvel much later on 1 June 1896.[1] Shortly after, on 1 May 1905, the line ceased to become a branch and became a through line to Strathaven and beyond when the Glasgow and South Western Railway and the Caledonian Railway opened a jointly run line.[1] However, despite being a through line, no trains ever ran between Kilmarnock and Strathaven,[2] instead the two companies took it in turns to run the line between Darvel and Strathaven every six months.[2]

The line east of Darvel was never successful and closed in 1939,[1] with the rest of the line closed to passengers on 6 April 1964.[2] Little evidence of the line still exists today, aside from the occasional embankment and cutting along the route. One notable landmark is a 26-arch viaduct in Newmilns, part of which crosses the River Irvine, and most of which cuts through the middle of the town.[3]

• 
  A partially filled in bridge near Barleith railway station in 2007
• 
  Newmilns viaduct in 2007
• 
  A missing bridge east of Newmilns viaduct in 2007

• Darvel and Strathaven Railway east of Darvel
• Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway at Galston Branch Junction
• Kilmarnock and Troon Railway west of Riccarton