I was brought up on the outskirts of Newarthill and when I was a kid my little gang and I used to go 'exploring' in the fields and woods between Newarthill/Bellside/Cleland/Carfin and beyond.
Now this 20 years ago (early to mid eighties) and my memory of it is vague but I'm pretty sure there an overgrown and abandoned railway line in the area (i think just beyond Cleland) it had reasonably steep embankments at either side (then wooded) but the sleepers and rails were still there (at least in parts but was overgrown and obviously hadn't been used for a while).
I also seem to remember a large tunnel there although it's possible I'm getting it mixed up with the still-in-use tunnel between Carfin and Cleland on the Glasgow - Edinburgh line.
I also remember a ruined building with a large iron tank or boiler. Could this have been used to 'water' steam trains?
Anyone know about abandoned or 'lost' rail lines in this area? I know the area was pitted with coal mines and perhaps the rail lines I 'remember' are to do with these. I'd appreciate any information to confirm I'm not imagining it and it really was there!