2. Railways

The reopened Borders Railway - The Waverley Route

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  • The Borders Railway is the new name for the old Waverley Route which was rebuilt from Edinburgh to a new terminus at Tweedbank just south of Galashiels. This is Shawfair south of Edinburgh and is a new station built on a new section of track. 9/9/2015

    The Borders Railway is the new name for the old Waverley Route which was rebuilt from Edinburgh to a new terminus at Tweedbank just south of Galashiels. This is Shawfair south of Edinburgh and is a new station built on a new section of track. 9/9/2015

  • 158702 slows for its station stop at Shawfair with 2T99 1728 Tweedbank to Edinburgh. The original route left the south end of Millerhill Yard but this new section bypasses the yard and mining subsidence and comes off the original route at Newcraighall South Junction and rejoins it a few miles south at Sheriffhall.

    158702 slows for its station stop at Shawfair with 2T99 1728 Tweedbank to Edinburgh. The original route left the south end of Millerhill Yard but this new section bypasses the yard and mining subsidence and comes off the original route at Newcraighall South Junction and rejoins it a few miles south at Sheriffhall.

  • The new line is 35 miles and 25 chains long and is single track but with three dynamic loops some 3-4 miles long to allow trains to pass. Shawfair station is on one such loop and 158717 runs in passing 158702.

    The new line is 35 miles and 25 chains long and is single track but with three dynamic loops some 3-4 miles long to allow trains to pass. Shawfair station is on one such loop and 158717 runs in passing 158702.

  • Station work over 158717 departs Shawfair station. It is planned to built hundreds of new houses in the area here and the station will be waiting for them. This working is 2T54 1651 from Glenrothes with Thornton to Tweedbank.

    Station work over 158717 departs Shawfair station. It is planned to built hundreds of new houses in the area here and the station will be waiting for them. This working is 2T54 1651 from Glenrothes with Thornton to Tweedbank.

  • Turning round to record 158702 departing heading for Edinburgh Waverley.

    Turning round to record 158702 departing heading for Edinburgh Waverley.

  • The gradient change ahead is clearly visible. The line opened to passengers just three days previously and this day, 9th September 2015, was the official opening with HM The Queen being conveyed to Tweedbank by John Cameron's A4 60009 Union of South Africa.

    The gradient change ahead is clearly visible. The line opened to passengers just three days previously and this day, 9th September 2015, was the official opening with HM The Queen being conveyed to Tweedbank by John Cameron's A4 60009 Union of South Africa.

  • Lothianbridge now and 158731 crosses the rebuilt Hardengreen Viaduct with 2T70 0924 Edinburgh to Tweedbank. This structure is single track and if the line is ever rebuilt through to Carlisle then it will have to be rebuilt to double track, one of many short sighted decisions taken on the rebuilding of this line. 14/4/2017

    Lothianbridge now and 158731 crosses the rebuilt Hardengreen Viaduct with 2T70 0924 Edinburgh to Tweedbank. This structure is single track and if the line is ever rebuilt through to Carlisle then it will have to be rebuilt to double track, one of many short sighted decisions taken on the rebuilding of this line. 14/4/2017

  • The original viaduct was demolished to allow the road to be improved and a great deal of work was required here to put the tracks back. Whilst the line was rebuilt on the cheap, it WAS rebuilt and has proved extremely popular.

    The original viaduct was demolished to allow the road to be improved and a great deal of work was required here to put the tracks back. Whilst the line was rebuilt on the cheap, it WAS rebuilt and has proved extremely popular.

  • Eight days later I am back on the route for a day of photography. One of the major reasons why the line was deemed feasible was the fact that Newbattle Viaduct still stood and was in excellent structural condition. An unknown class 158 crosses the 23 arch viaduct with 2T65 0859 off Tweedbank to Edinburgh. 17/9/2015

    Eight days later I am back on the route for a day of photography. One of the major reasons why the line was deemed feasible was the fact that Newbattle Viaduct still stood and was in excellent structural condition. An unknown class 158 crosses the 23 arch viaduct with 2T65 0859 off Tweedbank to Edinburgh. 17/9/2015

  • The viaduct was designed by John Miller and opened by the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway in 1849. Today the double track wide deck carries just a single track. A patch of sunlight catches the north end of Newbattle Viaduct as an unidentified class 158 sprinter comes out of the trees with 2T70 0922 off Edinburgh to Tweedbank.

