IRVINE AND KILWINNING

Irvine has a small harbour, still busy today.

We're still in A1 and AA territory. A former member of the AA Group (Tumulty) had a depot in Irvine. (Les Flint)

AA (Dodd's) continued to serve the town of Irvine.

By 1998, Stagecoach had taken over, but only a few obvious signs in this photo.

Now for two photos taken at one of the A1 depots in Irvine.

Like AA, Stagecoach took over A1 Services and the stripes had appeared by 1995.

Now it's 1998 and the A1 blue livery had reappeared (though it's gone since).

Stagecoach Western SMT also served Irvine.

About three miles to the north is Kilwinning. Here's the remains of the abbey (Creative Commons License).

Kilwinnng Cross (Creative Commons License).

The Eglington Ironworks was once at Kilwinning. All gone now. This Scottish built Barclay loco served here.

Kilwinning is a junction on the Glasgow to Ayr and Stranraer line, with the Ardrossan/Largs line branching off. This is looking towards Glasgow from the Ardrossan branch platforms. Semaphore signals still controlled things then.

In 1982 an Ayr bound DMU calls.

37253 comes in the opposite direction.

By 1987, the semaphores had gone and both lines had been electrified.

A1 Services passed Kilwinnng on a frequent timetable.

 

Now it's 1996 and Stagecoach is in charge.

Clyde Coast was running an infrequent service through Kilwinning in 1993.

A short-lived stage carriage operator, Bennett's, had a depot here.

Another local company, Shuttle Bus, based in Kilwinning, ran a few services.

All this transport interest is making me thirsty. Time for a pint of Maclays in the Victoria Bar.

We move ever northwards in the next post. Follow the trail here.