Authorized by an Act of 1873 but work did not commence until nine years and various further Acts later. Funds ran out after about two years' work and despite many extensions of time, the line was officially abandoned by Act of Parliament in 1898.

Has been nick named "Paddy Waddell's Railway" as John Waddell, the Edinburgh contractor overseeing construction of the line employed an Irish foreman called Gallagher to supervise it.