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This line was built specifically to connect coalmines at Arniston Engine to the south end of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway. A large viaduct was required at Newbattle. A town grew up at Newtongrange where there were further mines, notably just to the south of the town the Lady Victoria Pit which is now the Scottish Mining Museum (it was located to the east of the line and linked to Easthouses Colliery by a cable-operated railway. Slightly further north and closer to Newtongrange was NCB Buttlerfield, on the west side of the line and now partly built over with houses. Today there is no mining in the area.
From Lothian Bridge, South Esk, to Arniston Engine.
Lothian Bridge / Newbattle Viaduct
The Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway started at South Esk (where the line made an end-on junction with the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway) and immediately had to cross a bridge. The bridge as later re-constructed is shown in this photograph. The view is from the East side of the Bridge, looking south towards Gorebridge. The bridge is variously known as Lothian Bridge or Newbattle Viaduct. The original bridge was located slightly further east.
This station consisted of two platform on either side of the track. The station has been demolished; the course of the track can be seen in this photograph. The view looks North from a road-bridge towards Edinburgh.
This coal mine included extensive sidings. The top photograph shows the trackbed looking North towards Edinburgh (colliery in distance top right) and the second photograph shows the view in the reverse direction. A small timber signalbox once stood at the junction with the pit sidings and to the west of the running lines. This was located by the tree shown in the top photograph on the left of the picture.
Near Arniston Engine the line turned to head east. The view here shows the trackbed, the view looking East towards Gorebridge. The line was continued south to Hawick (by the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway) and later to Carlisle and Hexham.