 In 1858 the Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway (GD&HR) opened its line from the E&GR at Cowlairs, on the north-east of Glasgow, looping round to the north and running north of the Clyde to Dumbarton and on to Helensburgh.The circuit round the north of Glasgow was a roundabout route but it succeeded in connecting Dunbartonshire into the railway network.The company was absorbed by the E&GR in 1862 and the E&GR was itself absorbed to form the North British Railway in 1865.