This line was used to assist the construction of the Talla Reservoir which serves Edinburgh. The line was also known as the Edinburgh and District Water Trust Service Railway. It was a single track contractors line, built to a high standard, running south from Broughton [2nd] to the reservoir dam, at Victoria Lodge and beyond to various work sites. There were camps on the line at Mossfennan Siding and Kingledoors Siding (now Kingledores). There was a halt at Crook for the Crook Inn. The line was in operation between 1895/6 and 1905, it was lifted by 1912.
Apart from works trains carrying passengers operated by the contractors there were passenger excursions from Edinburgh Princes Street on two occasions; the laying of a foundation stone at Victoria Lodge and the official opening ceremony.
The line did not have signalling, instead telephones were used to control train movements.
/ /1895 | Talla Railway The Talla Water Scheme Act of 1895 empowers the Edinburgh and District Water Trustees build a railway from Broughton [2nd] on the Peebles Branch of the Caledonian Railway to a proposed reservoir in the Talla Valley. The railway was planned due to the quantity of material which would require to be moved including an estimate of 100,000 tons of clay, pipes, cement etc., which would be difficult to take by road from Broughton. |
/04/1895 | Caledonian Railway Approves the connection of the Edinburgh and District Water Trustees's Talla Railway to their system. |
28/09/1895 | Talla Railway First Sod of Talla Railway cut by Lady McDonald, wife of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Construction begins with the doubling of the section of line east from Broughton [2nd] to Rachan Junction. Contractor James Young and Sons is appointed for the works south of Rachan with subcontractors Robert McAlpine and Sons, for bridges, and John Best. |
/ /1896 | Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway Caledonian Railway completes laying second line between Broughton [2nd] and Rachan Junction for the Talla Railway. |
/ /1896 | Talla Railway Camp built at Mossfennan which included stores, workshops and offices for the work, Mossfennan Siding. Another camp established at Kingledoors (now Kingledores), with Kingledoors Siding with a 700ft siding. |
/03/1897 | Talla Railway Line construction reaches from Rachan Junction to the incomplete Tweedsmuir Viaduct over the River Tweed. |
20/08/1897 | Talla Railway Tweedsmuir Viaduct completed and line fully opened. |
29/09/1897 | Talla Railway Official opening following completion of the Tweedsmuir Viaduct over the River Tweed, the Tweedsmuir Express runs from Edinburgh Princes Street to the future site of Victoria Lodge to inspect works and lay the foundation stone. |
08/09/1899 | Symington, Biggar and Broughton Railway Derailment of Talla Railway locomotive and train at Broughton [2nd]. Locomotive prohibited from the Caledonian Railway. |
26/10/1899 | Talla Railway James Young and Sons bankrupt. |
/12/1899 | Talla Railway John Best takes over the Talla Reservoir dam contact and the Talla Railway. |
/ /1900 | Talla Railway Clay is sourced from near Carluke. The Caledonian Railway works 2 or 3 trains a day to Broughton [2nd] for the dam. |
/ /1900 | Talla Railway Stanhope Siding laid in around this date, 400ft long, for pipe handling. |
20/05/1905 | Talla Railway Valve opening ceremony at Talla Reservoir. |
28/09/1905 | Talla Railway Talla Reservoir officially opened; two trains run from Edinburgh Princes Street. |
29/09/1905 | Talla Railway Talla Railway closed. |
22/07/1907 | Talla Railway Edinburgh and District Water Trustees - agreement with the Caledonian Railway. |
/ /1910 | Talla Railway Talla Railway materials offered for sale. |
/ /1912 | Talla Railway Talla Railway completely lifted (Dismantled by P. and W. MacLellan Ltd of Glasgow). |
This line is divided into a number of portions.
This single track line ran south of Rachan to various work sites and Victoria Lodge and the dam at Talla Reservoir.
This was a three platform station, the line is now closed.
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This was not a true junction. Two single track lines ran east from Broughton [2nd] to Rachan. The northern was the Caledonian Railway's line from Symington [2nd] east to Peebles [2nd] and the southern was the Talla Railway, built for the construction of the Talla Reservoir. This was the location where the lines parted company.
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This loop was located on the Talla Railway just south of Rachan Junction (not a junction, but meeting of lines) east of Broughton [2nd] station where the lines actually met. It may have been an exchange yard.
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This short siding, on the west side of the line and approached from the north, was just south of Rachan Loop and Rachan Junction and the bridge over the Biggar Water. The line climbed away from here to reach Talla Reservoir dam.
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This was a major construction camp for the Talla Reservoir with stores, workshops and offices for the work. There was a loop on the Talla Railway and a siding, with headshunt on the west side.
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This was a 400ft long siding for pipe handling.
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This was a secondary construction camp for the Talla Reservoir. There was a 700ft long siding. The site is now known as Kingledores.
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In 1899 contractor John Best laid down a timber platform alongside the locomotive replenishing water tank to the west of the Crook Inn (in which he had a share) on the Talla Railway.
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This siding was on the west side of the line, approached from the south, just north of Tweedsmuir Viaduct. In addition to being a siding it probably protected the line as the railway climbed south to Talla Reservoir dam.
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This viaduct crosses the River Tweed. It no longer carries a railway but does carry a waterpipe. It crosses the river with a 100ft long steel bowstring. The abutments, complete with unused stone tablets, are of fine granite quarried in Italy.
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This was a quarry siding with a length of 550ft. It was for extraction of whinstone. The siding was south of Tweedsmuir Viaduct, on the east side of the line and approached from the south. There was a quarry just to the south.
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This was the terminus of the Edinburgh and District Water Trust Service Railway from Broughton [2nd]. There was a platform on the east side of the line with the grand Victoria Lodge itself above to the east, up a flight of steps, and the Talla Reservoir dam to the south.
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Peebles Railways |