Formation of The Railway
The Lanarkshire coal field, centred in Monkland, had a large and increasing industrial and domestic market in Glasgow, and to a lesser degree Edinburgh, but transport links restricted trade. The Monkland Canal, opened in 1794, had a near-monopoly of transport to Glasgow, and set its prices accordingly; so successful was its exploitation of the situation that it "for many years yielded a dividend of Cent. per cent ... arising solely on its tolls on coal".
A group of interested businessmen promoted the Monkland & Kirkintilloch Railway to link the coal pits and iron works to the Forth and Clyde Canal at Kirkintilloch. If coal and minerals were trans-shipped there, they could reach not only Glasgow, escaping the monopoly of the Monkland Canal but also Edinburgh.
The scheme obtained parliamentary authority on 17 May 1824.
The engineer was Thomas Grainger, in his first large undertaking. It was built to the track gauge of 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm), and as other 'coal railways' opened up in the area in connection with the line, this track gauge became established for their use.
Read more about this topic: Monkland And Kirkintilloch Railway
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