Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)

Introduction

This railway has largely re-opened as the Borders Railway (Network Rail).

The line was an integral part of the former Waverley Route from Edinburgh to Carlisle via Galashiels and Hawick.

Originally to be built by the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway Company, the company was bought by the North British Railway before construction began and was opened as the larger company's Hawick Branch.

The line closed in 1969.

It re-opened in 2015 from Sheriffhall south to Galashiels and Tweedbank on the 6th of September.

The northern portion from Portobello East Junction to Niddrie South Junction never closed and Brunstane station opened in 2002. Newcraighall opened on a portion of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway at the same time. From Newcraighall a new line, the Millerhill Deviation (Network Rail) takes the line south to Sheriffhall via a new station at Shawfair.

The line is supported and promoted by the Borders Railway Community Rail Partnership .

Why built

This line was built to carry passengers, goods and livestock from the border towns of Hawick, Newtown St Boswells, Galashiels and the surrounding area to Edinburgh.



The re-opened line carries a passenger service from Tweedbank via Galashiels, where there is a transport interchange, north to Edinburgh.

Service

The re-opened line carries passengers from Tweedbank and Galashiels to Edinburgh Waverley.



Dates

  /  /1845Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Act receives Royal assent.
  /  /1845Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (as yet unbuilt) absorbed by North British Railway.
14/07/1847Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Portobello East Junction to Niddrie South Junction, Cairney to Millerhill, re-alignment at Sheriffhall [2nd] and Dalhousie to Gorebridge opened.
01/05/1848Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Line extended from Gorebridge to Bowland.
20/04/1849Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Line opened from Bowland to Hawick [1st].
  /10/1852Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Newstead station closed.
  /  /1858Arniston Emily Pit (Gorebridge)
Opened near the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) (railway opened to here 1847).
01/07/1862Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Hawick [1st] closed to passengers on opening of the Border Union Railway (North British Railway).
  /  /1870Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Fountainhall station masters house built.
17/07/1871Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Auction Mart started by John Swan & Sons by the St Boswells station.
  /  /1901Lauder Light Railway
Line opened. A new signal box is opened at Fountainhall for the new junction with the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway).
01/08/1908Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Newtongrange [1st] station opened.
14/12/1916Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
A major landslip at Ladhope Tunnel, just west of Galashiels [1st] station, blocks line.
  /  /1923Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Melrose station's timber roof removed.
  /08/1948Kelso Branch (York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway)
Kelso Branch (North British Railway)
Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Line used by expresses including the Flying Scotsman which are diverted from the East Coast Main Line due to flooding damage to the main line.
11/08/1948Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Four landslides caused by the heavy rain and flooding of the 11th and 12th.
  /  /1950Kelso Branch (York, Newcastle and Berwick Railway)
Kelso Branch (North British Railway)
Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Route via Kelso used by expresses diverted from the East Coast Main Line due to flooding damage to the main line.
17/02/1958North British Railway
Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Peebles Railway
Galashiels, Innerleithen and Peebles Railway (North British Railway)
Class 100 DMUs introduced on the Edinburgh Waverley - Peebles - Galashiels [1st] loop service. This leads to an immediate more than doubling of the passenger numbers.
  /  /1964Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Fountainhall becomes de-staffed.
06/01/1969Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) Border Union Railway (North British Railway) Carlisle and Port Carlisle Railway and Dock
Edinburgh (Portobello East Junction) to Hawick [2nd] to Carlisle (Port Carlisle Junction) closed to passengers. Newtongrange [1st], Gorebridge, Tynehead, Heriot, Fountainhall, Stow, Galashiels [1st], Melrose, St Boswells, Hassendean, Hawick [2nd], Stobs, Shankend, Riccarton Junction, Steele Road, Newcastleton stations closed.
28/04/1969Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Gorebridge, Lady Victoria Pit, (excluded) to Hawick [2nd] officially closed to goods.
  /  /1989Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Millerhill Yard Junction (by Millerhill MPD, approximate location of the former Cairnie station) to Millerhill Junction (south of the former Millerhill station) closed.
  /08/2000Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
The Campaign for Borders Rail erects a straw-bale replica of a steam locomotive at Bowland visible from the A68 to raise awareness.
03/06/2002Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Portobello East Junction to Niddrie South Junction and Niddrie South Junction to Newcraighall re-opened to passengers with a stations at Brunstane and Newcraighall. A long reversing spur was provided south of Newcraighall from the new Newcraighall Junction.
  /11/2002Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Unapproved survey work for the proposed Borders Railway (Network Rail) blocked by landowners.
  /02/2003Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Landowners paid compensation for survey work undertaken on their land without permission for the proposed Borders Railway (Network Rail).
26/11/2005Borders Railway (Network Rail) Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Confirmation that the Borders Railway will provide a direct service from the Borders across Edinburgh to Edinburgh Airport.
05/03/2008Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Cost of re-opening the line, as the Borders Railway, is announced to have risen to £235M-£295M. (Original estimate in 2002 was £130.)
03/03/2010Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
First sod cut by Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson at Galashiels.
  /04/2010Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
Original over bridge at Cowbraehill (south of Tynehead) removed for re-opening.
06/09/2015Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)Millerhill Deviation (Network Rail)
Newcraighall North Junction to Tweedbank opened to passengers with stations at Shawfair, Eskbank, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Stow, Galashiels and Tweedbank. Newcraighall Junction renamed Newcraighall North Junction.

