Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway

Introduction

Portions of this line remain open between Duddingston and Millerhill and between Leith and Portobello. The line was known as the 'Innocent Railway'. Various explanations for this exist, perhaps the most likely is that it was an early railway and run on an ad hoc basis, the company and operators making up rules and procedures as they went along. It was built to convey domestic coal into Edinburgh, horses drawing the wagons. The Borders Railway (Network Rail) has re-opened a further portion between Sherriffhall and Dalhousie. The portion of the line still in use is supported and promoted by the Borders Railway Community Rail Partnership .

Why built

This line was built to convey coal from pits and existing waggonways around Dalkeith to Edinburgh. In addition there were branches to the port of Leith and harbour at Fisherrow. The four routes met at Niddrie. The Fisherrow branch opened with the main line and was probably for importing fish and exporting excess coal production. Leith is much lower than Edinburgh and this provided a more gentle approach to the sea. Fisherrow was no doubt inadequate and exporting coal required train reversals and before long the Leith branch was conceived.

Service

Until 2002 the remaining portion of the line was used by freight only to access Millerhill Marshalling Yard. From 2002 the portion between Niddrie South Junction and a new station and turnback siding at Newcraighall carried a passenger service from Edinburgh Waverley via Portobello and Brunstane.

In 2015 the Borders Railway (Network Rail) (the northern part of the former Waverley Route) opened to carry carried passenger trains from Newcraighall via a new portion of line to Sherrifhall [2nd] where the original trackbed was reached, the line continuing south to Galashiels and Tweedbank.

The new Millerhill Deviation (Network Rail) runs between Newcraighall and Sherrifhall [2nd] using an alignment further west as the route via the Millerhill Marshalling Yard will not be reinstated. The construction of the Edinburgh City Bypass on the level via a long oblique over the solum of the closed line precluded this. The road was relocated to allow a new bridge to be built for the diversion and the bypass relocated onto the new bridge.

The branch to Leith South Yard is open to freight, used until 2013 for conveying imported coal from the docks for use at Cockenzie Power Station. There is currently (2020) no traffic.



