 The opening of the line was much delayed by difficulties which the contractor had not foreseen and which he had not sufficient capital to enable him to surmount.The main line opened from St Leonard's to a coal pit at Craighall on 4 July 1831; this was probably close to the present-day Newcraighall.It was soon extended to a temporary terminus at Dalhousie Mains, on the north bank of the South Esk river, opening in October 1831.