Newbattle Viaduct
Location type
BridgeNames and dates
Newbattle Viaduct (1847-1972)Newbattle Viaduct (2015-)
Opened on the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway).
Description
This is a double track twenty three arch viaduct over the River South Esk. The height over the South Esk is 80ft and the viaduct is around 1093 ft long. The southernmost arch is skew and crosses the A7. A minor road crossed under the second arch from the north end and the River South Esk passes under the third and forth arches. Alternative names include Lothianbridge, Dalhouse and South Esk Viaduct.
This was a new bridge built with the opening of the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway). To the east was the Newbattle Viaduct [1st] on the Arniston Branch, which it effectively replaced although that branch served various coal mines further east. West Bryans Siding on the new line gave access to the private coal railway.
The viaduct remained unused after closure of the Waverley Route and Lady Victoria Pit for forty three years and required repairs before being brought back into use.
It now carries a single track.
In 1909 two temporary signal boxes opened - Dalhousie North and Dalhousie South - presumably during single line operations for viaduct repairs.
Tags
Viaduct River South EskAliases
Lothianbridge ViaductExternal links
Canmore site recordNLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
NLS Map
NLS Map
Facilities
Listing: B
| Nearby stations Dalhousie South Esk Newtongrange [1st] Newtongrange Eskbank Bonnyrigg Eskbank and Dalkeith Broomieknowe Glenesk Dalkeith Lasswade Sheriffhall [2nd] Sheriffhall [1st] Polton Gorebridge | Newbattle Viaduct [1st] West Bryans Siding Tip Newbattle Signal Box Newbattle Brick and Tile Works Newbattle Gas Works Hardengreen Viaduct Dalhousie Catchpoints Dean Oil Works Newtongrange [Village] Esk Valley Junction Lady Victoria Colliery Eskbank Carpet Factory Lingerwood Weighbridge Tourist/other Newton Grange Level Crossing |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
The Sun InnThe first meeting of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Company was held at the The Sun Inn . This is to the east of the Newbattle Viaduct at its north end, across the A7 from the viaduct. The Newbattle Viaduct [1st] ran to the east of the inn, ie the opposite site to the present viaduct. |
News items
| 06/09/2018 | Institution of Civil Engineers celebrate the Newbattle Viaduct [Midlothian View] |
| 12/06/2013 | Victorian viaduct will avert city road chaos [Evening News] |
