Behind the curve

By cassegw

Missing Bridge to a station that never opened

The bridge over Leith Walk on what was the Caladonian Railway's New Leith Line to the eastern docks that opened in 1903 was demolished in the 1980's.

The original intent was to have both goods services and passenger services on the line so a raised two platform station Leith Walk West was built stretching from Leith Walk along Manderson Street at the same time. The platforms started behind the pillars and stretched for about 300 yards to the trees in the distance all 20 feet above street level with the entire station built on a raised viaduct.

The Station never opened to the public as problems over planning consent from Edinburgh City Council on phase 2 of the line, which intended to rely on cut and cover techniques into the New Town became apparent and its commercial viability uncertain as tram and trolleybus networks expanded.

The dominance of a newly opened, adjacent station Leith Central operated by the North British Railway was probably an additional factor ensuring no passenger services ever used Leith Walk West.

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