The Esk Valley Railway was a short branch line built to serve industry in the valley of the River North Esk, south of Edinburgh in Scotland. The terminus was Polton. The line opened on 15 April 1867
In the nineteenth century passenger use of the line was buoyant, but it declined substantially when road transport services became widespread from the 1920s. The passenger service was withdrawn in 1951, and the goods service closed after the decline of the local industries, in 1964. No railway use is made of the former line now.
History
The Peebles Railway
After the frenzy of railway promotion in Scotland in 1845, many communities in areas that did not have a railway saw that they were at a disadvantage: goods they required, especially coal, and lime for improving land, were much more expensive than at railway towns; and their own manufactures cost more to move to markets elsewhere.
The people of Peebles promoted their own railway and the Peebles Railway opened in 1855, joining the line that became the Waverley Route near Dalkeith, and connecting the town with Edinburgh. From Eskbank the Peebles line crossed high ground south-east of the valley of the River North Esk. The valley was already heavily industrialised with at least three paper mills, which required access to plentiful water; in addition carpets were made locally and corn was milled.
The Esk Valley Railway
From 1860 local promoters negotiated with the North British Railway (NBR; the NBR was working the Peebles Railway) over the construction of a branch line to Polton from the Peebles line. At this time there was intense rivalry between the NBR and the Caledonian Railway, especially over retaining a monopoly of service in any geographical area while attempting to penetrate the rival's area. The NBR were quick to act in support of the line to Polton, fearing that the Caledonian would enter the district otherwise; indeed the Caledonian had published proposals to build a line into the area, from Slateford via Penicuik to Dalkeith. The NBR paid the Parliamentary deposit for the Bill to be presented. The Polton branch line became the Esk Valley Railway, and was authorised by Act of Parliament of 21 July 1863. It was to be two miles in length.
The little company found it difficult to raise capital, and the NBR subscribed £10,000. Notwithstanding that difficulty, the Company proposed an extension to Penicuik, but agreed to withdraw it when the North British Railway proposed to lease its line (construction of which was hardly started) for £1,350 a year, equivalent to 5% on its share capital of £27,000. The lease was authorised by Parliament on 16 July 1866.
A start on building the line was delayed, not starting until 5 September 1864, and the construction of the line was complex as it had to follow the narrow valley of the River North Esk. There was a 471-yard tunnel between Bonnyrigg and Lasswade, and a six-arch stone viaduct at Lasswade.
Opening
When the line was nearing completion, the Company announced that train services would start on 1 April 1867. Two stations were provided on the line, Bonnyrigg (later renamed Broomieknowe) and Polton. The NBR had agreed to work (and lease) the line but refused to do so immediately because a station had not been constructed at Lasswade, as they had expected. The Esk Valley Company protested that they were not bound to provide the station, and the matter went to arbitration. Pending the conclusion of that, the NBR agreed to commence operation on 15 April 1867, and for accounting purposes (that is, payment of the lease charge) the "official" commencing date would be 8 April 1867.
So trains started running on 15 April. When the line opened, it was worked by the North British Railway.
The arbitrator found that the EVR was indeed bound to provide the Lasswade station, and it did so, opening it on 12 October 1868; construction of the station cost it six months rental of the entire line.
The Esk Valley Railway company was absorbed by the North British Railway on 1 July 1871. The terms guaranteed the EVR shareholders a 3.5% dividend on their holding.
The valedictory shareholders' meeting of the EVR heard the Chairman declare:
Through unforeseen circumstances the expenditure of the Company has considerably exceeded what was at first anticipated, but notwithstanding of this the directors trust that the benefit done to the district and the securing to the shareholders a permanent dividend of 3.25% is not an inadequate return for the labour and money expended.