Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway

The Castle Douglas and Dumfries Railway was a single-track railway in Scotland, opened in 1862 as part of the Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Railway. It connected Dumfries to Castle Douglas, serving the region's agricultural economy and later supporting industries like coal mining and ironstone quarrying. The line included challenging terrain with steep gradients and curves, necessitating the use of powerful locomotives.

Key stations along the route were Maxwelltown (closed 1939), Lochanhead (closed 1939), Killywhan (closed 1959), Kirkgunzeon (closed 1950), Southwick (closed 1965), Dalbeattie (closed 1965), Buittle (closed 1894), and Castle Douglas. The line was significant for transporting goods, including coal, ironstone, and agricultural products.

A notable event was the Dalbeattie accident in 1874, a collision between a GSWR ballast train and a Caledonian Railway goods train, resulting in three fatalities. Despite being a single-line operation with time-interval working, the accident highlighted safety issues.

The railway faced decline during the mid-20th century due to competition from road transport and reduced passenger demand. Most of the line was closed under Dr. Beeching's rationalization scheme in 1965, except for a section near Dumfries serving an oil depot, which remained operational until 1994.

The railway played a vital role in the region's economy but eventually succumbed to changes in transportation infrastructure.