Yes, there used to be a railway station in Moffat!
By the 1870s, many people wanted to visit the spa town of Moffat. But the only way to get to Moffat was by horse and cart*. So, as you might have guessed, people decided that Moffat needed a railway.
Unfortunately, the Caledonian Railway decided not to build a line from their Beattock station to Moffat. So, as local people were certain that a railway connection would be very useful, they promoted the idea of a branch line. The Moffat Railway was incorporated in 1881 and the line opened in 1883. It was leased to the Caledonian Railway but then absorbed by them in 1889.
The line was only 3 km in length, and the journey took between four and six minutes. It carried goods as well as passengers. But, by the early 1950s, demand had dropped. Sadly, the last regular passenger train from Moffat was in 1954. Goods traffic continued and there was an enthusiasts’ rail tour in 1964. Shortly afterwards, the line was closed and then torn up.
The station and goods shed were demolished but an embankment, the abutments of a railway bridge, a short section of platform and the station toilets are still there. Also there, are some panels in the park fencing, with images of the last train from Moffat.
*The first car in the UK, the Dogcart, was made by Arrol-Johnson in 1897; in 1913 they moved to a purpose-built, American designed factory in Dumfries.
