Westcraigs (1st station) railway station

Westcraigs railway station served the area of West Craigs (Blackridge) in West Lothian, Scotland, from 1862 to 1956 on the Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway.

Westcraigs
The site of the old station in 2008
General information
LocationWest Craigs, West Lothian
Scotland
Coordinates55°52′52″N 3°45′46″W / 55.8812°N 3.7629°W / 55.8812; -3.7629
Grid referenceNS939670
Platforms2
Other information
StatusDisused
History
Original companyMonkland Railways
Pre-groupingNorth British Railway
Post-groupingLondon and North Eastern Railway
British Railways (Scottish Region)
Key dates
11 August 1862 (1862-08-11)Opened
9 January 1956 (1956-01-09)Closed

History

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The station opened on 11 August 1862 by the Monkland Railways. To the south was the goods yard. The station building was on the westbound platform, which also had a waiting room, and a wooden waiting room was on the eastbound platform. A junction of the same name connecting to mines at Benhar (and eventually to the Shotts Iron Works) was located immediately to the west of the station; the Westrigg colliery was a short distance to the east, with the Woodend colliery further on to the north-east.

The station closed on 9 January 1956.[1] The eastbound platform was demolished in 1988 when the site was converted to a footpath.

The line through the station was reopened in 2010 but the station was not reopened (see Blackridge railway station opened nearby on the site of Westrigg Colliery).

References

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  1. ^ Quick, M E (2002). Railway passenger stations in England, Scotland and Wales - a chronology. Richmond: Railway and Canal Historical Society. p. 450. OCLC 931112387.
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Preceding station Historical railways Following station
Forrestfield
Line open, station closed
  Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway   Armadale
Line open, station closed