A TIME capsule was buried as part of a 300th birthday celebration on Saturday.

The 1722 Waggonway Heritage Group welcomed more than 300 visitors to mark 300 years since the construction of Scotland’s first railway began.

Cockenzie-born William Dickson was commissioned by landowners The York Buildings Company of London in 1722 to build a wooden waggonway to connect the Tranent coal workings to the salt pans at Cockenzie, which needed the fuel for boiling sea water.

At the Waggonway path, north of Meadowmill, 30 people gathered to listen to Waggonway group leader Ed Bethune describe the history of the line and the recent research which had led the project to this point.

Ed said: “The combination of archaeology and documentary evidence which have dovetailed to get us to this level of understanding is remarkable – it’s not often that anniversaries of this significance can be celebrated and I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the project over the last five years.

“Scotland’s first railway is an asset which East Lothian can be proud of and we look forward to ensuring that it is a feature in our heritage landscape for generations to come.”

Paul McLennan, East Lothian MSP, was in attendance and gave a speech recognising the significance of the event and the volunteers’ efforts to shine the spotlight on this piece of history.

Mr McLennan said: “I’m delighted to be here to celebrate this occasion.

“I think it’s an incredible part of our industrial heritage, and I think the Waggonway Project should be very proud of what they’ve done.

“It’s really important that we don’t lose our industrial heritage, so a massive thank you to everyone involved.”

Following the speeches, a time capsule was buried, with Mr McLennan shovelling the first spade of soil.

The capsule contains information about the Waggonway Project, the history of the railway and some items and images relating to the history and archaeology of the line.

Re-enactors then posed for photos next to a replica wooden waggon and horse Betty, who was visiting from Seton Sands Community Ponies, a local horse rescue charity.

Following the morning’s activities, the Waggonway Museum at Cockenzie opened for guided history and archaeology tours, followed by an evening 300th birthday event featuring local beers brewed by Faking Bad Brewery in Prestonpans.

More than 300 visitors attended the events, which raised significant funds for the Waggonway Project.

The Waggonway Project is planning further excavations and will be releasing, with publishing partners the Scottish Record Society, The Journals of William Dickson 1717-1745 later this year.