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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.

After the opening of the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) it was served by a tramway which made a south facing connection to the north of the Brewer's Bush bridge (Murderdean).

The mine, along with the other Marquis of Lothian mines, transferred to the Lothian Coal Co Ltd in 1890. It was further developed and became the main coal preparation plant for the Newbattle Collieries (Bryans Pit, Easthouses Pit and itself). A private railway running north connected to the Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway near Bryans Pit, the older line being remodelled.

Coal was brought to Lingerwood for preparation and materials out went north and then west to the Newbattle Brick and Tile Works with coal continuing to West Bryans Siding from which access to the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) could be made at Newbattle Signal Box.

Lingerwood was linked underground to the new Lady Victoria Pit, opened in 1895, a temporary line running west for its development. The Newbattle Brick Works opened to the north west of Lingerwood.

The private network of lies gained, in 1895, a connection alongside the Lady Victoria Pit at Lady Victoria Pit Signal Box (replacing the older connection at Newbattle Signal Box).

A rope operated tramway, directly east of the older private railway alignment, was opened north to the Easthouses Extension Pit which opened in 1909. This tramway (Easthouses Tramway (Lothian Coal Co Ltd)) was upgraded by the National Coal Board in 1949. It was a double track cable tramway.

The National Coal Board bought, in 1955, three Hunslet 3ft 6in 0-6-0DMs for Lingerwood, where a locomotive shed was built (just north of the the mine, east side of the line). The cable system was dispensed with. The standard gauge line north from Lingerwood to Easthouses was lifted and the tramway re-aligned and singled. Between Lingerwood and the Lady Victoria Pit the standard gauge and tramway lines were lifted and swapped over on the same formation such that the standard gauge line was to the south (now running only as far as Lingerwood) whereas the tramway was relaid to the north.

The mine closed in 1967. The tramway continued until closure of the Easthouses Extension Pit in 1969. The mine itself remained for ventilation until closure of the Lady Victoria Pit in 1981.

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