Stobo railway station

Former railway station in Scotland

55°36′45″N 3°18′53″W / 55.6125°N 3.3146°W / 55.6125; -3.3146Grid referenceNT1729336224Platforms2Other informationStatusDisusedHistoryOpened1 February 1864; 160 years ago (1864-02-01)Closed6 June 1950; 74 years ago (1950-06-06)Original companyCaledonian RailwayPre-groupingCaledonian RailwayPost-groupingLMSKey dates7 June 1954Closed to goods traffic

Stobo railway station was a railway station in the Borders east of Biggar, serving the hamlet of Stobo; a rural community within the Parish of Stobo.

History

The Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway (S,B&BR) opened part of the line, however the extension to Peebles via Stobo was built by the Caledonian Railway once it had absorbed the S,B&BR.

Stobo station was opened in 1864. The "Tinto Express" was run by along this line from Peebles to Edinburgh to compete with the North British Railway's "Peebles-shire Express" which ran via Leadburn. The Caledonian route was longer and the company countered by emphasising the quality of their service.

The passenger station closed in 1950^[1] and the station has been converted into a private home; the platforms are no longer visible. The goods yard has been used as a site for new housing.

Stobo was opened by the Caledonian Railway and in 1923 it became part of the London Midland and Scottish Railway at the Grouping, passing on to the Scottish Region of British Railways following the 1948 nationalisation of the railways. It was closed by the British Railways Board.

A neat rubble-built goods shed had two arched cart loading bays. The small scale of all the buildings reflects the limited traffic expected from this deeply rural part of old Peebles-shire, however the goods yard on the OS map is shown with several sidings.

The passenger service on this very rural line was an early victim of road competition.

The stylish station buildings reflect the fact that the station served nearby Stobo Castle and Dawyck House.