Disused line Edinburgh

[snakeeyes]

Hi, can some one tel me please about the disused line that comes from south of Millerhill and goes s/w towards Loanhead, is this line still connected and where did it go?

cheers

 

[Fozzie49]

Line originally was built to Penicuik but after line closed to passenger traffic served coal pits at Gilmerton,Loanhead and laterly Bilston Glen pit near Loanhead. Good book written by Micheal Hurst gives a very good description of this line. The Glencorse Branch by the Oakwood Press.

 

[snakeeyes]

thanks Fozzie, are there plans to reuse it, or lift it?

 

[flymo]

Some info on the Loanhead branch at the Disused Stations website.

There are links to other stations on the line from there.

 

[Chris125]

The remaining track was lifted last year it seems, hopefully nothing will be done to prevent reinstatement in the future.

Chris

 

[Jonny]

The remaining track was lifted last year it seems, hopefully nothing will be done to prevent reinstatement in the future.

Chris

I hate to say this, but with metal theft on the rise this makes sense.

 

[kylemore]

I feel that the best use of this route would be for Light Rail use so whether the original tracks been lifted is irrelevent as long as the trackbed is safe-guarded.
I had my reservations about the Edinburgh Tram scheme but the truncated part that's going to open in 2014 will be hugely uneconomic without extensions.
Extending south on relatively easy broad roads through Newington (the first bit through the Bridges could be problematic tho) to the ERI and then onwards via mostly ex railway formation to a bit of street running in Penicuik would be a good way forward.

The old "Innocent Railway" might be a cheaper way of getting to the ERI from the City Centre although it is a bit far from the busiest parts of the Southside.

 

[jopsuk]

The "innocent Railway" tunnel wouldn't take modern stock, even a tram, especially with electrification

 

[kylemore]

The "innocent Railway" tunnel wouldn't take modern stock, even a tram, especially with electrification

You're probably right tho they could lower the floor, it's been done before - where there's a will there's a way!

 

[snakeeyes]

Whats the innocent railway?

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Whats the innocent railway?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edinburgh_and_Dalkeith_Railway#Innocent_Railway
Usual caveats about wikipedia apply

Also http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst17823.html and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJOF0_Xshbk
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You're probably right tho they could lower the floor, it's been done before - where there's a will there's a way!

Doesn't always work though - that's what BR were trying to do at the Penmanshiel Tunnel
http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=1124