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Lennoxtown RailwayThe branch line of the railway to Lennoxtown, was an extension of the Glasgow to Edinburgh line. The first 51/2 miles of this line, from Lenzie to Lennoxtown, were built by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, under powers obtained in 1845, and the line was formally opened on July 5th, 1848. Initially, the Railway was intended to serve the print fields at Lennoxtown, but it eventually provided a local passenger service as far as Aberfoyle. A proposal to close the 111 year old branch line was made March 14th 1951. The passenger service was discontinued in October 1951, but the transportation of goods to Lennoxtown and beyond continued until 1959. From 1959 until the complete closure of the line in 1966, goods were transported only to and from industries in Lennoxtown, which by that time was the terminus .
To start with, the station was known simply as Lennoxtown. This was changed to Lennoxtown Old, then eventually to Lennoxtown (Blane Valley). Dwindling numbers of passengers and lack of use, led to the withdrawal of passenger traffic, and ultimately to the closure of the station in 1966. This contrasts vividly with the proposal to run special trains to Campsie Glen in June 15th, 1904, to cope with the vast numbers of day-trippers, campers and hill-walkers. ? [The numbers of day trippers were listed by a local newspaper as follows: Company employees travelling by brake were, Greenhead Sons of Temperance, Glasgow, 100. The employees of Messrs. James Stourie & Co., oil and color works, Barrowfield, Glasgow, 50. Engineers from Cowlairs Works, 26; workers in Newhall Parish Church, 35. Those booking by rail included: Regent Mill employees, Glasgow, 80; Springfield U.F. Church workers Bishopbriggs, 50. There were also large numbers of family partners. A company of Boy Scouts from Kirkintilloch, also spent the weekend under canvas in the Glen. Some 341+ visitors in one afternoon may have been the reason for the extra trains. Complaints were lodged by residents in the vicinity of the school at Campsie Glen about 'trippers' taking the use of the school convenience, and the school committee had taken steps to prevent this happening again.] The disused railway track was removed in recent years, and the area opened up by East Dunbartonshire Council to form part of a walkway, which they constructed as a leisure facility for villagers. See maps below for route of Railway/Walkway. Area marked in pink.
First Class StationLennoxtown Railway station won many, many awards as the best kept station in Scotland. Some of these are noted below. First prize for best-kept station 2/2/ 1897 First prize for best-kept station 10/12/1922 " " " " " " " 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 First prize 7th year in succession 26/9/1928 Wins again 24/9/1930 And again 23/9/1931.
The Tail LampsThe Employees of the N.B. Railway at Lennoxtown formed a very successful football team. The team was familiarly known as 'The Tail Lights', and the Station Poet immortalized his favourite team in 1909, in the following verses. :- Noo, frein's, as I sit here and dream O'er heroes in oor fitba, Somehow I think it's only right Their merits should be brought to light. There's several chaps I'll mention here Whose names in papers don't appear, But always faithful to their guns, They're Scotland's first and foremost sons. Tae start, then there is first of all Another Brownlie in the goal; His fame has spread sae faur and wide They've christ'ned him the great McBride. At right-back there is Eddie Shields Who never clicks opponents heels- But plays the game as it should be, From roughness absolutely free. Just see him when his team is pressed He's Robert Compton at his best At Half-back there along with 'Ned', Is Donald whom opponents dread- A perfect genius at the game Wha had he cared could made his name In football all the world o'er Unequalled in the days of yore; But still he dodges all his own In football circles stands alone. At right-half there is James O'Brien, Who never fails for want of trying- A splendid tackler, strongly built- A pair of legs would suit the kilt. Just see him when he's tightly tied He's pluck and grit personified. At centre-half there's Anderson, Who is a very clever one. His judgment and his passing on Both stamp him as a regular don. The touches of this brainy player Resembles Celtics great McNair, No forward rank could fail to shine With such a man as him behind. At left-half there is Barney Gee- A Haughhead bird the same as me- A strapping youth and hardy tae In style he's just another Hay. Noo tae the forwards I must gang Tae make complete my wee bit sang; There's Jamie Sharp at outside-right Who as a 'tail lamp' burns bright. His sparkling runs along the line And deadly crossing's really fine; He proves he is on the dot There's no need for an Anglo-Scot; So woe betide the rushing back That dares to stop this little crack There's Pat Shovlin, the fast inside- A forward wi' a marvellous stride- His sudden bursts when on the ball Recall the sprints of Harold Paul. His flectness in the days of yore Has won him medals in galore. There's Cairter Jock, a hasty cheil- Another Quin - game tae the heel, He binds his forwards like a book And never hesitates to shoot. Gie him a chance - he'll no forget Tae plank the leather in the net. So all that we have got to do, Is pass to Quin- he'll put it through. Next there's Wee Allan frae the Glen, who is just as smairt's tho ither ten. His cuteness and his great command And passing out is really grand; His tricky moves and graceful style Were sadly missed in Aberfoyle. There's Willie Marshall - he's the last Who is a dribbler unsurpassed; A derring forward when in form Will keep the best defenders warm. Now talent spotters, don't neglect Tae give the 'Tail Lamps' due respect, When wanting players of renown Just take a trip to Lennoxtown."Tail Lamp". Dr Beeching's axe.The Beeching Axe was an informal name for the British government's attempt in the 1960's to control the spiralling cost of running the British Railway system by closing what it considered to be "little-used" and unprofitable railway lines. The Re-Shaping of British Railways, known ever since as the 'Beeching Report', was published on 27 March 1963, and remains one of the most controversial documents in the history of British railways. The industrialist Dr Richard Beeching was appointed chairman of the British Transport Commission in 1961 and became chairman of the new British Railways Board upon its establishment in 1963. His remit from government was to transform the worsening financial position of the railways and establish a viable network with a secure future. He proposed sweeping reductions in the network and in train services on economic grounds, arguing that 2000 stations and 250 train services should be cut. His second report, The Development of the Major Trunk Routes, dealt with the creation of a much-reduced but much-improved 'backbone network' of a limited number of key routes; but it was the first report, with its plans for drastic and rapid cuts in the British railway network, which attracted most attention and has continued to be the focus of study and debate.
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