    The viaduct was designed by John Miller and opened by the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway in 1849. Today the double track wide deck carries just a single track. A patch of sunlight catches the north end of Newbattle Viaduct as an unidentified class 158 sprinter comes out of the trees with 2T70 0922 off Edinburgh to Tweedbank.

  • Moving south slightly and this is Newtongrange. 158735 with 158729 depart the relocated and newly built Newtongrange station just beyond the bridge with 2T67 0928 from Tweedbank to Edinburgh. The original station was located right where the units are.

    Moving south slightly and this is Newtongrange. 158735 with 158729 depart the relocated and newly built Newtongrange station just beyond the bridge with 2T67 0928 from Tweedbank to Edinburgh. The original station was located right where the units are.

  • The original station has long been demolished and the area was landscaped after the tracks were relaid. The units head for Edinburgh on a falling gradient here of 1 in 70.

    The original station has long been demolished and the area was landscaped after the tracks were relaid. The units head for Edinburgh on a falling gradient here of 1 in 70.

  • Moving further south a short distance but still at Newtongrange. The new station can be seen in the distance but the skyline is dominated by the Scottish Mining Museum's Lady Victoria Colliery. 158739 tries to gather speed on the rising 1 in 70 gradient with 2T72 0954 Edinburgh to Tweedbank.

    Moving further south a short distance but still at Newtongrange. The new station can be seen in the distance but the skyline is dominated by the Scottish Mining Museum's Lady Victoria Colliery. 158739 tries to gather speed on the rising 1 in 70 gradient with 2T72 0954 Edinburgh to Tweedbank.

  • Lady Victoria Colliery was preserved as it represents an almost complete survival of a major Victorian colliery. It was sunk in 1890 by the Lothian Coal Company and came into production in 1894 with the last coal being wound in 1981. The headstock stands over the main shaft which is 1,644 feet deep with a 20 foot diameter, the widest in Scottish mining. The mine was named after Lady Victoria Alexandrina Montagu Scott, the wife of the Lothian Coal Company chairman at the time. The ground in front of the buildings have been greatly altered since the mine closed and it was covered with sidings.

    Lady Victoria Colliery was preserved as it represents an almost complete survival of a major Victorian colliery. It was sunk in 1890 by the Lothian Coal Company and came into production in 1894 with the last coal being wound in 1981. The headstock stands over the main shaft which is 1,644 feet deep with a 20 foot diameter, the widest in Scottish mining. The mine was named after Lady Victoria Alexandrina Montagu Scott, the wife of the Lothian Coal Company chairman at the time. The ground in front of the buildings have been greatly altered since the mine closed and it was covered with sidings.

  • Crossing the road to get the going away shot of 158739, Tweedbank bound.

    Crossing the road to get the going away shot of 158739, Tweedbank bound.

  • An Edinburgh bound train drops down grade and slows for its station stop at Newtongrange. There are quite a few people on the platform, some may be waiting for this train but most will be waiting for the next one. 158728 forms 2T71 1028 Tweedbank to Edinburgh.

    An Edinburgh bound train drops down grade and slows for its station stop at Newtongrange. There are quite a few people on the platform, some may be waiting for this train but most will be waiting for the next one. 158728 forms 2T71 1028 Tweedbank to Edinburgh.

  • And here is the main event and the reason for me being out this day. As part of the opening celebrations 60009 worked three trips a week to Tweedbank for a seven week period. Here No9 passes through the station on the level with 1Z22 1052 Edinburgh to Tweedbank.

    And here is the main event and the reason for me being out this day. As part of the opening celebrations 60009 worked three trips a week to Tweedbank for a seven week period. Here No9 passes through the station on the level with 1Z22 1052 Edinburgh to Tweedbank.

  • The change in gradient is visible behind the train and No9 digs into the 1 in 70 pull and is making a fantastic sound with ten on but is probably getting some help from the loco on the back.

    The change in gradient is visible behind the train and No9 digs into the 1 in 70 pull and is making a fantastic sound with ten on but is probably getting some help from the loco on the back.

  • The noise from the Gresley pacific puts a flock of birds up into the air as the train passes by. The close proximity of the main line here was the reason why the colliery was sunk here.

    The noise from the Gresley pacific puts a flock of birds up into the air as the train passes by. The close proximity of the main line here was the reason why the colliery was sunk here.

