Talk:Largs Branch

Fairlie (Low)

Discussion from User Talk:Pencefn

This is an iffy one. I avoided making this page on purpose because I have my doubts this ever actually existed. The only reference is a vague mention on RAILScot to some source that I'm not actually of what it is. I don't really think there's enough information to make an article, and there's nothing to verify the station even existed.

I reckon the mention in whatever book RAILScot is refering to was actually an alternate name for the Pier station. --Dreamer84 21:50, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Another look at Jowett refers to a Goods Station called Fairlie Harbour --Stewart 21:56, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Fairlie Harbour probably = Fairlie Pier. There's a photo in the Stansfield book of the pier station that shows what appears to be a goods yard to the far right. --Dreamer84 22:45, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Hi Stewart, I've replied in my talkpage - in summary I can only find Fairlie Pier and one other station that changed its name several times. Butt gives the Jowlett map refs, which I've added to my talk page.Pyrotec 16:47, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

Thanks. I had a quick look at Alistair Deayton's Glasgow & South Western and other Steamers. There is a G.E. Langmuir collection in the Mitchell library. They are pictures of boats.Pyrotec 18:24, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

Discussion from User talk:Dreamer84

This is an iffy one. I avoided making this page on purpose because I have my doubts this ever actually existed. The only reference is a vague mention on RAILScot to some source that I'm not actually of what it is. I don't really think there's enough information to make an article, and there's nothing to verify the station even existed.

I reckon the mention in whatever book RAILScot is refering to was actually an alternate name for the Pier station. --Dreamer84 21:50, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Another look at Jowett refers to a Goods Station called Fairlie Harbour --Stewart 21:56, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

That sounds like it could again be the Pier station as there has never been an alternate pier. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Douglasnicol (talk • contribs) 22:22, August 22, 2007 (UTC).

Discussion from User talk:Pyrotec

Can you help with this? RAILSCOT identifies a Fairlie (Low) station just to the north of the tunnel. Jowett identifies a Goods station as Fairlie Harbour. In 1971 Fairlie Pier station was closed, leaving the only remaining station Fairlie which at one time was called Fairlie High. Can you shed any light on Fairlie (Low)? Discussion with Dreamer84 has put a doubt in my mind. --Stewart 22:03, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

Hi Stewart, the only detailed information I can find is in Butt, and Fairlie (Low) is not mentioned; it does not appear in my BR pre-grouping atlas, 5th Ed. (1980 printing); nor in John Thomas - Vol 6 Scotland: The Lowlands and the Borders. Butt gives Fairlie Pier G&SW, opened 1 July 1882, closed 1 Oct 1971 - last train 31 July 1972. The other Fairlie station listed changed its name a lot: opened as Fairlie G&SW 1 June 1880, renamed Fairlie Town 30 June 1952, renamed Fairlie High 2 March 1953. Fairlie Pier has a Jowlett map ref of *49 A6, the other one is 18 NS 25. Pyrotec 16:39, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

Apart from the spurious reference in RAILSCOT this may be a red herring. Google shows the a lot of references to G.E. Langmuir including RAILSCOT. Many seem to refer to Clyde Steamers which would suggest that Fairlie Low was really Fairlie Pier. I know it is a long shot, however I have to go to Largs in the next few days so I will have a quick look at the end north end of the Tunnel on my way back to work. --Stewart 18:09, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

Thanks. I had a quick look at Alistair Deayton's Glasgow & South Western and other Steamers. There is a G.E. Langmuir collection in the Mitchell library. They are pictures of boats.Pyrotec 18:22, 23 August 2007 (UTC)

Conclusion

I went through Fairlie this afternoon. It appears to me that the juncton with the route to the pier was right at the end of the tunnel. Therefore there does not appear to have been enough space for a station between the junction and the tunnel. I do not have enough background knowledge, however I would guess that the Pier junction may have been partly in the tunnel. -- Stewart 17:05, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

There's a photo of the junction on Railscot from 1987, and another photo here of the reverse view in 1966. I thought the junction was still there today although overgrown, at least it was a couple of years ago. Definately no room for a station there though. --Dreamer84 17:17, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Following Stewart's comment, I dug out a First Series 1:50 000 OS Map. It has a copyright date of 1976, but is based on a 1963 revision. Its not entirely clear: but the tunnel appears to end south of where the line crossed under the A78(T), near to a church with a spire (church is west of the road). North of the church is a curved road onto the pier. North of this road and imediately adjacent to it is the pier railway line. The junction appears to be opposite an unclassified road to blocks of large buildings.Pyrotec 17:27, 24 August 2007 (UTC). This [1] is the best link I can save. You need to select map.Pyrotec 17:39, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

I think the A78 bridge forms the mouth of the tunnel. The second photo linked above shows the bridge in question. Here is a photo of the area from above showing the pier line barely visible in the growth (the photos are around 7 years old). The buildings you refer to sound like Kelburn Avenue to me. --Dreamer84 17:52, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Yes, looking at your map, the junction appears directly opposite the unnamed road below Kelburn Ave and Keppenburn Ave.Pyrotec 18:31, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

The revised layout that includes the junction of the road to the development on the pier site is the extension to the tunnel. The sidings are totally overgrown. --Stewart 18:27, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Looks like its gone the same way as the MOD base near Giffen. I seem to recall reading that the MOD don't use rail transport anymore (in Scotland at least), so I would say that for all intents and purposes the Fairlie Pier line is closed. --Dreamer84 18:42, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

You'd think in the present political climate that rail wouldn't be totally abandoned. Maybe a slight veering away from the subject, but I would have thought rail travel is more secure. Douglasnicol 20:28, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Well according to Rail News, MOD has put its rail freight services out to tender. However Eastriggs has the only dedicated rail service in Scotland.Pyrotec 20:31, 24 August 2007 (UTC)

Had a look over the A78 bridge today, and it looks like the Pier junction has been disconnected from the main line: one of the connecting rails is missing, making it impossible for a train to go on the line (at least as far as I could see). Also, is the pier still actually used as an MOD base? The entrance advertised "Fairlie Quay Marina" and there was even a small CalMac ferry resting at the end of the pier. This website indicates that the Holt Leisure Group bought the MOD pier six years ago. Would certainly explain why the sidings aren't used!--Dreamer84 13:32, 30 August 2007 (UTC)