Dates

26/05/1826Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Act receives Royal assent.
  /  /1831Edmonstone Waggonway
Partly closed, part linked to Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway.
04/07/1831Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Opened from St Leonards to Craighall.
  /10/1831Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Opened throughout.
  /10/1831Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Fisherrow branch opened.
21/01/1832Marquis of Lothians Waggonway
Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway line extended from Dalhousie by this line to various pits. Initially the line ran eastwards after crossing the South Esk to Bryans Pit. A branch (Arniston Branch (Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway)) was added south to Newbyres Colliery. A much later line was from Bryans Pit which ran south to Lingerwood Mine and northwards to Easthouses Pit (Newbattle Collieries Railway).
02/06/1832Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Passenger shuttle service started from St Leonards to Dalhousie by other company along the railway.
  /  /1834Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Edinburgh and Dalkeith set up own passenger service.
  /  /1836Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Edinburgh and Dalkeith take over all other passenger services.
  /  /1838Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Leith (South Leith) branch opened.
  /  /1839Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Dalkeith branch opened. It connected to the Duke of Buccleuch's Tramway, owned by Walter Francis Montagu Douglas Scott the Duke of Buccleuch's, which served collieries at Smeaton (Smeaton Colliery) and Cowden (Cowdenfoot Colliery).
21/07/1845Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway North British Railway
Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway merged with the North British Railway.
  /  /1846Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Route re-gauged to standard gauge.
  /  /1846Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Fisherrow branch modified to branch off North British Railway.
  /  /1846Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Original Fisherrow branch from Niddrie connected to North British Railway to form Niddrie to Monktonhall link.
  /  /1847Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
St Leonards closed to passengers.
  /  /1847Musselburgh Branch (North British Railway)Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Musselburgh branch opened and Fisherrow closed to passengers.
  /07/1847Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Dalhousie renamed South Esk.
14/07/1847Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
New line from Portobello (Hawick Junction) to Niddrie South Junction opened, Niddrie to South Esk re-gauged. The Arniston Branch (Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway) was replaced by a new alignment further west.
  /  /1849Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Original route between Portobello and Niddrie closed.
20/02/1849Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Millerhill station opened.
04/07/1855Peebles Railway
Opened from Hardengreen Junction (Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway) to Peebles [1st]. Stations opened at; Hawthornden, Roslin [1st], Penicuik [1st], Leadburn, Eddleston and Peebles [1st].
  /  /1856Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Doubling of South Leith branch begins.
  /  /1858Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Completion of doubling of South Leith branch.
01/06/1860Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
St Leonards re-opened to passengers.
30/09/1860Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
St Leonards re-closed to passengers.
01/02/1869Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Second station at Niddrie [2nd] closed.
31/07/1870Macmerry Branch (North British Railway)
Connection from Hardengreen Junction (Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway) to Smeaton (Macmerry Branch) opened.
09/05/1872Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Hardengreen Junction to Hawthornden Junction (on the Peebles Railway) doubled.
06/11/1873Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Edinburgh Loanhead and Roslin Railway opened from Millerhill Junction. (Or 23 July 1874.)
  /  /1881Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Leith New Lines (Caledonian Railway)
Leith Edinburgh Dock, rail served, opened.
02/01/1905Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
South Leith closed to passengers.
01/08/1908Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
South Esk station closed.
01/05/1933Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway (Glencorse to Millerhill) closed to passengers.
  /  /1934Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Hardengreen Junction to Smeaton lifted, except for a short stub at Hardengreen Junction.
05/01/1942Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Dalkeith to Millerhill (Glenesk Junction) closed to passengers.
  /  /1954Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Eskbank [1st] renamed Eskbank and Dalkeith.
07/11/1955Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Millerhill station closed.
09/06/1958Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
Edinburgh Waverley to Edinburgh Waverley via the outer circle and then on to Rosewell and Hawthornden service introduced using Class 100 DMUs.
09/06/1958Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
Musselburgh [1st] to Edinburgh Waverley then via the inner circle to return to Edinburgh Waverley service introduced using Class 100 DMUs.
02/10/1961Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Fisherrow closed to freight.
18/06/1962Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways)
Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways) opened.
10/09/1962Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
Portobello (Niddrie North Junction) to Morningside Road to Edinburgh (Haymarket Central Junction) closed to passengers.
10/09/1962Edinburgh and Dalkeith RailwayEdinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
Niddrie North Junction to Haymarket Central Junction via Duddingston Junction closed to passengers. Remains open for freight and diverted passenger trains.
10/08/1964Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Dalkeith to Millerhill (Glenesk Junction) closed to freight
07/09/1964Musselburgh Branch (North British Railway) Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Musselburgh [2nd] to Joppa (Newhailes Junction) closed to passengers.
22/07/1968Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
St Leonards closed to freight.
  /08/1968Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
St Leonards to Duddingston Junction closed.
06/01/1969Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) Border Union Railway (North British Railway) Carlisle and Port Carlisle Railway and Dock
Edinburgh (Portobello East Junction) to Hawick [2nd] to Carlisle (Port Carlisle Junction) closed to passengers. Newtongrange [1st], Gorebridge, Tynehead, Heriot, Fountainhall, Stow, Galashiels [1st], Melrose, St Boswells, Hassendean, Hawick [2nd], Stobs, Shankend, Riccarton Junction, Steele Road, Newcastleton stations closed.
28/06/1972Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Line closed between Newtongrange (Newbattle Coal Stocking Site known as Butlerfield), and Millerhill Junction (excluded). The Millerhill Yard Carlisle Arrival Sidings at Millerhill and a short section south remained, used by trains rounding the Monktonhall Curve to access Millerhill Yard Down Arrival Sidings.
06/09/1972Musselburgh Branch (North British Railway) Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Musselburgh to Joppa (Newhailes Junction) closed to freight. (Alternative dates: 1971, 7/12/1970).
26/02/1982Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Baileyfield Switch and Crossing Works opened. (The original Baileyfield Switch and Crossing Works was opened here by the North British Railway in 1905. It closed in 1980 for rebuilding.)
  /  /1983Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways)
Millerhill Yard Down Sorting Sidings lifted.
  /05/1989Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Monktonhall Colliery to Millerhill Junction (excluded) closed.
05/06/1989Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Bilston Glen Colliery to Millerhill Junction (excluded) closed. (But would re-open to clear stocks.)
  /  /1990Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Depot to south of Millerhill Junction falls out of use. Track is now buckled and useless.
  /  /1993Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Stub of Edinburgh Loanhead and Roslin Railway from Bilston Glen Colliery to Millerhill Junction (excluded) closed.
  /  /1997Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Millerhill Junction to Monktonhall Colliery closed.
  /06/2000Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Strategic Rail Authority to contribute £800,000 towards the operation of Edinburgh CrossRail - a half hour service from west of Edinburgh through Haymarket and Edinburgh Waverley to new stations at Brunstane and Kinnaird Park (Newcraighall). The Scottish Executive has commited £8M.
04/12/2001Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Tree-planting ceremony marks the site-start at Newcraighall. Construction of Newcraighall and Brunstane stations on the Edinburgh CrossRail scheme commences.
03/06/2002Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Portobello Junction to Newcraighall (north of Millerhill) re-opened to passengers with stations at; Brunstane, Newcraighall.

