Laying Foundations

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Acknowledgements

‘. . . from the City of Edinburgh to the town of Berwick - Upon - Tweed with a branch to the town of Haddington.’

In January 1842, John Learmonth, chairman of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, had first put the idea of an east coast railway to a group of businessmen in his Edinburgh office. Despite intense lobbying, he was unable to raise the capital needed.

In the autumn of 1842, John Learmonth met the ‘Railway King’, George Hudson. He promised his full support if the line was extended across the border to Berwick. Parliament passed the Bill authorising the construction of the east coast line over the previously preferred west coast route from Glasgow on 4th July 1844. The line was officially opened on 22nd June 1846.

In that same month, the North British Railway Act of 1846 approved the construction of no less than seven branch railways, including a branch to North Berwick.

The potential of North Berwick for attracting both commuter and holiday traffic had been recognised for some time. The added threat of possible competition had meant swift action on the part of the North British Railway Directors.

The North Berwick line was originally intended to continue from the station and run along the foreshore on an embankment, terminating at the harbour. The contract was given to James Gowans, architect and railway contractor responsible for many lines throughout Scotland.

Following differences of opinion and financial concerns, it was decided to construct the terminus at the west end of the town and to lay a single line only.

The first train left the terminus on 17th June 1850, leaving North Berwick for Drem at 7.55 am and arriving at Edinburgh at 9am.