page_title: Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway
section_title: Extending to Gourock
hierarchical_section_title: Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway / History / Extending to Gourock
caption_attribution_description: Strathclyde Partnership for Transport British Rail Class 318 train 318261 at Greenock West railway station, Creenock
context_page_description: The Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway was an early Scottish railway, opened in 1841, providing train services between Greenock and Glasgow. At the time the River Clyde was not accessible to sea-going ships, and the intention was to compete with river boats that brought goods to and from the city. In fact passenger traffic proved surprisingly buoyant, and connecting steamer services to island resorts in the Firth of Clyde provided a very great source of business.
  The GP&GR merged with the larger Caledonian Railway in 1851.
  The Greenock station was not alongside the steamer berths and as the trade developed, this became a significant disadvantage. The independent Greenock and Wemyss Bay Railway built a branch line to a pier at Wemyss Bay, giving much closer access to Rothesay, and in 1889 the Greenock line itself was extended to Gourock. The work involved the building of Newton Street Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in Scotland.
  The line between Glasgow and Greenock and Gourock is active at the present day.
context_section_description: In 1841 the Greenock station in Cathcart Street had seemed perfect, but as the Clyde steamer trade developed, its location had become a disadvantage; relations with the Wemyss Bay company were often difficult. The Caledonian Railway had purchased land at Gourock in 1869. It was only 3 miles (5 km) from Greenock by land but considerably more convenient for shipping; the Caledonian had ideas of making a transatlantic ocean terminal at Gourock and in 1878 attempted to get Parliamentary approval, but this was rejected.
  The Caledonian revised its intentions, and concentrated on the competitive advantage of Gourock for the Firth of Clyde steamer traffic. Parliamentary authorisation was obtained on 28 July 1884. Although the extent of new railway was short, a long tunnel was required: Newton Street Tunnel became the longest railway tunnel in Scotland, at 2,110 yards (1,929 m), costing £620,000. Greenock station was renamed Greenock Central. 
  Adjacent to the Cathcart Street station, the old Wester Greenock castle and Mansion House were demolished before taking a tunnel under their grounds in Well Park. The line then runs in deep cuttings to Greenock West where it enters the tunnel under Newton Street: when the street turns uphill becoming Lyle Road, the tunnel curves behind the Mariners Home to emerge near Fort Matilda station. Spoil from the tunnel and cuttings was used for landfill out from Gourock's Shore Street to the long new steamboat wharf which extended 0.5 miles (0.80 km) along the bay, beside the station. The extension opened on 1 June 1889, with the first train departing at 05:25 and the first arrival from Glasgow at 07:20.
  Now the Wemyss Bay company once again took offence, for the Gourock steamer connection would deprive them of traffic. However terms for acquisition of the Wemyss Bay company by the Caledonian Railway were agreed in August 1889. Parliamentary authority was required for this, and there was some delay in obtaining it, but the two companies now acted in concert until the necessary Act was passed on 27 July 1893.
caption: Looking up Newton Street over Greenock West railway station.
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