The Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway started negotiations in 1844 to take over the various Monkland coal railways; and at the same time they applied for permission to change to the gauge of the track to standard [REF].
The Slamannan Railway, together with the Ballochney Railway and the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway obtained authorisation to change to standard gauge and completed the process on 26 July and 27 July 1847 [REF].