FABULOUS PHOTOGRAPHS OF TRAINS ON THE AYR TO HEADS OF AYR RAILWAY LINE!
I am indebted to David Cross for making these fabulous photographs of trains on the Ayr to Heads of Ayr railway line available for us all to enjoy. David is the son of the renowned railway photographer, Derek Cross, who photographed trains passing along the Ayr to Heads of Ayr stretch of the Maidens and Dunure Light Railway (M&DLR) during the period 1958 - 1968.
THE MAIDENS AND DUNURE LIGHT RAILWAY
The M&DLR opened in 1906. It was designed to serve the rural communities of South Ayrshire. Golfers used it to access the newly opened Turnberry Hotel and golf course; farmers used it to get their produce to market, especially their Ayrshire tatties; the Marquis of Ailsa, used it to transport his guests to and from his own private station, Glenside Station, at Culzean Castle; and day-trippers used it to enjoy a day out at the Ayrshire coast.
The M&DLR was a light railway,which meant a single track was laid, with occasional passing loops, and a speed restriction of 25 mph was imposed throughout its length. The trains travelled slowly through the gentle countryside of South Ayrshire.
The section of railway from Ayr to Alloway had to be constructed with extreme care and sensitivity due to the historic importance of the area around Alloway through which it passed. The Burns Monument, Burns Cottage, the Alloway Auld Kirk and Graveyard were all very close to the route of the line. This whole area was, and still is, sacred to the memory of Robert Burns and these important landmarks could not be disturbed.
Around Alloway, the line was dug into cuttings with steep embankments and a number of underground tunnels, including the Alloway Railway Tunnel. These were constructed to minimise its impact on the surface terrain.
The ML&DR was closed in the 1930’s. However, the section from Ayr to a (newlybuilt) Heads of Ayr Station, reopened in 1947 mainly to serve Butlin’s Holiday Camp, now Craig Tara Holiday Park. This section remained operational until it was eventually closed down in September 1968. Derek Cross’s photographs show various locomotives travelling along this section of the original M&LDR.
TEN FABULOUS PHOTOGRAPHS
The first photograph shows Locomotive Black 5 45160 on the line between the site of the former Alloway Station and the bridge over Doonholm Road. This locomotive was heading towards Ayr on the Heads of Ayr to Carlisle service.
Track maintenance was obviouslyimportant. Photograph 2 shows a weedkiller train crossing the River Doon. This was Locomotive 48536, an 8F ClassLocomotive, which was a type of locomotive rarely seen in Ayrshire.
During the 1960’s, many of the trainson the Ayr to Heads of Ayr line only ran on Saturdays, when they transported holidaymakers from across Scotland, and beyond, to and from Butlin’s Holiday Camp. Photograph 3 shows Locomotive 61219,LNER B1 Class, which was a Saturdays only Edinburgh to Heads of Ayr train which ran only during the summer period; and Photograph 4 shows Locomotive 45160 Black 5, which was another Saturday summer service, running between Newcastle and Heads of Ayr.
The train, Standard Tank Locomotive 80025, in Photograph 5 is a local train from Heads of Ayr to Ayr, passing the site of Alloway Station.
As the M&DLR was single track railway, it was not uncommon to see locomotives travelling backwards. Photograph 6 shows Standard Tank Locomotive 80111 working backwards.
Photograph 7 shows another cross-border train. This Locomotive Number 73123, was a two year old Standard class 5 which was built in Doncaster in 1956, and travelled between Heads of Ayr and Newcastle.
Photograph 8 shows a vertical shot taken from Doonholm Road Bridge looking towards Alloway station. This is a Saturdays only, summer train from Heads of Ayr to Newcastle, hauled by Locomotive Black 545194.
By the late 1960s, the magnificent steam locomotives which had hauled passenger carriages along the M&DLR had given way to diesel trains. Photograph 9 shows Locomotive English Electric 1000 hp diesel Number D 8124 at Heads of Ayr Station. This train travelled on the route from Heads of Ayr to Kilmarnock.
As well as transporting holidaymakers to Butlin’s, excursion trains were a regular feature on the line. They brought people from Ayr or further afield, mainly from Glasgow or the Central Belt of Scotland, to Butlin’s for a day trip. They were particularly popular with groups of workers who had the chance to enjoy a day out at Heads of Ayr. Photograph 10 shows Locomotive English Electric 1000 hp diesel Number D 8020 taking workers from the Playtex women’s clothing company on a day trip to Butlin’s.
THE ALLOWAY RAILWAY TUNNEL
It’s amazing to think that the Alloway Railway Tunnel Mural now lines the Tunnel through which all these magnificent locomotives travelled. The transformation of the previously dark, grimy tunnel walls, into a colourful art installation has certainly removed the sooty evidence of its former life!
The ART Project Trustees together with artist Chris Rutterford, have worked tirelessly over the past few years to make this happen. The Tunnel Mural is not just a monument and a tribute to them, but also a monument and tribute to all the members of our local community (including local schools, businesses, organisations and charities) who have personally been involved in the painting of the Mural and in providing essential financial support. It is also a tribute to the ML&DR and its workers who drove the trains and kept the communities of South Ayrshire alive.
The final tribute to the railway will be the installation of the section of Mural depicting ‘The Last Train to Butlins’. Watch out for its arrival over the next few months! There is still time to add your own portrait or that of a loved one to this section of the mural. You can book this on Chris Rutterford's website:
Hazel Sommerville
