BUITTLE RAILWAY STATION.
About 1864 a railway halt was opened in Buittle, midway between
Castle-Douglas and Dalbeattie. It consisted of a siding, "chiefly for stock
and goods and for the convenience of people attending Dumfries Market on
Wednesdays." It closed again in 1894, but the houses remained, and were
occupied by railway employees until they were demolished in the early 1960's.
The following are old photographs taken at Buittle Station.
 The
first image is taken from the road between West Logan and Milton. The railway
cottages can be seen on the right, and the road turns off to the left under the
bridge which carried the railway line between Dalbeattie and Castle Douglas.
(circa. mid 1950's)
This photograph was taken outside one of the cottages. There were four
houses in total, each semi-detached. This view is at the one furthest away from
the road. The elderly couple on the right are Harry and Janet Bell (nee Barton),
my grandparents, who lived at the station for many years. (circa. 1960)
This final image is taken from a newspaper cutting
which came into my possession. I do not know the date, but it's accompanied by
the following caption. "An appeal
in the 'News' a few months ago for a photograph of the old railway cottages at
the former Buittle Halt has resulted in the above picture being sent all the way
from Australia.
It comes from Mrs. Nan Siminow, nee Johnstone, who was brought up at one of the
four cottages at the halt, which was mid way between Dalbeattie and Castle
Douglas, on the old Dumfries to Stranraer Paddy Line.
A copy of the picture, thought to be of Mrs. Siminow's father William, who was a
surfaceman, has been sent on to Mr. J Stewart in Canada who made the original
request through local history researcher Mrs. Eva Adamson.
Mrs. Adamson told the 'News' that she had heard from several people who
remembered the old railway cottages but none had pictures and she had almost
given up hope when the photograph arrived. Like Mrs. Siminow, Mr Stewart had
also been brought up at Buittle Halt, and Mrs. Adamson thinks the two families
must have been there round about the same time"
The 'News' refers to The Galloway News. The railway
line was known locally as the 'Paddy' line because it carried the Irish Mail
train. The information extracted from the Old
Post Office Directory, of 1921/2, reproduced elsewhere in these pages shows
both Thomas Stewart, surfaceman, and William Johnstone, surfaceman, resident at
Buittle Railway Cottages at that time.
The following is also from a newspaper cutting dated 25th July 1894:
CLOSING OF BUITTLE MILL - It will be seen from an
advertisement that, consequent upon the opening of the double line between Dalbeattie and Castle Douglas, Buittle Mill Station will
be closed after the 31st of this month.
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