2. Railways

The reopened Borders Railway - The Waverley Route

On Sunday 6th of September 2015 the Borders Railway opened to passenger traffic. Three days later on 9th September it was officially opened by HM The Queen travelling in a special train hauled by John Cameron's A4 60009 "Union of South Africa". This is a rebuilt railway on the route of the North British Railway's famous "Waverley Route". The line runs to a terminus at Tweedbank, a new station between Galashiels and Melrose. There is talk of extending the route to Hawick, the last town of any great size along the former Edinburgh to Carlisle railway closed on 6/1/1969.
This is a journey in a southerly Up direction from Edinburgh to Tweedbank so will jump about with dates and rolling stock.
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    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.
    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.