Every six weeks I have to make a trip up to Ayr to the orthodontist to tend to my nuisance called braces. Due to my father being a work and my mother's business, it's impossible for them to make the 3 hour round trip for often what is only 15 minutes worth of an appointment. Therefore I make my way to Stranraer to catch the 10:05 from Stranraer to Ayr. The line itself is single track and twists and turns through some breath taking scenery before finally arriving at Ayr.
Stranraer
Stranraer use to have two stations, Stranraer Harbour and Stranraer Town, however now only the Harbour station remains. This is where our journey starts. This is a really old line with it first dating back to 1852 when the Ayr to Dalmellington line was built, this was then extended onto to Maybole and then to Girvan. Originally the line bypassed Stranraer instead terminating at Port Patrick, but when Stranraer was developed into the biggest port, and is now the oldest harbor in regular use in the U.K, so the line naturally altered. The station itself has one platform and is right next to the ferry terminal making quick changed easy. It has a ticket office and a indoor waiting room. The service is run entirely by super sprinters, these are not the most modern of trains but they are comfortable and relaxing. As you leave the station you can view Loch Ryan on the left and on a clear day this is simply stunning view. As you leave the town you pass Stair Park, home to the 3rd oldest football club in Scotland named Stranraer FC and you join the old Stranraer to Dumfries line that is no longer in use. After that you hit the signal box at Dunragit,
Water Of Luce and The Moors
The line now sweeps through the countryside and on a clear you can see Luce Bay, The Mull of Galloway and even the Isle of Man. After that the line goes into a set of reverse curves known as the Swan's neck, where the direction of the track turns from south westerly to south easterly. It begins to rise steeply into the hills. From here the landscape becomes bleak, this earned he area it's nick name 'The Moors'. In past winters, many trains have been stuck up in the moors for weeks, however the longest a passenger train was 3 days. Soon you reach Glenwhilly signal box which has to be in one of the most remote and lonely locations on the British rail Network.
Barrhill
The first stop on the line is to the small rural station of Barrhill. This little station has two platforms with passenger having to go across the rails just as many would have done in Victorian times (I hasten to add that they have a special walkway for this). Barrhill is one of the best examples of a rural station, it surprisingly does have a ticket office (albeit a part time one) and a station toilet. The station is also perfectly located with the Machars and Newton Stewart being 30 miles down the road.
Pinmore and Pinwherry
As you come down from the bleak moorland and Barhill you come by a beautiful stretch of track. Consisting of breathtaking scenery and outstanding viaducts, the largest of these called Kinclear offers a mass of beautiful scenes to take in. Another viaduct along the line is called Laggansarroch, the original structure was swept away by a storm, however its replacement iron structure has stood the test of time. In this stretch of track you can see the village of Pinwherry and after that you pass through Pinmore where the only tunnel on the line is found. After this you now begin you're descent into Girvan
Girvan
Girvan is the biggest town in between Ayr and Stranraer. The station looks (by the way I am no expert on this) to be from around the 1930s. It has two platforms, each accessible by road. The station is manned but only on a part time basis. As you enter and leave the station you are afforded picturesque panoramic views of the town, the sea and Ailsa Craig. In the summer the paddle steamer The Waverly makes occasional trips out to Ailsa Craig which makes for a lovely day out. The town itself was built on its harbor and agriculture but also it was a popular tourist destination. Just Outside the town is thememorial to the Russian cruiser Varyag which ran aground there in 1920 and finally sunk in 1925.
Carrick HillS
Once you leave you are now only around half an hour from Ayr. For a long stretch there is mainly woods, so you'd be surprised to hear that this was once the south Ayrshire coalfields. Between Maybole and Girvan alone there were no fewer than a 100 mines, the last closing its pits in 1977 after 550 years of mining. Now you pass the closed stations of Dailly and Kilochan, and further on amongst the woods you pass the signal box at Kilkerran. This was once a station but now it is just the signal box and a train passing place. Now the line meanders North and to the left you should spot a large monument which is to Sir Charles Fergusson of Kilkerran
Maybole
When you approach Maybole you can see Baltersan Tower House which was built in 1552 by John Kennedy. It fell into disrepair in the 18th century but the current owner is planning to restore it to its full glory. As the ancient capital of Carrick, Maybole is steeped in history. The town was home to the barons in the 17th century and no less than 28 lairds and landowners with townhouses in the area. After the arrival of the railway in 1856 the gentry moved into more prestigious addresses in Ayr and Maybole transformed into an industrial town and became home to a localized shoe business, however the last factory closed in 1962. Maybole station is just a halt with only one platform
Ayr
As you enter Ayr the landscape changes from open fields and green fields changes to flats and busy streets. Then you reach Ayr station. The station is fully manned with ticket gates. The train does carry on past Ayr to Glasgow Central via either Kilmarnock or Kilwining, however more often than not it is quicker to change to the electrified line from Ayr to Glasgow. This is where I get off and dash to my appointment. Ayr itself is an archetypal seaside town with golden sands but also a regional shopping centre. If none of that takes your fancy then how about going on the Robert Burns trail. There is a regular bus services to Alloway.
Hints And Tips
First things first, do not miss your train. This line isn't the most regular meaning if you miss your train to Stranraer you could be stuck in Ayr for up to 5 hours. Also some trains will be more packed than other, in my experience the 12:32 (valid as of 22nd of May 2011) from AYR can be quite full as it directly connects with the ferry. My opinion is that this is such a beautiful line that no matter where you sit, you'll miss things out, so if you are on a return journey then try to be sitting on opposite sides. Unfortunately this line's days are numbered. Soon the Stenaline Ferries will be moving to Cairnryan. This means that instead of running the trains all the way to Stranraer they will instead just terminate at Girvan and a bus service will replace the rest of the line. I cross my fingers this does not happen as not only is this line a treasure but it is also vitally important to the community.
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