The Craigie Waggonway was a short lived mineral railway or 'Bogey line' of just over a mile in length that transported coal from five or more coal pits on the Craigie Estate to Ayr where it was either used locally or was taken to the harbour in carts for export, mainly to Ireland. History The waggonway had a lot in common with the Towerlands Tram Road in Irvine that carried coal from local coal pits and delivered it to an area close to the historic town centre. In 1855 Robert Brown is recorded as the owner of the first Craigie Pit and by 1857 Nos. 2 & 3 were operating. Although once owned by the Wallace family who had been involved in coal mining the estate had passed to James Campbell by 1855. The surrounding estates of Newton-on-Ayr, Wallacetwon, Blackhouse, Auchincruive and Holmiston were all also involved in coal mining and related activities. The pits Craigie Pits Nos 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 lay on the route of the waggonway and the OS maps shows three of them linked to the 'main line' by single or double track branches. The pits lay on or in the vicinity of the Ayr Racecourse. In 1861 six coal pits were in operation on the Craigie Estates with five at least served by the waggonway. Associated infrastructure It is known that various sorts of sleepers were in use at the time on waggonways or tram roads, however on the nearby and contemporary Auchincruive Waggonway wood and also stone blocks have been found, square or oblong stone blocks being favoured on many horse-worked lines as they did not interfere with the centre of the track. The waggonway gauge is not known. The 'main line' was single track without passing loops. No indication of formal signalling is recorded and it is not clear what sort of rails and chairs were used. Operation of the Waggonway In keeping with other such waggonways the line was probably worked by horses with some manual handling. The waggonway did not reach the quayside however and coal may have been delivered to the town from here and a short distance away at the Ayr north quay stood the wooden and later steel 'hurries' where coal was tipped into the holds of the fleet of colliers and most transported to Ireland. In 1857 four hurries are shown on the OS map,