Laigh Milton Viaduct - Traditions and Micro History

Traditions and Micro History

The Duke of Portland, hearing of George Stephenson's work with steam engines at Killingworth in the north east of England, invited him to demonstrate one of his locomotives on the railway. In 1816/7 the locomotive, named The Duke, was set on the rails near Kilmarnock station, close to the now demolished Kilmarnock House, and was driven by Robert Stephenson. Although the engine proved itself, it was too heavy (5 tons) for the cast-iron track. Wooden wheels were tried and were more successful. Sprocket-wheels on the driving axles also caused problems by digging up the pathway for horses which was raised up between the rails. An eye witness had commented upon the ease and grace by which the huge machine snorted along the line. On the day James and Robert Hood were "the first to fire the first iron horse, who eats coals instead of corn, in Scotland". The old coach-house of Kilmarnock House was turned into a coal store, being only four hundred yards from the tramway. The locomotive The Duke is also said to have later been sold on for £70. The modified Duke according to Mackintosh, retired in 1848, ended her days at Gargieston shed where she was eventually broken up for scrap.

The Portland Bridge at Kings Mill Viaduct of 1817–19 is believed to be the oldest railway viaduct (as distinct from a single-span bridge) in England, and the fourth oldest railway bridge of any kind in the United Kingdom. The three known older examples are Causey Arch in County Durham (1727), Ticknall Tramway Bridge, Derbyshire (1802) and Laigh Milton Viaduct (1811). The engineer of the second and third of these was William Jessop.

The Dick Institute holds a number of interesting artefacts, such as a map of the original proposed route of the railway, a model of The Duke, a painting of passenger and coal trains, details of the track in section, and so on.

The viaduct has gone by several alternative names, such as Gateside Viaduct, Drybridge Viaduct, West Gatehead Viaduct or even the 'wet bridge', as distinct from the nearby 'Drybridge'.

One story redolent of its era is that of a 'professional class' couple, Mr. & Mrs. Barker from England who committed suicide in Victorian times (24 October 1844) by tying themselves together and jumping from Laigh Milton Viaduct into the Irvine, which has a depth of only around three feet at this point. They were buried in the Kilmaurs-Glencairn churchyard in an unmarked grave. They are known to have spent a few weeks in lodgings and apparently enjoyed the 'sights and sounds' of Ayrshire. It transpired that they had recently become bankrupt and were fearful of the shame and disgrace that poverty would inevitably bring.

Gatehead railway station was situated nearby, in the village of that name. It closed on 3 March 1969. Gatehead is likely to be named from the Turnpike road and the tool bar. A 'Gatehead Toll Bar' is still marked on the road down to Laigh Milton mill and the Craig house estate on the 1860 OS map.

A hamlet called 'Milton' is marked on the 1821 and 1828 maps, but the name is not marked on the 1860 and the more recent OS maps.

The remains of the supports to the wooden viaduct at Laigh Milton can still be seen in the river Irvine when the water is exceptionally low.

The remains of the old Drybridge railway station and the village of the same name are nearby. The name 'Drybridge' comes from the fact that most bridges up until the era of the railways were built over watercourses and were therefore 'wet bridges'. A 'Dry bridge' was such a novelty that the name has survived ever since. This part of the railway is still active as the part of the Glasgow South Western Line (and officially known as the 'Burns Line') running from Kilmarnock to Troon.

The line closed to passengers in the late 1960s but today (2008) carries Stranraer to Newcastle and Glasgow to Girvan local passenger trains, although there are no stations open along its course. Coal trains also use this route.