Location type

Name and dates

Note: text in square brackets is added for clarity and was not part of the location's name.

Description

This 1874 double track swing bridge crosses the Water of Leith between Leith Inner Harbour (to the south) and the main Port of Leith. The bridge pivoted at its east end and also carried a roadway. Its overall length is 212 ft. The engineer was Alexander Rendel, also engineer for the 1869 Albert Dock [Leith] for which the line was built, giving the Caledonian Railway access to South Leith (and an alternative approach for the North British Railway to North Leith]]).

The bridge carried the dock lines of the Leith Harbour and Dock Commissioners Railway from the Caledonian Railway's Leith North Goods terminus (1864) and its branch to Victoria Dock [Leith] (dock opened 1851)) east to Albert Dock [Leith] (1869-) and the North British Railway's South Leith (1838-...-1904) terminus. An older railway bridge linking north and south Leith over the Water of Leith, near the Custom House, followed a more tortuous route until its removal in the 1920s.

Later the bridge was invaluable as further docks opened in South Leith, Edinburgh Dock [Leith] (1881-) and Imperial Dock [Leith] (1898-).

The line closed around 1981, Leith North Goods having been approached from the east only since 1967. The last use was to approach Chancelot Mill [2nd] from the east using a tractor for motive power (after NBL D27XX locomotives were withdrawn).

The bridge has been restored and is now a footbridge.

Tags