The summit is the highest point on the
Caledonian Railway Main Line north of the border (built by the
Caledonian Railway and opened on 15 February 1848), it is located 52 miles (83 km) south of
Glasgow Central and 349 miles (558 km) north of
London Euston stations. It is 62 miles (100 km) north of the second highest point on the WCML -
Shap Summit in
Cumbria. The northbound climb has a ascent, with
gradients of up to 1 in 69 (1
foot of rising or falling gradient for every 69 feet of distance) which made it a notoriously severe climb in the days of
steam locomotives, which frequently required
banking assistance to get their trains up the incline. There was an engine shed at
Beattock which had banking locomotives on standby twenty-four hours per day to minimise train delays. The railway was
electrified in 1974 by
British Rail. 1966 {{Rail line ==See also==