Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway - Route Descriptions

Route Descriptions

Priestley, writing in 1828, described it:

This railway commences on the south side of the city of Edinburgh, near Salisbury Craigs, from whence it proceeds in an eastwardly direction, skirting the King's Park; thence, on the south side of Duddingston House, and by the village of Hunters Hall, to Redrow, where it communicates with the Edmonstone Railway. It afterwards takes a southerly course by Miller Hill Row, to within half a mile of the west side of the town of Dalkeith, where it crosses the North Esk River; thence, to the banks of South Esk River, at Dalhousie Mains, near Newbattle Abbey, from whence, the last act enables the company to extend it to Newton Grange. There is a branch from Wanton Walls to Fisher Row Harbour, on the Firth of Forth; another from Cairney to the collieries situate on the east side of the Esk, at Cowpits, near Musselburgh ; and another by a subsequent act, which extends to Leith Harbour.

Whishaw says

The main line, which runs from the Edinburgh station to South Eske, is level for about half its length; and the remainder has an inclination of 1 in 234, the whole distance being 8¼ miles ... The Leith branch is level for about one-third of its length; and the remaining portions have inclinations of 1 in 300 and 1 in 69 respectively, the whole length being 4 miles ... The Musselburgh branch is altogether on an inclination of 1 in 51½ ... In the main line we counted seven bridges over the railway, four bridges under, six level road-crossings ... the main line being double throughout ... There is one tunnel 572 yards in length, which is on the Edinburgh inclined plane ... the Tunnel is lighted by twenty-five gas lamps ... The gauge is 4 feet 6 inches ... the rails are of the fish-bellied form, weighing 28 lbs to the yard ... the whole way is laid with freestone blocks ... Near station is a long wooden bridge, which carries the Marquess of Lothian's railway over the river Eske.