Greenock and Wemyss Bay Railway

At the time the River Clyde was heavily used by boats, but it was impassable for sea-going vessels, involving transshipment at Greenock, and transfer of passengers.

However their terminal station at Greenock was at Cathcart Street, some distance from the Custom House Quay and not directly connected to any shipping berth.

[3] Rothesay assumed dominance as the resort destination of choice, and many businesspeople in Glasgow kept residences there, travelling weekly to their places of business in the City.

After four years, the Steamboat Company failed (in 1869), and the Rothesay connections, on which the Wemyss Bay Railway relied, were made by other steamer operators as part of their wider network of routes.

To add to the difficulties, the industrial development confidently expected at Upper Greenock failed to materialise, and the lands acquired there were sold off at a loss.

From 1869 the Caledonian was considering extending its line to Gourock, but opposition frustrated these wishes, and in the meantime Wemyss Bay was an attractive route.

In January 1887 the Wemyss Bay company applied to the Railway and Canal Commissioners to compel the Caledonian to transfer their trains to Glasgow Central station: at that time they were still using the less convenient (to the public) Bridge Street; but the application failed.

[4] The more stable financial situation enabled more harmonious working, and the disadvantageous circumstances of the Caledonian's operation at Greenock made the Wemyss Bay route more attractive to them.

Widespread talk of amalgamation was put into effect: in August 1899 the Glasgow Herald announced that the Wemyss Bay company was to be absorbed.

[2] [1] Work was immediately put in hand to improve the line, and to rebuild Wemyss Bay station, as well as Inverkip and Upper Greenock.

Nock observes that the station was rebuilt to an exceptionally pleasing design with a light glass canopy to the circulating area; the pier could accommodate five steamers at once.

The station platforms, and the approach ways to the steamer berths, were therefore made exceptionally wide, so that two opposing streams of pedestrians could pass without interference.

In fact this did not prove a long-term opportunity, and rail movement became dormant for many years; containers in use were larger than the original 8-foot size, and cannot be moved through the tunnels, and the line was officially closed on 30 September 1991.

There is no freight activity on the branch at the present (2019); the connection to the container terminal at Greenock (Containerbase Junction) remains in place but is dormant.

There is a crossing loop at Dunrod, about a mile west of IBM Halt; and there are two platforms at Wemyss Bay; the remainder of the line is single track.