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Description

This works manufacturers switches and crossings - points, the track hardware for junctions and siding turnouts. Voestalpine VAE UK

A North British Railway works was opened here around 1860, the company having a steeling plant where steel rails were prepared. The company had been finding that the lifetime of rails was short and set this works up. (It appears on Ordnance Survey maps after 1896). Damage caused by the gases produced by the works led to a legal argument with Baileyfield House. The North British built a 250ft chimney for the works.

It is an interesting site bounded by the North British's 1859 curve from Portobello West Junction to the South Leith branch to the west and the original Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway's South Leith branch alignment to the east. (Much of the latter is now under Sir Harry Lauder Road although a superb survivor - a fine stone bridge over the Figgate Burn - can be found to the south of the works site.)

The works was rebuilt in 1980 to re-open in 1982. As part of British Rail's privatisation it was sold in 1995.

Sidings access the site from the north, although these see very little use. The works remains busy.

Access to the works was controlled by Baileyfield Signal Box which opened when the line was doubled in the 1912. The box closed in 1940 when its responsibility was absorbed by Kings Road Signal Box to the north.

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