Route described

The main line, a double track, ran from Edinburgh St Leonards through a tunnel and along an incline and then east to Niddrie and then south through Eskbank (near Dalkeith) to South Esk.

There were branches to Leith and Fisherrow from Niddrie.

Stations were located at the termini and at Niddrie. Locations where passengers could be picked up or dropped were located elsewhere.


Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Edinburgh to South Esk

Double track throughout.

A notable early passenger, goods and minerals terminus in Edinburgh - Edinburgh's first station and was located to the south east of the Old Town. The station was probably not called St Leonards in the early days, it would be the Edinburgh terminus of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway. At first trains were horse drawn. The primary purpose was to bring coal to Edinburgh from pits to the south ...

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A National Transport Trust red wheel plaque on the St Leonards goods warehouse of the 'Innocent Railway', Edinburgh's first.
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John Yellowlees 12/07/2021
Debs Newman and Rob Carpenter of the Holyrood Distillery unveiling the Red Wheel yesterday. This was a warehouse of the Edinburgh & Dalkeith Railway ...
John Yellowlees 26/11/2021
The western entrance to St Leonards in January 2008 with St Leonards Lane running past the site on the left. At this time the large former goods shed ...
John Furnevel 01/01/2008
Part of Edinburghs former St Leonards terminus as it was on a wet New Years Day in 2008. Housing developments had by this time claimed much of the old ...
John Furnevel 01/01/2008
4 of 18 images. more


This disused single bore and single track tunnel runs from the bonded warehousing at the east end of the St Leonards station site east to 'Samson's Ribs', a rock feature on the south side of Arthur' Seat. The tunnel is 572 yards long.
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The west portal of the 1831 St Leonards Tunnel in 2008 looking towards Duddingston Junction, with the site of the former Edinburgh and Dalkeith ...
John Furnevel 02/01/2008
Sheltered spot. The south portal of St Leonards Tunnel provides some useful cover as a shower of rain sweeps across Holyrood Park on 2 January 2008. ...
John Furnevel 02/01/2008
Non-locals may find it hard to believe we are less than 2 miles from the heart of Edinburgh - and looking towards it. The Edinburgh and Dalkeith's ...
David Panton 02/07/2019
Arriving at the north portal of St Leonards tunnel (320m) on 2 January 2008, just short of the site of the former Edinburgh & Dalkeith Railway ...
John Furnevel 02/01/2008
4 of 7 images. more


Just west of the former Cairntows Level Crossing the closed line to St Leonards crosses the Braid Burn by a single span cast iron bridge. The bridge, cast at the Shotts Iron Works is 'B' listed.
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See also
Shotts Iron Co


This level crossing was named for a farm formerly to the south of the level crossing.
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The cyclist has just left Duddingston Road West and is heading north west along the trackbed of the line to St Leonards (the so-called Innocent ...
John Furnevel 06/08/2017
Looking west towards St Leonards at Duddingston. ...
Ewan Crawford //
Former level crossing at Duddingston on The Innocent Railway in 2004. View west across Duddingston Road towards Holyrood Park and the tunnel to ...
John Furnevel 10/11/2004
3 of 3 images.




This junction was directly east of Duddingston station. It was formed in 1884 between the 1831 Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway and the Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway.
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See also
Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
Class 47 no 1606 westbound on the 'Sub' between Niddrie West and Duddingston Junctions with an unidentified train of oil tanks on 4 February 1970.
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Bill Jamieson 04/02/1970
Class 47 no 1737 on the 09.55 Bathgate - Kings Norton heading west along the Sub near Duddingston Junction on 4 February 1970.
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Bill Jamieson 04/02/1970
Duddingston Junction signal box, photographed shortly after closure in June 1969.
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Bill Jamieson //1969
St Margarets V3 2-6-2T no 67668 at Duddingston Junction on 25 August 1962. The locomotive had brought the Stephenson Locomotive Society (Scottish ...
R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 25/08/1962
4 of 5 images. more








This is a location identified as a possible location for the E&DR's Niddrie station. It is unlikely as this was not at the point of divergence of the South Esk and Fisherrow lines, not shown on the NBR prospectus map and west of the point of divergence of the Leith line, opened one year after the station (thus not served by the Leith branch which would have been wasteful).
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The remains of Niddrie West yard on 9 April 1982. The connection to NCB Niddrie Landsale Yard has recently been lifted and the signalbox has been ...
Bill Roberton 09/04/1982
A scene of dereliction at Niddrie West Yard in 1974 with Arthur's Seat dominating the background. Niddrie West signal box still stands over on the ...
Bill Roberton //1974
2 of 2 images.