  • The pit accessed the "Parrot" and "Splint" coal seams and linked up underground with the nearby Lingerwood pit to provide the required second shaft and Lady Victoria became the down draft shaft. On the 27th of March 1981 the last ton of coal was wound to bring to an end 87 years of production amounting to some 39 and a half million tons of coal.

    The pit accessed the "Parrot" and "Splint" coal seams and linked up underground with the nearby Lingerwood pit to provide the required second shaft and Lady Victoria became the down draft shaft. On the 27th of March 1981 the last ton of coal was wound to bring to an end 87 years of production amounting to some 39 and a half million tons of coal.

  • The going away shot with DBS silver liveried loco 67026 Silver Jubilee on the back. Due to there being no run round facilities at Tweedbank, the diesel is required to bring the train back to Edinburgh.

    The going away shot with DBS silver liveried loco 67026 Silver Jubilee on the back. Due to there being no run round facilities at Tweedbank, the diesel is required to bring the train back to Edinburgh.

  • Moving to a spot where the dogs could be let out the car and have a run and I have found a field near Arniston south of Newtongrange. 158740 passes by with 2T67 0930 off Tweedbank to Edinburgh. 14/4/2017

    Moving to a spot where the dogs could be let out the car and have a run and I have found a field near Arniston south of Newtongrange. 158740 passes by with 2T67 0930 off Tweedbank to Edinburgh. 14/4/2017

  • With a 30 minute timetable there is not long to wait between trains and here 158717 is working hard with 2T72 0954 off Edinburgh to Tweedbank. The gradient board indicates a change of gradient from 1 in 87 stiffening to 1 in 49!

    With a 30 minute timetable there is not long to wait between trains and here 158717 is working hard with 2T72 0954 off Edinburgh to Tweedbank. The gradient board indicates a change of gradient from 1 in 87 stiffening to 1 in 49!

  • Turning round for the going away shot and a bridge has been removed during the rebuilding.

    Turning round for the going away shot and a bridge has been removed during the rebuilding.

  • This is the view from the foot bridge just visible in the previous photo. 158736 drops downgrade near Arniston with 2T69 0959 off Tweedbank for Edinburgh.

    This is the view from the foot bridge just visible in the previous photo. 158736 drops downgrade near Arniston with 2T69 0959 off Tweedbank for Edinburgh.

  • Moving south again and I am at Gorebridge and 158734 approaches with 2T74 1024 from Edinburgh to Tweedbank. 17/9/2015

    Moving south again and I am at Gorebridge and 158734 approaches with 2T74 1024 from Edinburgh to Tweedbank. 17/9/2015

  • After the line was closed four houses were built over the trackbed in the foreground. They were compulsory purchased and demolished to allow the railway to be rebuilt. 158734 comes to a stand at the single platformed station where previously there were two staggered platforms. The boarded up building is part of the original station.

    After the line was closed four houses were built over the trackbed in the foreground. They were compulsory purchased and demolished to allow the railway to be rebuilt. 158734 comes to a stand at the single platformed station where previously there were two staggered platforms. The boarded up building is part of the original station.

  • Gorebridge station viewed from the bridge to the south of the single platform. 158739 comes to a stand with 2T74 1024 Edinburgh to Tweedbank. There are several people on the platform but they are waiting for the Edinburgh train. 14/4/2017

    Gorebridge station viewed from the bridge to the south of the single platform. 158739 comes to a stand with 2T74 1024 Edinburgh to Tweedbank. There are several people on the platform but they are waiting for the Edinburgh train. 14/4/2017

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    Moving further south a short distance but still at Newtongrange. The new station can be seen in the distance but the skyline is dominated by the Scottish Mining Museum's Lady Victoria Colliery. 158739 tries to gather speed on the rising 1 in 70 gradient with 2T72 0954 Edinburgh to Tweedbank.
    Lady Victoria Colliery was preserved as it represents an almost complete survival of a major Victorian colliery. It was sunk in 1890 by the Lothian Coal Company and came into production in 1894 with the last coal being wound in 1981. The headstock stands over the main shaft which is 1,644 feet deep with a 20 foot diameter, the widest in Scottish mining. The mine was named after Lady Victoria Alexandrina Montagu Scott, the wife of the Lothian Coal Company chairman at the time. The ground in front of the buildings have been greatly altered since the mine closed and it was covered with sidings.
    Crossing the road to get the going away shot of 158739, Tweedbank bound.