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This line runs from Newton, in the south east of Glasgow south east to Hamilton. Hamilton is an old town which greatly expanded when mining activity took off in the area. There was a large steelworks (Hallside) to the south of the railway at Newton the site of which is now partly occupied by housing and an enlarged carpark. The line passes through Blantyre where Dr David Livingstone once lived.
Description of route
From Newton to Hamilton West.
This is a west facing junction with the Clydesdale Junction Railway. To the south was the Hallside steelworks.
This is a two platform station.
This was a north facing junction. The spur from here to Auchenraith junction was a later addition, the original junction for the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway being Strathaven Junction, a south facing junction.
This was a south facing junction for the Hamilton and Strathaven Railway line.
 Looking south towards Hamilton from a road overbridge. |
 View of the sidings from a passing train. |
These sidings may presently be out of use. The depot is a wagon maintenance depot.
To the north of Hamilton West station, and on the west side of the line, was a large engine shed. This shed provided freight engines for the many coal mines and works in the area and was also responsible for providing bankers for the steeply graded lines out to Strathaven and Larkhall and beyond.
This was the first station in Hamilton, originally a terminus called Hamilton.
This is on a later continuation of the line from Hamilton (renamed Hamilton West) to Ferniegair and Motherwell via Hamilton Central. The line had three tracks between the two platforms and an all-over glass roof. The central track has been lifted and the roof removed.
Here the lines to Motherwell and Coalburn split.
The line to Motherwell continued east to join the Coalburn
Branch (Caledonian Railway) at Ross Junction, a north facing junction. The
line to Larkhall and Coalburn turned south, passing under/over the Coalburn
Branch (Caledonian Railway) before joining it at Ferniegair Junction, a
south facing junction.