Conceived for local journeys, it was used by the main line Caledonian Railway to get access to Glasgow, and was soon taken over by the larger company.

The Caledonian had struggled for a long time to get approval for its main line linking Glasgow and Edinburgh with Carlisle and the burgeoning English railway network.

The Caledonian now realised that the Clydesdale Junction line would give them an alternative, possibly superior, route to the City.

In a quick submission, the Caledonian obtained authorisation to acquire the Clydesdale Junction and the Polloc and Govan by an act of Parliament[which?]

Clydesdale Junction shareholders were guaranteed 6% on its capitalisation of £450,000, with the option of having their shares purchased by the Caledonian for cash at a premium of 50%.

[1][3] The engineers for the line were Joseph Locke and John Edward Errington, the contractor was the firm of Brassey, Mackenzie and Stephenson.

In fact the Caledonian had significantly over-reached itself financially, in desperation to acquire or lease numerous railways under construction so as to secure territory against competitors.

When Glasgow Central station opened in 1879, all of the Carlisle traffic was diverted to that terminus, running over the Clydesdale Junction line.

Location list at opening of the line, 1 June 1849 (Motherwell to South Side), 10 September 1849 (Hamilton branch).