Monktonhall Junction

Location type

Junction

Name and dates

Monktonhall Junction (1866-)

Station code: National Rail
Opened on the North British Railway.
Opened on the Lothian Lines (North British Railway).
Opened on the Macmerry Branch (North British Railway).

Description

This junction has had several different layouts and refers to several slightly different locations. The original junction was for the Macmerry Branch (North British Railway) the present version is between the East Coast Main Line (former North British Railway) and line to Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways).

The first junction opened in 1866 to the east of the viaduct over the River Esk. Here the single track Macmerry Branch (North British Railway) left the main line as a double track which quickly became single. The junction allowed trains from Edinburgh to take the branch. The box was on the north side of the junction.

A new box opened in 1912 on the west side of the viaduct, south side of the line. The branch was doubled. The new box was in preparation for the opening of the Lothian Lines (North British Railway).

The Lothian Lines (North British Railway) opened in 1915, approaching Monktonhall from Wanton Walls Junction [1st], to the north west, with a double track line. It crossed the River Esk on a new double track viaduct south of the original to meet the Macmerry Branch (North British Railway), passing the new box to the south. To protect the main line from runaways from the Macmerry line, which carried a considerable amount of coal traffic and climbed to the south, the branch was fitted with a run-off siding off its southbound line.

Immediately west of the new box a connection was made from the main line to the new line such that a westbound train on the main line could join the new line and to Wanton Walls Junction [1st].

The junction was re-signalled in 1961 in preparation of the opening of Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways) which was approached from the east by a double track line. This connected to the Lothian Lines (North British Railway) west of Monktonhall and ran west, then south, then west again to reach the yard. Although the connection to this new line was some way to the west, it still came under the name Monktonhall Junction.

The eastbound line (up line) from Niddrie West Junction to Monktonhall ceased to be used in 1971, lifted by 1976.

The box closed in 1977 when the Edinburgh Signalling Centre took over.

The stub of the Macmerry Branch (North British Railway) (serving just Dalkeith Colliery latterly and singled before closure) was closed in 1980.

The Lothian Lines (North British Railway) running north west to Niddrie West Junction closed in 1984 - in effect replaced by the route through Millerhill Yard which remained open. (It was included in the 1977 Monktonhall re-signalling as a bidirectional single line.)

The main line now runs over the southern viaduct and the northern viaduct, the original, is disused.

Tags

Junction

External links

NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map
08/02/2021



Chronology Dates

03/04/1933Macmerry Branch (North British Railway)
Gifford and Garvald Railway
Edinburgh (Monktonhall Junction) (excluded) to Gifford closed to passengers. Ormiston, Pencaitland, Saltoun, Humbie and Gifford closed.
  /  /1980Macmerry Branch (North British Railway)
Dalkeith Washery closed, line closed completely from Monktonhall Junction.

Books


A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Scotland - The Lowlands and the Borders v. 6 (Regional railway history series)

A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Scotland - The Lowlands and the Borders v. 6 (Regional railway history series)

A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain: Scotland - The Lowlands and the Borders v. 6 (Regional railway history series)

An Illustrated History of Edinburgh's Railways

An Illustrated History of Edinburgh's Railways

Drem to Edinburgh: Including Gullane, Haddington, Tranent, Musselburgh and Fisherrow Branches (Scottish Main Lines)

Drem to Edinburgh: Including Gullane, Haddington, Tranent, Musselburgh and Fisherrow Branches (Scottish Main Lines)

Edinburgh (Rail Centres)

Edinburgh (Rail Centres)

Edinburgh St. Margaret's: The Story of the 'Other' Edinburgh Depot of the North British Railway 1845-1967

Exploring Disused Railways in East Scotland

Forgotten Railways: Scotland

Galashiels to Edinburgh: Including the Lauder and Dalkeith Branches - the Waverley Route (Scml)

Haddington, Macmerry and Gifford Branch Lines (Oakwood Library of Railway History)

Last Trains: Edinburgh and South East Scotland v. 1
LNER Wagons: Volume 3: Scottish Area: Ex North British and Ex-Great North of Scotland Railway Wagons
North British Railway in Northumberland, The

North British Railway, Vol. 1 (Standard Railway History)

North British Railway, Vol. 2 (Standard Railway History)

Signalling and Signal Boxes along the North British Railway, Great North of Scotland Railway and the CLC Routes

South East Scotland (British Railways Past & Present)

The Castle and the Bear: A Brief History of the North British Railway

The North British Railway a History
The North British Railway, Volume 1, One,
The Vanished Railways of Old Western Dunbartonshire (Britains Railways/Old Photos)

Vanished Railways of West Lothian

Waverley: Portrait of a Famous Route