31st July 1845

The Caledonian Railway is founded

The Caledonian Railway was established in 1845, and opened its first line, between Glasgow and Carlisle, via Edinburgh, three years later. On arriving at Carlisle, passengers could change to connecting services for London.

Over subsequent years, its network was significantly extended, eventually encompassing Aberdeen, through a combination of investment, leasing lines, and acquiring other railway companies. The company also signed agreements with various steamer companies, which would allow it to sell tickets that combined train and ship journeys to link Scotland’s cities and islands.

Quintinshill crash

In 1915, five trains were involved in head-on collisions on the Caledonian Railway at Quintinshill. More than 220 died, and close to 250 were injured in the British network’s worst ever railway accident.

The Caledonian Railway became part of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway when Britain’s rail companies were rationalised in the early 1920s.

 

 

Other events that occured in July

  • 01

    The Higgs Boson is discovered
    Peter Higgs proposed the existence of an unknown particle that gave matter mass at the University of Edinburgh.

  • 02

    Madame Ecosse is born in Glasgow
    Winnie Ewing was nicknamed Madame Ecosse by European politicians when she was elected to the European Parliament secured funding for Scotland.

  • 03

    Designer Robert Adam is born
    Robert Adam's works include Edinburgh’s Royal Exchange, the Old College of the University of Edinburgh, and Osterley Park in London

  • 04

    Paraffin Young dies at Wemyss Bay
    Glasgow-born James Young invented paraffin when he discovered a way to distil oil from coal in July 1883.

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