Burns National Heritage ParkDunaskin Heritage Centre NOW CLOSEDScottish Industrial Railway Centre
The Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group was founded in 1974, at a time when it was clear that private industrial railways were closing and an era was coming to an end. It has always been the Group's special aim to preserve some of Scotland's industrial railway heritage, especially that of Ayrshire and south-west Scotland.
The NCB railway system at Waterside in the Doon Valley was one of the largest private systems in Scotland, and was also one of the last places where steam could be seen at work. As such it became something of a Mecca for steam enthusiasts after the end of steam on BR. When it also closed down in 1978, the ARPG was determined to preserve at least a part of it.
In 1976, coal production ceased at Minnivey. Pennyvenie, the last deep mine in the area, closed in 1978, when the railway also closed. The Dunaskin to Minnivey line was lifted in 1980, although interestingly, the section between Minnivey and Pennyvenie was left in situ. Dunaskin continued to take opencast coal from the area until 1986. In 1988 Chalmerston, close to Minnivey, was opened for opencast working, and the line was re-laid.
The ARPG took over the lease of the derelict site at Minnivey in 1980, by which time little of the original infrastructure remained.
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Please also note that the position on Google maps for Scottish Industrial Railway Centre is a rough estimate using their postcode in the database and might be slightly out.
It may also be worth clicking the web link for Scottish Industrial Railway Centre to see if there are any special events coming up or currently on.