Route described

The original line ran south from Dalhousie to Gorebridge, Galashiels, Newtown St Boswells and Hawick. As built the line was double track and the northern approach, via the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway, was re-gauged and partly re-aligned. A short section was also opened from Portobello East Junction to Niddrie South Junction upon which the 2002 Brunstane station opened, whereas Newcraighall is on the older Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway.


Portions of line and locations

This line is divided into a number of portions.


Portobello to Niddrie

This portion opened from Portobello East Junction to Niddrie South Junction and gave new, more suitable, access from the west to the existing Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway from the main line of the North British Railway.

This junction is open. The double track East Coast Main Line from Berwick-Upon-Tweed meets the single track line from Tweedbank and passenger trains run west to Edinburgh Waverley.
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See also
North British Railway
New Portobello Station (North British Railway)
Portobello Yard (North British Railway)
170394 takes to the Borders Railway at Portobello Junction, with the 13.22 from
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Bill Roberton 02/12/2022
West Coast 47812 takes the crossover at Portobello Junction, with empty stock from a Hull to Edinburgh 'Northern Belle' excursion, on 2nd December ...
Bill Roberton 02/12/2022
LNER 801228 passes Portobello Junction with the 08.30 from Kings Cross to Edinburgh on 2 December 2022.
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Bill Roberton 02/12/2022
A CrossCountry Class 220 creeps along the Craigentinny Depot line heading for the Suburban Circle on 15 April 2021. Don't ask me why or where it was ...
David Panton 15/04/2021
4 of 45 images. more


A Tweedbank service rounds the curve towards Brunstane station, still accelerating from the crawl imposed by the junction. Both lines are ...
David Panton 17/05/2018
1 of 1 images.


This is a single platform station. The platform was erected on the former eastbound line between Portobello East Junction (to the north west) and Niddrie North Junction (to the south).
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See also
Borders Railway (Network Rail)
SB Rail tamper DR 73941 passes 170427 at Brunstane with a Slateford - Leith South - Slateford trip, one of two on the 29 November 2023.
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Bill Roberton 29/11/2023
An early Sunday morning empty stock movement runs south past the platform at Brunstane on 15 September 2019 before turning off towards Niddrie West ...
John Furnevel 15/09/2019
On Wednesday 29 November 2023, trial runs were made of the 'Polar Express' prior to public services the following day. 47848 climbs past Brunstane ...
Bill Roberton 29/11/2023
An empty stock movement running between Craigentinny and the west end of Waverley passes through Brunstane on 15 September 2019. Photographed through ...
John Furnevel 15/09/2019
4 of 64 images. more


This was the junction between the North British Railway's line from Portobello East Junction to Niddrie South Junction and an isolated curve of the Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway from Niddrie West Junction which enabled trains from the southside line to approach Edinburgh Waverley from the east, thus completing a circle line and provide a route for goods ...

