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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Alexander Smail

The creepy abandoned Scotland train station with a tragic history

Scotland is home to many well-known creepy locations, from derelict castles to the vaults underneath Edinburgh. Even so, there are a lot of eerie spots you may never have heard of.

Take one abandoned train station in Glasgow, for example. You may be unaware that the city had a Botanic Gardens railway station that was closed decades ago.

The station in the Kelvinside area of the city was first opened by the Caledonian Railway Company in August 1896, more than 120 years ago. The platforms and railway are beneath the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, hence the name.

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

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

The high level of 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 train station has been abandoned for decades (graham.james.campbell)

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.

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. 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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