Location type

Station

Name and dates

South Esk (1834-1847)

Opened on the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway.

Description

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'.

The terminus was on the north bank of the South Esk river. Passenger services were horse operated. The line was double track. Francis Whishaw, writing in The Railways of Great Britain and Ireland, described it thus

The South Eske station-house is built in the cottage-style, and is of neat design. Besides the rooms occupied by the station-keeper, there is a general waiting-room, and one especially for ladies. There is a detached stable for eight horses. Near this station is a long wooden bridge, which carries the Marquess of Lothian's railway over the river Eske.

The Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway continued the line east via the timber viaduct to Bryan's Pit and south to Newbyres Colliery, to the west of Gorebridge.

In 1847 the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) opened on a new alignment to Dalhousie station on a similar site. To the north much of the re-gauged line was used to reach Edinburgh.

Remains of a bridge over a minor road can be found, just to the south of the former terminus, part of the extension waggonway.

To the north is a hedgeline, following the course of the original line where there was a tighter bend north of the station.

Railway cottages, probably mostly from the later line, remain on either side.

09/06/2018

Tags

Station terminus

External links

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