of South Esk River, at Dalhousie Mains, near Newbattle Abbey, from whence, the last act enables the company to extend it to Newton Grange.
There is a branch from Wanton Walls to Fisher Row Harbour, in the Firth of Forth; another from Cairney to the collieries situate on the east side of the Esk, at Cowpits, near Musselburgh; and another by a subsequent act, which extends to Leith Harbour.
The main line of this railroad, with the extension to Newton Grange, to be made under powers of the act of 10th George IV. is ten miles and three quarters; the first three furlongs of which, from the depot at Edinburgh, is level; it then descends 130 feet, by an inclined plane five furlongs in length, in which distance it passes through a tunnel of six hundred yards. From the end of the inclined plane, it continues level for three miles; when there is a rise of 150 feet to its termination, which is at an elevation of 280 feet above the level of the sea.
The branch to Cowpits is one mile and a half in length, and that to Fisher Row Harbour one mile and a quarter. Other branches to Duddingston, Salt Pans, and Portobello, were in contemplation before the first application to parliament, but were subsequently abandoned. Mr. James Jardine, of Edinburgh, projected this railway, and estimated the cost at £70,125; of which sum, £56,150 was subscribed at the time the act was obtained.
The first act relating to this railway received the royal assent on the 26th of May, 1826; it is entitled, An Act for making and maintaining a Railway from Edinburgh to the South Side of the River North Esk, near Dalkeith and Newbattle, with Branches therefrom, all in the county of Edinburgh. The subscribers to this undertaking, at the time the above act was obtained, were eighty-seven in number, amongst whom were the Duke of Buccleugh and Queensberry, Marquis of Lothian, Earl of Wemyss and March, Earl of Roseberry, Viscount Melville, Sir J. H. Dalrymple, Sir John Hope, Sir Hugh Innes, Sir Robert Keith Dick, Admiral Sir P. C. H. Durham, Baronets, the Lord Provost and Corporation of the city of Edinburgh, and the Magistrates of the town of Musselburgh. They were incorporated by the name of "The Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Company," with power to raise among themselves the amount of the estimate, in shares of
