Arniston Branch (Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway)

Introduction

This waggonway is long closed. A very short section at the south end of the second Newbattle Viaduct became part of the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway of the North British Railway. Most of the route, which was east of the later railway, was abandoned.

Why built

This branch was built to convey coal from the Newbyres Colliery at Gorebridge to the Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway which crossed the South Esk by a timber viaduct to reach the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway. The Newbyres Colliery site was subsumed into the later Arniston Engine mine.

Service

This line was a private horse operated waggonway.




Route described

This waggonway ran from the south end of the timber Newbattle Viaduct (east side of A7 at Lothianbridge) south along the east side of the A7 to Arniston where a tight curve took it to the Newbyres Colliery.

A short branch may have run to the Newbattle Engine Pit (later Lingerwood Colliery).


Locations along the line

These locations are along the line.

This 1001 ft long viaduct crossed the River Esk carrying the privately owned Arniston Branch. The viaduct had stone piers and cast iron arches with the deck in timber. The engineer was John Williamson.
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More details

See also
Marquis of Lothian^s Waggonway
This remarkable find is part of the original timber viaduct at Dalhousie. The timber section found by Brian Scott in the river on the 6th of November ...
John Yellowlees 26/09/2018
Looking north towards Newbattle Viaduct on 27 May. In the woods to the right is the embankment that carried the original Edinburgh and Dalkeith ...
Bill Roberton 27/05/2014
2 of 2 images.


This coal mine was opened by the Marquis of Lothian in 1798. Also known as Dicksons Pit or the Engine Pit. It may have been served by a branch or siding of the Arniston Branch (Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway), which ran south to the Newbyres Pit.
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More details

See also
Lothian Coal Co Ltd
Newbattle Collieries Railway (Lothian Coal Co Ltd)
Easthouses Tramway (Lothian Coal Co Ltd)


An excerpt from a small map of the Edinburgh area which shows the 4' 6' gauge Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway and its branches with the main line ...
Douglas Blades //
1 of 1 images.