Gree Goods station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gree Goods
Site of Gree Goods station and road overbridge
Location	Near Lugton, Ayrshire Scotland
Coordinates	55°43′31″N 4°34′03″W / 55.725376°N 4.567380°W / 55.725376; -4.567380
Platforms	Goods station
Other information
Status	Disused
History
Original company	L&A
Pre-grouping	CR
Post-grouping	LMS
Key dates
1 May 1903	Opened
Circa 1950	Goods services withdrawn

Gree Goods station or Gree Depot was a railway place used for moving goods. It was located about one mile south of Lugton in North Ayrshire, Scotland. This station helped local farms and industries by transporting things like lime for fields, farm animals, milk, cheese, and materials from mines. The village of Burnhouse and several farms were nearby. Gree Goods was also close to the Lugton East Junction and the large, 11-arch Gree Viaduct. The closest passenger stations on the railway line were Lugton High to the north and Giffen to the south.

What Was Gree Goods Station?

Gree Goods station was a special part of the railway system designed to handle freight, which means goods or cargo, instead of passengers. Even though it's a quiet area today, this station would have been busy moving many different items. Farmers used it to send their animals like cattle, horses, and sheep to market. They also received important supplies like lime, which helps make farm soil better. Local businesses used the station to send out products like milk and cheese, and to move materials from nearby mines and quarries.

How the Station Looked

The old Gree Viaduct near Gree Goods station

Old maps from 1896 do not show the goods station or the main railway line. However, by 1910, maps showed a simple setup. There was a double main track, and a single side track (called a siding) that branched off twice. Two of these sidings led to a loading dock, which is a raised platform where goods could be easily loaded onto or unloaded from trains. Another siding went past a second loading dock, close to the road.

There wasn't a signal box, which is a building where railway signals are controlled. Instead, there might have been a small ground frame, a simple device for controlling the tracks, and just one signal post. A crane was also present, which would have been used for lifting heavy items. The station was built in a cutting, which is a deep trench dug into the ground, and this cutting was made wider to fit the loading docks and tracks. By 1958, all the tracks, including the main line, had been removed.

History of Gree Goods Station

Gree Goods station was opened on May 1, 1903, by the Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway company. Later, it became part of the Caledonian Railway. In 1923, many railway companies in Britain joined together in an event called the "Grouping." During this time, Gree Goods station became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.

The railway line that passed through Gree Goods station continued towards Barrmill and Giffen. Staff at Lugton High Station supervised the operations at Gree. Trains used this line until December 17, 1950, when the section from Lugton High through Gree to Giffen Junction was closed down. By 1958, the side tracks at Gree had been taken up. Another similar goods station, called Lissens, was located further down the line past Auchenmade station.

How Trains Used the Station

In 1907, the Caledonian Railway's timetable showed how trains used Gree siding. For example, a goods train leaving Gushetfaulds at 12:10 PM and heading to Ardrossan would stop to work at Gree siding. Rules from 1915 stated that the siding could only be used during daylight and not when it was foggy or snowing. The special frame that locked the track points (which allow trains to switch tracks) was secured with a padlock. The key for this lock was kept by the signalman at Lugton Station.

Train brakesmen who needed to work at Gree had to get the key from the signalman at Lugton. They would then hand it over to the Station Master at Giffen upon arrival, who would send it back on the next train. This system ensured safety and control over the railway operations.

Gree Goods Station Today

Site of the former Gree Viaduct in 2013

No railway workers' cottages were built at the Gree Goods station site. This was likely because the station was small, and the area had good transport links with the A736 Lochlibo road and the nearby village of Lugton. The site of Gree Goods station was partly in a cutting. Over time, the entire site was filled in during the later 20th century. This means that today, you can't see any remains of the old station.

However, you can still see two concrete road bridges, which were built by a famous engineer known as 'Concrete Bob' McAlpine. You can also see the railway cutting on the other side of the small road leading to Brownhill Farm. The large Gree Viaduct, which was a significant landmark, was taken down in 2002.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Giffen Line and station closed		Caledonian Railway Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway		Lugton High Line and station closed