Old Stations of Edinburgh: Leith Central

Being the terminus of a short suburban line, it's quite surprising that Leith Central was one of the largest stations built from scratch in the 20th century. The history behind the site is extremely interesting for rail enthusiasts and local historians. As the 19th Century drew to a close, rumours started that the Caledonian Railway wanted to increase its presence in Leith by building a circular line looping round from their Newhaven branch and back to Waverly via a series of tunnels. Being the largest operator in Leith, The North British Railway were non too happy at this idea and decided to stamp their authority on the area by constructing their own branch, that would be double tracked, right to the heart of Leith. Only a mile and a quarter long, the route branched off at Abbey Hill junction and continued behind Easter Road Stadium (where a halt was provided for Hibernian F.C. fans) then curved round, crossed Easter Road on a large plate girder bridge and entered the vast Leith Central Station train shed - 100ft. wide at the Easter Road end and widening to over 200ft wide at the Leith Walk end. Supported by girders, a glass canopy roof 60ft high ensured that the station was visible for miles around, taking up an entire city block and effectively serving as an ornate middle finger raised to the Caledonian Railway. On the corner of Leith Walk and Duke street, station facilities were built including ticket offices and waiting rooms. A grand clock was also added. My picture shows these buildings that still survive today. The arched doors below the clock led to stairs up to the passenger facilities that were on the first floor, level with the platforms as the train shed was built on a dias to increase its height. Ground level units in the buildings were used for retail and a pub, which is still operating. Opening in July 1903, services ran to Edinburgh Waverly and to Glasgow. Unfortunately with the electrification of the tramways, travelling by train into the centre of Edinburgh was less convenient and having had an operating life just shy of fifty years, Leith Central closed to passengers in April 1952. Of course, British Railways found itself with a huge structure on its hands, complete with rail link to Edinburgh Waverly. So Leith Central became a depot for the Inter-City Diesel Multiple Units that ran between Edinburgh Waverly and Glasgow Queen Street from 1956. When these units were retired in 1971 the depot was not required. It clung on until 1972, then the final curtain fell. Leith Central fell into dereliction and the former train shed became a refuge for heroin addicts and other derelicts. This gave rise to the title of Irving Welsh's 1993 cult novel about Edinburgh junkies, 'Trainspotting'. The future of the site was debated long and hard, whilst the rotting carcass of the train shed towered over the foot of Leith Walk. Whilst it should have been listed and sensitively restored to another use (as a shopping mall for example), the train shed was torn down in 1987. A Tesco supermarket and Leith Waterworld (recently closed down by our civic minded council) now occupy the site. All that remain are the station buildings and the iconic clock. This picture gives a better idea of the scale of the station before demolition.