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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Alexander Smail & David McLean

Glasgow's abandoned 'ghost' railway station and its tragic history

From all of Glasgow's many abandoned and derelict sites, there is one beneath our feet that really gives us the chills.

In the Kelvinside area of the city, there's a 'ghost' station that's lain asleep since the 1930s. It was opened more than 120 years ago by the Caledonian Railway Company in August 1896, and its platforms and railway lines are situated beneath the Glasgow Botanic Gardens - hence the name.

Designed by notable Scottish architect James Miller, the Botanic Gardens railway station was a well-known landmark in the city. While it was in operation, Glaswegians often referred to it as 'The Kremlin' due to its unusual onion-shaped chimney domes.

READ MORE: Footage shows abandoned Glasgow shopping precinct as it prepares for demolition

The station closed temporarily between 1917 and 1919 due to the First World War. But even after reopening, the station was never particularly popular with passengers.

The high levels of noxious smoke and soot encouraged locals to make use of other modes of transportation and it was eventually closed for good in 1939. The line itself followed not long after, closing in 1964.

But this isn't the end of the tragic story of the station.

The platforms and tunnels were left to rot and soon fell into a state of decay. Nevertheless, the station itself lived on as a local hub, being converted into shops soon after its closure.

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In the following years, it became home to Glasgow institutions such as The Silver Slipper café and the Sgt. Peppers nightclub, as well as a plumbers shop. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in 1970.

The station building was ravaged by a fire during a 'Battle of the Bands' competition at Sgt. Peppers' on March 22 of that year. While no humans were injured, The Silver Slipper's owner's dog sadly lost its life due to smoke inhalation.

The damage caused by the fire was so severe the decision was made to tear down the building. It was not redeveloped, leaving the site abandoned.

Nowadays, the station's platforms and tunnels are unrecognisable from what they once were, covered in overgrowth and graffiti. The site has been popular with explorers, though is considered dangerous to enter.

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