Hamilton and Motherwell Caledonian Railway branches in South Lanarkshire

the railways of hamilton , motherwell in 1876

the original hamilton branch of clydesdale junction railway terminated @ hamilton west station. lesmahagow railway left motherwell , headed south, , there gap between 2 sections. in 1876 line built hamilton terminus junction lesmahagow line @ ross junction; opened on 23 september 1876, passenger services starting on 2 october 1876. triangular junction provided @ ross junction: trains hamilton lesmahagow left ross junction line @ haughhead junction , joined lesmahagow line @ ferniegair junction. ferniegair station relocated south of new junction; old station had had passenger service motherwell since 1868. had trains south side station in glasgow via hamilton.

the mineral activity grew considerably , numerous pits operating close caledonian routes. marshalling yard built @ ross junction, , yard had become important traffic centre mineral trains. density of slow traffic such cause considerable congestion, , on 1 may 1882 west curve opened @ blantyre, enabling strathaven trains run directly towards glasgow. short curve ran auchenraith junction blantyre.