This location has been identified as a possible location of the E&DR's Niddrie station. It was immediately east of the point of divergence between the lines to St Leonards and Leith.
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This junction is between the single track line from Portobello East Junction and the double track from Niddrie South Junction. The line runs west to Craiglockhart Junction round the Edinburgh Suburban line (the former Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway).
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Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
Lothian Lines (North British Railway)
An empty ballast train returning to Millerhill South Sidings on 1 July 2018 runs through Niddrie West Junction on the sub towards Brunstane. The ...
John Furnevel 01/07/2018
A Sunday morning ballast train returning from Cambuslang to Millerhill South Sidings on a bright and sunny autumn morning in October 2017. GBRf 66717 ...
John Furnevel 15/10/2017
A PW working conveying spoil and spent ballast on its way back to Millerhill from Carstairs on 10 September 2017. The train is seen here on the ...
John Furnevel 10/09/2017
Empty coaching stock used by ScotRail on the Fife Circle services approaching Niddrie West Junction on the morning of 11 August 2019 on its way from ...
John Furnevel 11/08/2019
4 of 110 images. more


This junction is in the south east of Edinburgh. It controls the junction between the Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank line and the goods only line from Slateford and Haymarket. It is a busy location with freight, passenger trains and depot traffic, made difficult by the single track line north to Portobello.
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Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways)
Lothian Lines (North British Railway)
An early Sunday morning PW train returning to Millerhill South Sidings in October 2017 carrying residual spoil and spent ballast. The train is ...
John Furnevel 15/10/2017
A Tweedbank service clears the junction on the approach to Newcraighall on 5 June. The feathers are for the connection with the Sub at Niddrie West, ...
David Panton 05/06/2018
Grab shot from a Waverley - Newcraighall train crossing a bridge on the approach to Niddrie South Junction (100m to the left) on 9 August 2013. View ...
John Furnevel 09/08/2013
The 0911 Edinburgh - Tweedbank approaching Niddrie South Junction shortly after leaving Brunstane on 10 June 2018. On the left is the line to Niddrie ...
John Furnevel 10/06/2018
4 of 9 images. more


This was the third station at Niddrie immediately south of Niddrie South Junction, on approximately the same site as Newcraighall station. A station building - a goods station after closure to passengers - was on the north side of Whitehill Road. The southern elevation of this still exists, incorporated into the bridge abutment retaining wall.
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An advertising hoarding has recently been removed (which is unusual) revealing the remains of the third and last Niddrie station, which must have been ...
David Panton 22/05/2021
The remains of Niddrie (3rd) Station in 1976, looking south.
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Bill Roberton //1976
The three early and short-lived Niddrie stations were close to each other though not to Niddrie itself; they would today be deemed to be in ...
David Panton 17/09/2019
The 1864 Niddrie station was very close to the original Edinburgh & Dalkeith one - more or less at Niddrie South Junction. Even this one was goods ...
David Panton 05/06/2018
4 of 4 images.


This is a single platform station located between Niddrie South Junction and Newcraighall North Junction where the Millerhill Deviation (Network Rail) leaves the alignment of the original Waverley Route.
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Borders Railway (Network Rail)
66738 nears Newcraighall with the Mossend - Doncaster Iport containers. There were only two empty spaces on this lengthy train. ...
Bill Roberton 06/07/2023
170 413 calls with the 13.10 from Edinburgh to Tweedbank. ...
Bill Roberton 06/07/2023
First ScotRail 158710 seen shortly after arrival at Newcraighall in October 2007 with a terminating service from Bathgate. The DMU is in the process ...
John Furnevel 08/10/2007
Coal empties heading north out of Millerhill Yard on 13 February 2002 about to pass a busy Newcraighall station. Those on the platform are all members ...
John Furnevel 13/02/2002
4 of 42 images. more


