Moniaive railway station is the closed station terminus of the Cairn Valley Light Railway (CVR) branch, from Dumfries. It served the rural area of Moniaive in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.

History

The official opening day was 28 February 1905, accompanied by much local celebration, the first train of six corridor coaches being hauled by a Manson 4-4-0, Number 190.Kirkpatrick, Page 31 The journey to Dumfries took an hour and cost 2s. 6d. return fare.Kirpatrick, Page 37 Archibald Wilkie from Kirkconnel station was Moniaive's first station master, replaced by George MacDonald whose last charge had been Ruthwell station.Kirkpatrick, Page 53

From 1906 to 1907 a bus ran from Thornhill to Moniaive to cater for prospective passengers, however it was not a success.Kirkpatrick, Page 43 The CVR was nominally independent, but was in reality controlled by the Glasgow and South Western Railway.Sanders, page 50 The line was closed to passengers on 3 May 1943, during WW2Awdry, page 64 and to freight in 1949 on 4 July,Thomas, page 203 and the track lifted in 1953. 1947 is also quoted as a date of complete closure. Moniaive had been one of the last places in Scotland to be connected to the railway network.

Home and starting banner signals were used, electrically controlled, for each direction.Kirkpatrick, Page 23 Trains were, at that time uniquely, controlled by a development of the Syke's 'lock and block' system whereby the trains operated treadles on the single line to interact with the block instruments.Kirkpatrick, Page 39

The station building was extended to provide the station master with his own office in October 1916.Kirkpatrick, Page 52

During WW2 large numbers of Norwegian troops travelled to and from Moniaive whilst encamped nearby.Kirkpatrick, Page 69

In 1921 the Moniaive engine shed was closed and from that point the first train of the day ran from Dumfries.

In 2014 a proposal was put forward to relocate the station building to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society's Manuel station on the Bo'ness and Kinneil line.Armstrong, Page 11

Views at the station in 2009

See also

List of closed railway stations in Britain

References Notes

Sources

Armstrong, Charles. Moniaive Station. Sou'West. Summer 2015. No.170. Kirkpatrick, Ian (2000). The Cairn Valley Light Railway. Usk : The Oakwood Press. Sanders, Keith and Hodgins, Douglas (1995). British Railways. Past and Present South West Scotland. No. 19. . Thomas, David St John & Whitehouse, Patrick (1993). The Romance of Scotlands Railways. Newton Abbot : David St John Thomas. .

External links Geograph photograph of Moniaive station