Rails No More

The embankment is the former Macmerry branch-line track-bed of the North British Railway. Macmerry station stood at the Tranent end of the village, and the track came in at 90 degrees to what is now the A199. Originally the line was purely industrial, opening in 1870 to serve iron works and collieries. Passenger stations and services opened two years later. All passenger services were withdrawn as early as 1925 but freight continued until 1960. Mrs. Legodude's paternal Grandmother can remember travelling on the train when very young. Early on, a line ran directly on from the station for a coal pit, I've been unable to find out exact dates, gauge or any other details about this unfortunately. In 2010 a new housing estate was built on the station site, before construction an archaeological dig took place which I would have visited had I known about it at the time.