This is where the Borders Railway joins the alignment of the former Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway, today the lines serving Millerhill EGIP Depot and the goods loop serving the remains of Millerhill Marshalling Yard off the East Coast Main Line.
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385 024 veers left into the EMU yard. The Borders Railway is on the right. ...
Bill Roberton 06/07/2023
385 024 passes Newcraighall North Junction with an empty stock working from Edinburgh to Millerhill EMU yard. ...
Bill Roberton 06/07/2023
A Sunday morning service on the Borders Railway photographed passing through Newcraighall North Jinction on 24 September 2017. ...
John Furnevel 24/09/2017
A train conveying spoil and spent ballast passing Newcraighall North Junction on a bright and sunny Sunday morning in November 2002. The train is on ...
John Furnevel 05/11/2002
4 of 36 images. more


This new EMU Depot for EGIP was built on the site of the Millerhill Yard Up Sorting Sidings.
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Millerhill EMU Depot (Network Rail)
An empty stock movement from Millerhill depot about to join the 'main line' on 22 September 2019. Units 385006+385108 will then head for Waverley ...
John Furnevel 22/09/2019
Part of the northern section of the new ScotRail EMU depot at Millerhill on 12 November 2017. View is east across the running lines, with tracklaying ...
John Furnevel 12/11/2017
The new train washing plant at Millerhill on 6 August 2017, looking almost complete. ...
John Furnevel 06/08/2017
A class 385 empty stock movement leaving Millerhill EMU depot on the morning of 11 November 2018 to make its way to Waverley. The Millerhill freight ...
John Furnevel 11/11/2018
4 of 29 images. more


This is the junction between the Newcraighall North Junction to Monktonhall Junction route through the former Millerhill Yard and the Millerhill EGIP Depot, built partly on the site of the Millerhill MPD and the Millerhill Yard Up Sorting Sidings.
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Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways)
Coal empties for Ravenstruther and Hunterston seen looking south towards Millerhill Yard in October 2007. EWS 66200 has just been given the road with ...
John Furnevel 08/10/2007
A returning PW train destined for Millerhill south sidings runs through the yard past the refuelling and stabling point in the summer of 1997. ...
John Furnevel 16/07/1997
Dalzell - Lackenby flats running south through Millerhill yard late one afternoon in the autumn of 1996 behind a BR 'Metals Sector' liveried class 60 ...
John Furnevel 15/10/1996
Sunday morning activity at Millerhill on 22 January 2017 as Freightliner 66551 ambles through the yard. Works in connection with the new ScotRail EMU ...
John Furnevel 22/01/2017
4 of 5 images. more


Note the spelling Cairnie as per the nearby farm and cottages. This station was probably located either at Cairnie Cottage or near Adamsrow, a location now lost after the development of the Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways).
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The exact location of this short lived station is uncertain, being more a stopping place than a station. It was located on the original alignment of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway probably to the north of the A6106 overbridge.
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View west from the A6106 at Melville Gate on 22 February 2014 showing the original tunnel used by the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway. The replacement ...
John Furnevel 22/02/2014
View north towards the A6106 at Melville Gate on 22 February showing the tunnels used by the original E&D route towards Sheriffhall (left) and the ...
Ewan Crawford 22/02/2014
2 of 2 images.


This viaduct is also known as the North Esk Viaduct. It is a particularly attractive single arch bridge crossing the River North Esk at a height of 60 ft. The bridge dates from 1831 and currently carries a railway, formerly the Waverley Route which closed in 1969 as a through route and re-opened as the Borders Railway in 2015.
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ScotRail 158734 crossing Glenesk Viaduct on 6 July 2017 with the 1024 Edinburgh - Tweedbank. ...
John Furnevel 06/07/2017
ScotRail 158736 appears off the sweeping curve south from Kings Gate on the Borders line with a morning service to Tweedbank on 15 August 2019. The ...
John Furnevel 15/08/2019
The Edinburgh & Dalkeith Railway's Glenesk Viaduct, viewed from the west in February 2014. The 1830 single arch spanning the North Esk was in the ...
John Furnevel 22/02/2014
Taken around 1990, this shot shows the bridge at Glenesk with its metal bracing still in place. The viaduct then became part of a cycleway/walkway ...
Charlie Niven //1990
4 of 16 images. more


