BALLOCHNEY, a village, in that part of the parish
of New-Monkland which formed the quoad sacra
parish of Clarkston, Middle ward of the county of
Lanark; containing 559 inhabitants. This place, which
is situated in the southern part of the parish, in an important
coal and ironstone district, gives name to a line
of railway extending from it, for about four miles westward,
to the southern terminus of the Monkland and
Kirkintilloch, and the eastern terminus of the Glasgow
and Garnkirk, railroad. The capital of the company,
which was incorporated in 1 826, was originally £ 1 8,000 j
but power was acquired in the session of 1S35 to increase
it to £28,000; and by an act passed July 1, 1839,
the capital was further augmented to £70,000, for the
purpose of improving the line, which now has several
branches. In 1843 the company was empowered to increase
its capital to £110,000. An act was passed in
1S46 enabling it to improve the gauge of the rails; and in
1848 an act was obtained to amalgamate the Ballochney,
the Monkland and Kirkintilloch, and the Slamannan
railways.