Introduction

Edmonston is also spelled Edmonstone, which is the more modern spelling. Edmonston Colliery was also known as Newton Colliery and as a result the waggonway was also known as the Newton Waggonway.

This waggonway was built to convey coal from the Edmonston Colliery, around Whitehill and Millerhill, to Little France, the railhead for Edinburgh on the Newington to Dalkeith road.

The route of the line shown here is partly assumed. Several maps purport to show the exact route but disagree with each other. The portion from Little France to Whitehill is fairly certain, that section was used by a later tramway during the railway era. However the portion from Whitehill to Millerhill followed a less certain course which may have been partly utilised by the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway.

Why built

To carry coal from the Edmonston Colliery for use in Edinburgh with transhipment to road taking place at Little France. Opened 1818. Engineer Robert Stevenson. After the opening of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway the remainder of the waggonway was used as a feeder to the railway.