This was the junction between the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway's line from Edinburgh to South Esk and its short branch to Dalkeith. The junction was immediately to the south of Glenesk Viaduct and north of the short lived Glenesk station. The E&D later became the northern portion of the Waverley Route.
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A Waverley - Tweedbank DMU about to run south past the site of Glenesk Colliery (on the left) in the summer of 2019. The train is approximately midway ...
John Furnevel 15/08/2019
Scene looking north towards Glenesk Junction on the former Waverley Route on 26 February 2014, with preparatory work for the Borders Railway in full ...
John Furnevel 26/02/2014
A ScotRail 158 on the Borders Railway about to pass below the B6392 Melville Road, midway between Shawfair and Eskbank, on 6 July 2017. Glenesk ...
John Furnevel 06/07/2017
View across the old yard that once formed part of Glenesk Colliery, photographed looking north in July 2017. The area is here being used for the ...
John Furnevel 06/07/2017
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This short lived station was north of Eskbank and Dalkeith station and south of Glenesk Junction and the Glenesk Viaduct. The Glenesk Colliery was alongside the railway to the west. ...

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A southbound service on the Borders Railway passing the site of the former Glenesk Colliery on a bright and sunny 10 September 2015. The train is ...
John Furnevel 10/09/2015
The 0911 ScotRail Edinburgh - Tweedbank has just crossed Glenesk Viaduct southbound on 5 May 2019. The site of Glenesk Junction is directly behind the ...
John Furnevel 05/05/2019
The 0911 Edinburgh - Tweedbank passing the site of Glenesk Colliery in bright morning sunshine on 22 May 2016. The train has recently crossed Glenesk ...
John Furnevel 22/05/2016
Bringing up the rear. 67026 Diamond Jubilee passing Glenesk southbound on 19 September 2015 at the rear of the steam special heading for ...
John Furnevel 10/09/2015
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This was a two platform station. The street level building, still standing, is a two storey sandstone building with Tudor styling. The rear of this building had a canopy and steps descended to the platforms and footbridge.
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A southbound train on the Borders Railway runs through the abandoned platforms of the original (1847) Eskbank and Dalkeith station on a fine May ...
John Furnevel 22/05/2016
The 0915 ex-Edinburgh Waverley runs through the heavily overgrown site of the original 1847 Eskbank and Dalkeith station on the morning of 25 August ...
John Furnevel 25/08/2022
A quiet stroll south along the Waverley Route on a fine July morning in the summer of 2002. Passing through the abandoned platforms of the former ...
John Furnevel 19/07/2002
A girl and her dog stroll south along the trackbed of the Waverley route through the remains of the original (1847) Eskbank station on an April ...
John Furnevel 16/04/2010
4 of 53 images. more


This was the junction between the re-gauged Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway and the Peebles Railway. Hardengreen Yard was developed here and the Dalkeith Branch (North British Railway) later also reached this location.
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See also
Peebles Railway
Dalkeith Branch (North British Railway)
A 4-car ScotRail class 158 combination with unit 158869 leading heading north past the site of Hardengreen Junction during the morning of 4 August ...
John Furnevel 04/08/2018
A northbound ScotRail service on the Borders Railway passing the site of Hardengreen Junction on 6 April 2017. Eskbank station and footbridge are ...
John Furnevel 06/04/2017
A 1997 view north over the site of Hardengreen Junction. The route of the footpath is now the Borders Railway and the Peebles Railway was off to the ...
Ewan Crawford 20/04/1997
Site of the former Hardengreen Junctionon a sunny spring morning in 2016. The southbound train approaching is a Borders Railway service destined for ...
John Furnevel 20/03/2016
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This yard was developed at Hardengreen Junction. The yard consisted of a number of sidings on either side of the Waverley Route, just south of Hardengreen Junction and a number of sidings on the east side, approached from the south.
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Hardengreen goods was on the east side of the Waverley route, opposite the signal box and Peebles line divergence. The site of it is now occupied by a ...
David Panton 28/07/2019
Looking south towards Dalhousie at Hardengreen Yard. ...
Ewan Crawford //
2 of 2 images.


