 | |
 1920 map of the railway | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Glasgow |
| Dates of operation | 1847 – 1923 |
| Successor | London, Midland and Scottish Railway |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Length | 1,118 miles 13 chains (1,799.5 km) (1919)[1] |
| Track length | 2,836 miles 66 chains (4,565.4 km) (1919)[1] |
The Caledonian Railway (CR) was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century with the objective of forming a link between English railways and Glasgow. It progressively extended its network and reached Edinburgh and Aberdeen, with a dense network of branch lines in the area surrounding Glasgow. It was absorbed into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway in 1923. Many of its principal routes are still used, and the original main line between Carlisle and Glasgow is in use as part of the West Coast Main Line railway (with a modified entry into Glasgow itself).