page_title: Kilsyth and Bonnybridge railway
section_title: Authorisation
hierarchical_section_title: Kilsyth and Bonnybridge railway / History / Authorisation
caption_attribution_description: English: System map of the Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Railway, Scotland, 1888
context_page_description: The Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Railway was a railway line in central Scotland, built to exploit the mineral extractive industries in the area; it opened in 1888. A passenger service was run, but bus competition overwhelmed it after 1920 and the passenger service closed in 1935. The goods and mineral traffic continued, but it was dependent on the industries it served, and when they declined so did the business on the railway; it closed in 1964 and none of it is now in railway use.
context_section_description: The industrial potential of the tract of land between Kilsyth and Denny was attractive for exploitation. At this period there was intense rivalry between the North British Railway and the Caledonian Railway, and any proposed construction into the competitor's territory might result in hostile and costly reprisals. At length an independent concern was promoted to build a line closing the gap.
  The Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Railway was authorised by Act of Parliament on 10 August 1882, with capital of £130,000. The line was to run from the Kelvin Valley Railway at Kilsyth to Bonnywater Junction on the Caledonian's Denny branch.
  Evidently the proprietors had second thoughts, for in 1885 they decided to abandon the project. However they again changed their mind and continued with the construction.
  Although the terrain was relatively easy, the line was not constructed speedily, and in fact the Caledonian Railway built a short branch line to Bonnybridge in the meantime, opening in 1886. However the Caledonian's Bonnybridge terminus was on the south side of the Forth and Clyde Canal, limiting its usefulness. On 12 July 1887 the K&BR obtained a further Act authorising either the NBR or the Caledonian Railway to work the line.
caption: System map of the Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Railway