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 a railway station located in the Kelvinbridge area of Glasgow, Scotland. It was an important stop for trains in the city's West End. This station was also very close to the Kelvinbridge subway station, which is part of the Glasgow Subway system.

A Look Back: When Kelvinbridge Station Was Active

Kelvinbridge station first opened its doors on 10 August 1896. It quickly became a busy place. It was especially important for visitors attending the 1901 Glasgow International Exhibition. This big event brought many people to Glasgow.

The station stopped serving passengers on 4 August 1952. Later, it closed for freight (carrying goods) on 6 July 1964. The entire railway line officially closed on 5 October 1964. Sadly, the station building was destroyed by a fire in August 1968.

Exploring the Station Area

The railway line came into the station area from the southeast. It went under Gibson Street, right next to the River Kelvin. The tracks followed the east side of the river. Then, at the northwest corner, the line crossed the river. It then went under Caledonian Crescent, which is where the main station building stood. There was also a 'goods yard' next to the tracks. This was a place where trains loaded and unloaded items. In 1965, this goods yard was turned into a car park for people to leave their cars and use public transport. It operated for more than a decade before the major subway reconstruction of 1977-1980.

The Station Building and Its Architect

A famous Glasgow architect named James Miller designed the Kelvinbridge station building. He designed many stations for the Caledonian Railway company. For example, he also designed the Botanic Gardens railway station, which was the next stop after Kelvinbridge. The Kelvinbridge station had a similar look to his other designs from that time.

After the station closed, the building was sadly destroyed by a fire in August 1968. Today, you can still see some of the outer walls and decorative stone. You might even spot parts of the black and white floor tiles that were once inside. Above where the station was, you can see Caledonian Mansions. The Caledonian Railway company built these mansions. They even put their special company symbol on the east side of the buildings, on Caledonian Crescent.

Tunnels and Tracks

From the northwest part of the station area, the railway line continued towards Botanic Gardens railway station. It went under Otago Street before entering a tunnel. This tunnel carried the trains under the busy Great Western Road.

The River Kelvin and Flood Protection

In December 1994, the River Kelvin flooded. The water flowed through the tunnel that led south from the station area towards Stobcross. To prevent future floods, a special bank was built. This bank stands in front of the tunnel entrance to protect the area.

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

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  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.