Caledonian Railway Association Forum

Railway Department
Board of Trade
Rail to Inverness, 23rd July 1874

Sir,

I have the honor to report for the information of the Board of Trade, that in compliance with the instructions contained in your Minutes of the 2nd inst. I have inspected the Balerno Branch of the Caledonian Railway.

The new line is 6 miles, 2 chains long. It is single throughout with sidings and loop lines. The ruling gradient is 1 in 50, and the railway consists of a succession of curves, the greater number of which have a radius of 7 and 10 chains. There are guard rails round all the 7 ch curves.
The permanent way consists of a double headed rail, that weighs 75lb per lineal yard. It is fished and fixed with wooden keys in cast iron chairs that weigh 28 and 32 lbs each except those chairs in which the guard rails are fixed which weigh about 81lbs each. The chairs are fastened with w. (??) iron spikes , to sleepers laid transversely 3ft 1in apart, except for those next to the rail joints which are only 2ft 5in apart.

The sleepers are 8ft 9in and 9ft long, 10in by 5in. The line is well fenced and well ballasted with broken slag. The works consist of three overbridges built of stone and brick and 5 that have stone abutments and w. iron girders. Nine under bridges, one of which is built of stone & the rest have w. iron girders on stone abutments. There are 8 viaducts. The widest span is 60 ½ feet and there is a tunnel 148 yds long which is lined throughout with brick. All these works appear to be substantially constructed and sufficiently strong.

The new line forms a loop line with the Caledonian Railway from Edinburgh to Carstairs. The junction at the north end is called Balerno Junction and the one at the south end is called Ravelrig Junction.
The stations on the new line are Colinton, Juniper Green, Currie and Balerno.

The deviations from the Parliamentary sections are very numerous, but it appears by Companies’ Act, that sanction was given to deviate the line to any extent, as long as the gradient of 1 in 50 was not exceeded.

There are some private road crossings on the Railway that should be carefully looked after as they are very dangerous arriving to the sharp curves on the line limiting the view.

The following alterations are required at Balerno Junction.
The up distant signal on the Caledonian Ry. at the Edinburgh side of the Junction should be taken away and the home signal at Slateford Junction should be slotted to act as a distant signal for Balerno Junction.
The down distant signal and repeater for Slateford Junction should be removed and the Home Signal at Balerno Junction should be slotted, so at to answer as a down distant signal for Slateford Junction.
The 2nd semaphore arm on the up Home Signal post should be removed.
Up Starting signals are required on the Branch as well as on the main line. The lamp for the down distant signal on the Branch must be specially constructed so that the back light may be seen by the Junction Signalmen.
The catch point on the down branch line must be taken out and the points and locking bar at the end of the double junction line of the Branch are badly fixed and required regulating to make them work properly.

Ravelrig Junction
A Down Starting Signal is required and the second pair of facing points on the up line should be taken out. The sidings should be joined to the connection with the down line.

Junction with Goods Line near Balerno Station
A locking bar is required for the Junction points.

The Engineer of the Railway has promised to have these small but important alterations carried out at once, and I submit that the Board of Trade may sanction the opening of the Balerno Branch of the Caledonian Rly. as soon as they receive a satisfactory undertaking as to the proposed mode of working.

I have etc.
(signed) J H Rich
Colonel, RE

Picture taken either immediately prior to , or during WW1 (based on length and style of woman's skirt, though her presence may suggest later, her positioning implies status more likely to be a family rather than a staff member) so 1913-1917.
1] Running-in Board -Enamel (Falkirk Iron Works) white lettering on blue, standard typeface. 2 white painted wooden posts fixed behind with curved top ( same style as mileposts), simple frame to sides and below with protective overhanging mouldiing above, all white painted.
2] Railing on ramp to platform- heavy post and 2 rail painted white.
3] Post for Oil lamp - (lamp not present) wooden post approx 7ft high with metal bracket at top for lamp, post is painted 2 colours dark up to 4ft and lighter above. options -DF over PB, blue over purple brown or black (comparing tones on building and on enamel sign).
4] Standard CR Platform Barrow- on end, good plan view of slats, can't see number of spokes or type of wheel.
5] Standard CR Cast-end monogram pattern platform seat. can't be conclusive, both cast ends and woodwork in darker colours ie no white could be PB and DF but could be Black ironwork with PD slats, note suggestion of panel for station name- centre top?
6] CR Poster board free-standing white painted cast lettering and moulded frame on black painted tongue & groove backing, looks to be sufficient for 4 single posters (3 spaced present) so approx 4' 6" x 9', 2 rear-fixed inset white painted posts.
7} 2 assorted delivery barrows probably CR for local parcel deliveries, large wheeled barrow does appear elsewhere, second barrow poss unique to this location
8] Station building- clock, poster boards, enamel adverts, 3x Falkirk Iron Co. enamel station signs white on blue - poss drinking fountain at far end?
frames dark prob PB (black poss?) brick base, Sunlight cut-out enamel advert on end elevation used from 1908 onwards.
9] As 4] -can't determine type of wheel
10] Woman family or staff member (esp if post 1915)
11] Nestles chocolate machine, standard single pattern, red
12] Penny Weighing Machine standard pattern, green (usually)
12] Staff -Station Master, Porter, Clerk?
13] as 6]
14] as 1]
15] as 5]
Other
Platform is approx 2'6" -2'9" above rail height rubble stone facing topped by 3' x 2' stone flags flush to stonework , ash /gravel surface, fairly narrow- down to 8-9' in front of station building which makes this an odd location to store barrows.
Track running line has newish sleepers, twin-bladed trap on loop.
can't confirm rail lengths on my print, ash ballast, point rodding run along platform face.
See seperate list for identification of enamel ads on fence above the station