This is a single platform station.
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Borders Railway (Network Rail)
The ScotRail 1011 Waverley - Tweedbank about to cross Hardengreen Viaduct shortly after restarting from Eskbank on 13 May 2018. ...
John Furnevel 13/05/2018
September sunshine brightens up Eskbank station on a cold Sunday morning in 2017 as a ScotRail DMU bound for Tweedbank prepares to restart its ...
John Furnevel 14/09/2017
Long lens shot of a ScotRail 158 approaching Eskbank station on the Borders Railway in the summer of 2016 with a service to Tweedbank. The abandoned ...
John Furnevel 14/08/2016
Scene at Eskbank station during day 3 of live operations on the new Borders Railway. A Tuesday morning Tweedbank - Edinburgh service calls on 8 ...
John Furnevel 08/09/2015
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A northbound service on the Borders Railway photographed crossing Hardengreen Viaduct on an October morning in 2020 on its way from Tweedbank to ...
John Furnevel 01/10/2020
An overcast Autumn morning over much of Midlothian in October 2015, due not least to light rain combined with the remnants of a dawn mist. Meantime ...
John Furnevel 16/10/2015
An unusually hot morning at Hardengreen roundabout on 11 August 2022 (even in the shade) as a Tweedbank bound train crosses the viaduct shortly after ...
John Furnevel 11/08/2022
An Edinburgh bound DMU runs onto Hardengreen Viaduct from the south on 25 August 2022. The 0850 ex-Tweedbank is less than half a mile short of its ...
John Furnevel 25/08/2022
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This was the southern terminus of the main line of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway. It was specifically built to be close to the coalfield north of Gorebridge to bring coal to Edinburgh. An older spelling is 'South Eske'.
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Marquis of Lothian^s Waggonway
Part of the alignment to the north of Dalhouse of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway viewed from the trackbed of the Edinburgh and Hawick line in ...
Ewan Crawford //2002
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Fisherrow Branch

Single track.

This was the first station at Niddrie, opened by the E&DR at the point of divergence of the lines to Fisherrow and South Esk one year before the opening of the South Leith branch. This location is marked on OS maps as having a 'Branch House' immediately to the south of the running lines. The station is likely to have been an interchange pausing point and probably did not serve the ...

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Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways)






Fisherrow is a small tidal harbour on the west bank of the River Esk. The present stone harbour dates from the 17th century with modifications for waggonways. The town itself sits between the harbour and the river, on the east bank of which is Musselburgh. As the name suggest, fishing fleets were based here.
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Leith Branch

This was built as a single track. It was later doubled but reverted again to a single line as traffic fell off. It was a later addition which did not open with the E&DR, but shortly afterwards.

This location has been identified as a possible location of the E&DR's Niddrie station. It was immediately east of the point of divergence between the lines to St Leonards and Leith.
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In 1846/7 a number of short curves and connections were made by the North British Railway to the re-gauged Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway. This view ...
Bill Roberton 24/11/2015
The Leith arm of the cross-shaped Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway of 1831 left the hub at Niddrie and crossed what was then open country. It never ...
David Panton 30/10/2010
A look along the embankment of a railway which closed over 150 years ago. This was part of the Leith arm of the Edinburgh & Dalkeith Railway, ...
David Panton 30/10/2010
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This disused single arch stone viaduct over the Figgate Burn carried the original course of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway over the Figgate Burn between Portobello [1st] (to the south) and the later site of King's Road Junction (to the north). The short portion of line crossing the bridge was abandoned in 1859 when a curve opened from the North British Railway main line.
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The bridge that carried the original Edinburgh and Dalkeith route between Leith and Niddrie West over the Figgate Burn, seen here in September 2016. ...
John Furnevel 07/09/2016
Just to the north of the ECML, and just shy of Baileyfield S and C Works, stands this original Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway bridge. This view looks ...
Bill Roberton 24/11/2015
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This junction and box were on the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway's South Leith branch. The box opened with the development of the Lothian Lines (North British Railway).
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Lothian Lines (North British Railway)
The Leith South (or Docks) line seems to have fallen into desuetude. This is the point where it goes under Inchview Terrace, and we are looking ...
David Panton 14/05/2020
The Leith South branch is out of regular use and vegetation is encroaching. This view looks north towards the site of Kings Road Junction (See image ...
David Panton 14/04/2020
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The out of use South Leith Branch runs under Fillyside Road slightly further south, but the original line took a more direct course and ran under this ...
David Panton 07/05/2020
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A view from Seafield Road East looking east. The track looks recently used, maybe driver training? (Does anyone know?) Certainly no traffic at ...
John Yellowlees 21/07/2023
The original course of the Leith South line was in the foreground, running along the coast before land was reclaimed. The later alignment went the ...
David Panton 18/06/2020
I am standing at the exact location of Meadows Box and looking along the moribund South Leith Branch towards Leith. Craigentinny Meadows became ...
David Panton 07/05/2020
Meadows signal box was between the two pairs of lines which pass under Seafield Road. It was in the middle of this picture, taken on 12th February ...
David Panton 12/02/2018
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This box was located on the west side of Seafield Road Level Crossing (then called Seafield Crossing), on the north side of the line and backing onto the beach.
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Seafield Junction was at the Marine Esplanade Level Crossing (now called Seafield Level Crossing).
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Lothian Lines (North British Railway)
Shortly after leaving Leith South Yard for Millerhill on a sunny morning in July 2007 an engineers train is brought to a halt at signal FP616, to the ...
John Furnevel 09/07/2007
The late lamented and long lattice footbridge at Seafield in a view looking south in 1999. ...
Ewan Crawford //1999
Death of a footbridge. View west along Seafield Road towards Leith on 5 August 2014, with the footbridge at Seafield Level Crossing now fenced off ...
John Furnevel 05/08/2014
Lost Railfreight. 09205 passes Seafield level crossing with a Millerhill (ex-Oxwellmains) to Leith South trip working in 2001. This was a ...
Bill Roberton //2001
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This goods depot was opened immediately to the east of South Leith station. It allowed the goods station at the station to become a coal depot. It opened around 1881, along with the Leith Edinburgh Dock.
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The disused Leith South Railfreight Terminal seen in July 2023. ...
John Yellowlees 21/07/2023
In April 1995 there was a path on the trackbed of the approach to the Bath Road crossing, which was once busy enough to warrant a footbridge. In May ...
David Panton 18/04/1995
Trans-shipment activity at Leith South (aka South Leith) goods depot in the 1980s. View is west from the entrance from South Leith (aka Leith South) ...
Jim Peebles //
Detail - Leith South goods depot - 1980s. ...
Jim Peebles //
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This was a terminus of a branch from Niddrie [1st] opened on the shoreline at Leith, just east of the Water of Leith in 1835 (the land on the east bank is South Leith). Passenger coaches ran here from 1838. This largely forgotten station is important in the history of the expansion and development of Leith and its docks. Known as simply 'Leith' until 1868 when it first appeared as 'South' in ...