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See also
Edinburgh, Suburban and Southside Junction Railway
47813 on the rear of the 'Polar Express' test run, on its way to see Santa in Gorgie, passing Niddrie North Junction on 29 November 2023. To the left ...
Bill Roberton 29/11/2023
ScotRail 380006 about to pass between the remains of the Lothian Lines bridge abutments at Niddrie North Junction on 8 July 2018. The train is an ...
John Furnevel 08/07/2018
A Tweedbank to Edinburgh service approaches its penultimate stop of Brunstane on 13 July. The pier it is passing is acting as a monument to the ...
David Panton 13/07/2018
A diverted empty stock movement from Craigentinny Depot to Waverley running past the site of Niddrie North Junction on 15 September 2019. The HST is ...
John Furnevel 15/09/2019
4 of 27 images. more


This was the second Niddrie station, shown on contemporary OS maps as Niddry Junction.
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This junction is in the south east of Edinburgh. It controls the junction between the Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank line and the goods only line from Slateford and Haymarket. It is a busy location with freight, passenger trains and depot traffic, made difficult by the single track line north to Portobello.
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See also
Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway
Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways)
Lothian Lines (North British Railway)
An early Sunday morning PW train returning to Millerhill South Sidings in October 2017 carrying residual spoil and spent ballast. The train is ...
John Furnevel 15/10/2017
A Tweedbank service clears the junction on the approach to Newcraighall on 5 June. The feathers are for the connection with the Sub at Niddrie West, ...
David Panton 05/06/2018
Grab shot from a Waverley - Newcraighall train crossing a bridge on the approach to Niddrie South Junction (100m to the left) on 9 August 2013. View ...
John Furnevel 09/08/2013
The 0911 Edinburgh - Tweedbank approaching Niddrie South Junction shortly after leaving Brunstane on 10 June 2018. On the left is the line to Niddrie ...
John Furnevel 10/06/2018
4 of 9 images. more





Millerhill to Sherriffhall

The Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway was re-aligned from just north of Cairney south to Millerhill and regained the old alignment just south of Sherriffhall [2nd] .

This was a two platform station just north of the 1874 Millerhill Junction for the Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway. It was built on the new alignment of the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) which replaced the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway's original alignment.
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Millerhill station building viewed from the west in 1995 when largely unaltered form. ...
Ewan Crawford //1995
20204 and sister pass the site of Millerhill Station, with a MGR coal train from Bilston Glen Colliery in 1981. ...
Bill Roberton //1981
43068 is on a diverted HST service at Millerhill, looking north, in Autumn 1988.
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Crinan Dunbar //1988
Hard to believe... but this is the old station at Millerhill with major extension work in progress on 18 August 2022. For a 2004 view see image ...
John Furnevel 18/08/2022
4 of 32 images. more


This location is out of use. The junction was immediately south of Millerhill station (1849). It was the junction between the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) of 1847 and the Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway of 1874. (The 1831 Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway alignment was off to the west.)
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See also
Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways)
Withdrawn from passenger service in February 1968, AC Cars railbus W79977 was used as a store at the south end of Millerhill Yard, roughly at the site ...
John Clark /04/1969
26042 shunts a ECML electrification train at Millerhill Junction in 1990.
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Bill Roberton //1990
37153 propels a wiring train into the ECML electrification yard at Millerhill Junction in 1990.
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Bill Roberton //1990
Millerhill has been a location of long slow decline but in May 1995 there was still something to see. The abandoned ECML electrification depot ahead ...
David Panton 25/05/1995
4 of 7 images. more


This short lived station replaced Sheriffhall [1st]. It was probably located to the south side of the A6106 overbridge and opened with the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway).
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Millerhill Deviation (Network Rail)
A northbound DMU on the Borders Railway approaching the double track section at Kings Gate on 11 September 2022 with the 0950 ex-Tweedbabnk. ...
John Furnevel 11/09/2022
A Sunday morning service on the Borders Railway approaching Kings Gate Points from the south on a misty 24 November 2019. The train is approximately ...
John Furnevel 24/11/2019
Southern approach to the A6106 road bridge at Melville Gate in July 2012, more than 40 years after this section of the Waverley route had closed and ...
John Furnevel 25/07/2012
A Sunday morning service on the Borders Railway seen midway between the Eskbank and Shawfair stops on 28 May 2017. The 6-car 170 combination is ...
John Furnevel 18/05/2017
4 of 18 images. more





Dalhousie to Hawick

The bulk of the line ran from just north of the South Esk terminus south to Hawick [1st].

