Scottish shale Scottish shale

Dalmeny Railway No.1 & 2 mines

Parish:
Dalmeny, Linlithgowshire
Local authority:
City of Edinburgh
Ownership:
Dalmeny Oil Co. Ltd. (1896)
Seams worked:
Broxburn Shale
Closed:
Abandoned pre-1911 without significant quantities of shale having been produced
Current status of site:
Supposed site now woodland
Regional overview:
Mines in the Dalmeny area

dalmenyrailway12mines.jpg

Inclined adit

Serving Dalmeny Oil Works

The Coal Authority Mines Abandonment Catalogue lists Dalmeny No. 2, No. 3 and Railway Mines as being abandoned in 1914. It is unclear whether the Railway Mine relates to an unsuccessful attempt to exploit shale seams to the north of Dalmeny Oil Works - an area subsequently accessed in Rosshill No. 1 & 2 Mines. According to the West Lothian Courier for 10th March 1911, (see full source):

"An attempt was at first made to tap the seams from a point in close proximity to the railway, but, after a considerable amount of expense had been incurred, the scheme was found unsuitable, and the partly constructed mine was dismantled and abandoned."

The 1917 OS map (revised c.1914) shows a "Dalmeny Shale Mine" with an adit heading north west towards reserves of Pumpherston Shale subsequently worked at Rosshill No. 1 & 2. Might this be the "Railway Mine" ?

Shale-field: Queensferry and Dalmeny shale-fields.

Mapped by the Ordnance Survey of c.1896, showing the area prior to development of the mine.

  • Location & workings at Dalmeny Railway No.1 & 2 mines

      • Show seams:

  • Detailed maps
  • External references

      • Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 4323, showing workings in the Main or Broxburn, Curly, New, Brushing Shales from Dalmeny No. 2 & 3 Railway mines, abandoned in 1901.
      • Coal Authority Mine Abandonment Catalogue No. 6510, showing workings in the Main or Broxburn, Curly, New, Brushing Shales from Dalmeny No. 2 & 3 Railway mines, abandoned in 1914.

    Enquiry form