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There was a goods station at the site of South Leith passenger terminus on Constitution Street, a separate one only slightly further east at Bath ...
David Panton /04/1995
View south from the docks in September 2006 with the site of South Leith station off to the left on the far side of the wall beyond Tower Street. ...
John Furnevel 12/09/2006
Scene at South Leith on 27 March 1967 showing D5317 with Scottish Rambler No 6. The view is west, with a siding continuing beyond the level ...
Bruce McCartney 27/03/1967
An SLS Railtour stands at the original Edinburgh & Dalkeith Railway terminus at South Leith on 25 August 1962 behind Gresley V2 2-6-2T no 67668. This ...
Frank Spaven Collection (Courtesy David Spaven) 25/08/1962
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Dalkeith Branch

This was the junction between the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway's line from Edinburgh to South Esk and its short branch to Dalkeith. The junction was immediately to the south of Glenesk Viaduct and north of the short lived Glenesk station. The E&D later became the northern portion of the Waverley Route.
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A Waverley - Tweedbank DMU about to run south past the site of Glenesk Colliery (on the left) in the summer of 2019. The train is approximately midway ...
John Furnevel 15/08/2019
Scene looking north towards Glenesk Junction on the former Waverley Route on 26 February 2014, with preparatory work for the Borders Railway in full ...
John Furnevel 26/02/2014
A ScotRail 158 on the Borders Railway about to pass below the B6392 Melville Road, midway between Shawfair and Eskbank, on 6 July 2017. Glenesk ...
John Furnevel 06/07/2017
View across the old yard that once formed part of Glenesk Colliery, photographed looking north in July 2017. The area is here being used for the ...
John Furnevel 06/07/2017
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This was a single platform terminus at the end of a short branch from Glenesk Junction. There was a goods yard to the north of the station site.
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Infilled bridge and partially infilled cutting on the former Dalkeith branch, seen here on a bright June morning in 2012 looking west towards Glenesk ...
John Furnevel 18/06/2012
Close-up showing the infilled former railway bridge and partially infilled cutting just to the west of Dalkeith station. The bridge links Eskbank ...
John Furnevel 25/07/2012
The view east towards Dalkeith from Cemetery Road bridge in July 2013 see image 39723. The trackbed has been obliterated from this point, with a ...
John Furnevel 25/07/2012
A car heading east into Dalkeith along the A6094 on 28 August speeds past the bridge that carried Cemetery Road over the trackbed of the E&DR just ...
John Furnevel 28/08/2013
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