Kelvinbridge railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kelvinbridge
The remains of the station in 2007.
Location	Kelvinbridge, Glasgow Scotland
Platforms	2
Other information
Status	Disused
History
Original company	Glasgow Central Railway
Pre-grouping	Caledonian Railway
Post-grouping	LMS
Key dates
10 August 1896	Opened
4 August 1952	Station closed to passengers
6 July 1964	Station closed to freight
5 October 1964	Line closed
August 1968	Station building destroyed by fire

Kelvinbridge was an old railway station in the Kelvinbridge area of Glasgow, Scotland. It was in the West End of the city, not far from the modern Kelvinbridge subway station which is part of the Glasgow Subway. This station helped people travel around Glasgow and beyond.

History of Kelvinbridge Station

When Did Kelvinbridge Station Open?

The Kelvinbridge railway station first opened its doors on 10 August 1896. It was an important part of the city's transport network.

Serving the Glasgow Exhibition

A few years later, in 1901, the station became very busy. It was the main station for visitors going to the 1901 Glasgow International Exhibition. This was a huge event that attracted many people to Glasgow.

When Did the Station Close?

The station stopped carrying passengers on 4 August 1952. Later, it closed completely for freight (goods) on 6 July 1964. The railway line itself was then closed on 5 October 1964.

The Fire at Kelvinbridge Station

Sadly, the station building was destroyed by a fire in August 1968. This happened after the station was no longer in use.

What the Station Site Looked Like

Where Was the Station Located?

The railway line came into the station area from the south-east. It went under Gibson Street, right next to the River Kelvin. The tracks then ran along the east side of the river. At the north-west end, the line crossed the river. It then went under Caledonian Crescent, which is where the main station building stood.

The Goods Yard and Car Park

East of the railway line was the goods yard. This was an area where trains loaded and unloaded items. Later, this goods yard was turned into a park and ride car park. This happened when the Glasgow Subway was updated between 1976 and 1979.

Who Designed the Station?

The station building was designed by a famous Glasgow architect named James Miller. He designed many other stations for the Caledonian Railway company. One of these was Botanic Gardens, which was the next stop on the line. The Kelvinbridge station looked similar to his other designs from that time.

What Remains Today?

After the fire in 1968, most of the building was gone. However, some of the outer walls are still there. You can also see some of the fancy stonework. The base of an entrance area remains, with parts of its black and white checked floor tiles.

Caledonian Mansions and the Railway

Above the station site, you can see Caledonian Mansions. This building was put up by the Caledonian Railway company. They bought the land to build tunnels for the railway. You can still spot the company's special symbol on the east side of the mansions on Caledonian Crescent.

Tunnels Near the Station

At the north-west part of the site, the railway line went under Otago Street. This was before it entered a tunnel under Great Western Road. This tunnel led towards Botanic Gardens.

Another tunnel was at the south end of the site, leading to Stobcross. In December 1994, the River Kelvin burst its banks. Water flowed through this tunnel. To stop future floods, a bank was built in front of the tunnel's entrance.

Preceding station	National Rail			Following station
Stobcross Line closed; Station open		Caledonian Railway Glasgow Central Railway		Botanic Gardens Line and station closed

Images for kids

• 

  Looking across the railway bridge towards the location of the station buildings.

• 

  The line passing under Caledonian Crescent.

• 

  The entrance of the tunnel to Botanic Gardens.

• 

  The entrance to the tunnel to Stobcross.

• 

  Under the bridge is the bank put in place following the December 1994 flood to prevent water flowing down the tunnel.