Devon Valley Railway

Devon Valley Railway
Overview
LocaleScotland
Termini1851
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm)
Route map

Alloa
Alloa East Junction
Sauchie
Glenfoot
Tillicoultry
Dollar
Rumbling Bridge
Crook of Devon
Balado
Kinross Junction
Locomotive number 62684 at Dollar Station in 1957
Locomotive number 62490 leaving Rumbling Bridge Station in 1957

The Devon Valley Railway linked Alloa and Kinross in central Scotland, along a route following the valley of the River Devon. Its construction took 20 years from the first section opening in 1851, to the final section in 1871.[1] Three railway companies were involved, and it encountered a great many problems both with finance and engineering.

The line provided the missing link of a secondary route from the River Clyde to the River Tay by joining the Stirling and Dunfermline Railway with the Fife and Kinross Railway. Leaving the main Stirling to Dunfermline line at Alloa, other stations were built at Sauchie, Tillicoultry, Dollar, Rumbling Bridge, Crook of Devon, Balado and Kinross, where it joined the main Perth to Edinburgh line [2] The railway was independent but worked by the North British Railway until 1875 when it was absorbed by the major company. In 1923 following the grouping it became part of LNER then, following nationalisation in 1947, was taken over by British Railways. The line closed to passengers in 1964 and to all traffic in 1973.

This image of the Devon Viaduct is from the book "Girder-making and the practice of bridge building in wrought iron" (1879) by Edward Moss Hutchinson
This image of the Devon Viaduct is from the book "Girder-making and the practice of bridge building in wrought iron" (1879) by Edward Moss Hutchinson
  1. ^ Thomas, John (1976). Forgotten Railways Scotland. David & Charles. pp. 112–116. ISBN 0 7153 7185 1.
  2. ^ Emslie, J & W (1912). The official railway map of Scotland. The Railway Clearing House.