Portobello West Junction

Location type

Junction

Name and dates

Portobello West Junction (1858-1971)

Opened on the North British Railway.
Opened on the New Portobello Station (North British Railway).
Opened on the Lothian Lines (North British Railway).
Opened on the Portobello Yard (North British Railway).

Description

This was the junction between the North British Railway main line and its short connecting curve which ran north to meet the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway's South Leith branch. The curve allowed trains from the east to join the branch and vice versa. It was opened to the west of Portobello [2nd] station.

The opening of this curve allowed the closure of the old alignment from north of Portobello south to what later became Niddrie West Junction (a stub at the southern end was retained). Portobello [1st] on this alignment was closed.

The South Leith branch closed in 1856 to allow the branch to be upgraded. It had been horse worked but after the rebuilding locomotives could be used.

The Baileyfield Switch and Crossing Works were to open sandwiched between the new curve and the former alignment.

Piershill Junction to Portobello East Junction was quadrupled in 1909 (goods lines being laid to the north of the existing lines) and the signal box was replaced.

In 1915 South Leith Junction was opened to the immediate east of Portobello West Junction on the South Leith branch. Here the Lothian Lines (North British Railway) began a long sweeping curve round the north side of Portobello Yard before turning south to Brunstane Park Junction where the lines split to reach various destinations.

This new junction led to an immediate important change with the South Leith branch no longer having direct access to the main line. Instead it either passed through Portobello Yard to reach the main line at Portobello East Junction or took the sweeping curve.

This new line allowed goods and minerals, particularly coal, to bypass the junctions at Portobello and pass over the main line without blocking it or incurring delay. It was part of a plan to improve access to the Leith Docks for the coal masters, who had been promoting their own independent railway due to the poor service they received from the North British. The line was single track.

The signal box was closed in 1971 and the main line at Portobello Junction is reached by running through the remains of Portobello Yard.

Tags

Junction

External links

NLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map




Chronology Dates

21/11/1909North British Railway
Portobello West Junction to Portobello East Junction quadrupled.
08/01/1967North British Railway
Quadruple line reduced to double with closure of goods lines between Craigentinny Junction and Portobello West 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)

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

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

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