Portobello West Jct. - South Leith
Date Closed to Passenger Services
1 Jul 1903
Mileage Closed
2m 66c*
Stations Closed
South Leith
Services Operated
Portobello - South Leith
Cobb Atlas Reference
545 30 73 - 27 76
Present Status
Derelict - latterly used for freight to/from Leith Docks.
Map
RCH RJD 27 1905
Further Notes
Original line of route was to Niddrie West Jct. where it joined the original E&DR route from St. Leonards. Service cut back to Portobello from Niddrie West Jct. from Jul 1847 - see Niddrie West Jct. - Portobello (E&D) (excl.).
South Leith - Portobello (E&D) CL - ?/07/1856, presumably in connection with the construction of the new curve. South Leith - (site of) South Leith Jct. RO - ?/10/1859 along with aforementioned new N - E connection to Portobello West Jct. - South Leith Jct. (site of) - Portobello (E&D).
ACD - Fri 01/07/1903 - see below.
DRS, Wikipedia and sundry mentions give Fri 01/07/1903; CPLGB p59 gives Mon 02/01/1905; RPSGB states "last two way service in Brad 1904 (three trains each way); May to September three to Leith only; October and November one to Leith; still present December, but no trains shown".
However, RM May 1930 p405/6 states, "Up to 1903 a passenger train service was run between Portobello and South Leith..... In 1903, with the advent of the Leith Central branch and station, the Portobello-South Leith line was closed for passenger traffic". Although no specific date is given, as the opening of the Leith Central branch is recorded as Fri 01/07/1903 (RM Aug 1903 p165), it is safe to assume the ACD for the South Leith branch was the same day.
*RCH Sc 1895.
Page updated: 10/05/2023