This intermediary two platform station replaced the South Esk terminus of the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway when it was realigned and re-gauged as a railway.
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This is a double track twenty three arch viaduct over the River South Esk. The height over the South Esk is 80ft and the viaduct is around 1093 ft long. The southernmost arch is skew and crosses the A7. A minor road crossed under the second arch from the north end and the River South Esk passes under the third and forth arches. Alternative names include Lothianbridge, Dalhouse and South Esk ...

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Maintenance work in progress at the north end of Newbattle Viaduct in September 2014. ...
John Furnevel 07/09/2014
The 23 arch Newbattle Viaduct carries the railway across the valley of the South Esk, above a river and two public roads. At the north end of the ...
John Furnevel 10/08/2014
A plaque will be displayed on the Sun Inn to celebrate the Newbattle Viaduct. Here Stuart Mackay of BAM Nuttall and Institution of Civil Engineer Past ...
John Yellowlees 06/09/2018
With 2nd January 2018 being a public holiday in Scotland, there was a reduced rail service in operation. The 1124 Edinburgh - Tweedbank was one of ...
John Furnevel 02/01/2019
4 of 37 images. more


This siding was at the south east end of the Newbattle Viaduct. It connected the new Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) to the former Marquis of Lothian's Waggonway at the south east end of the original Newbattle Viaduct [1st]. The bridge was removed but its approach was now used as a reversal to access the line east to Bryans Pit and other mines.
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See also
Newbattle Collieries Railway (Lothian Coal Co Ltd)
ScotRail 170394 heads north towards Edinburgh shortly after leaving Newtongrange in bright autumn sunshine on the morning of 13 October 2022. The ...
John Furnevel 13/10/2022
The ScotRail 1024 Edinburgh - Tweedbank photographed shortly after leaving Newbattle Viaduct as it approaches the Newtongrange stop on 17 September ...
John Furnevel 17/09/2020
Amongst improvements made by the Lothian Coal Company during development of the Lady Victoria cmplex was the construction of extensive rail facilities ...
John Furnevel 13/05/2021
The 0911 (Sunday) Edinburgh - Tweedbank has just cleared Newbattle Viaduct on a cold, grey November morning. The train is formed by ScotRail 170407 in ...
John Furnevel 10/11/2019
4 of 5 images. more


This signal box was at the south end of the Newbattle Viaduct it controlled entry to West Bryans Siding and the mineral lines to Bryans Pit etc. (See the West Bryans Siding entry.)
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Newbattle Collieries Railway (Lothian Coal Co Ltd)
With a puff of 'cushion' steam, 44871 brings up the rear of the first of the August 'The Forth Bridge & Scottish Borders' trips operated by the SRPS. ...
Bill Roberton 04/08/2019
ScotRail 170407, sporting British Transport Police livery, forming the 0911 (Sunday) Edinburgh Waverley - Tweedbank approaching the Newtongrange stop ...
John Furnevel 10/11/2019
A mid-morning train on the Borders Railway about to run south through the site of the first Newtongrange station in February 2016. The footbridge ...
John Furnevel 29/02/2016
An Edinburgh bound DMU on the Borders Railway heads north from Newtongrange on 11 January 2015. The train is about to pass below the second of the two ...
John Furnevel 11/01/2015
4 of 8 images. more


This was a two platform station located in a shallow cutting opened in 1908. It was north of the present Newtongrange station and south of the Newbattle Viaduct. It replaced Dalhousie station which was located to the north of the viaduct. The relocation was due to the expanding mining village at Newtongrange and the inconvenience of the original Dalhousie terminus of the ...

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The 0947 ScotRail Tweedbank - Edinburgh passes through the site of the original Newtongrange station, shortly after leaving the current version on ...
John Furnevel 30/08/2020
The ScotRail 0921 departure for Edinburgh Waverley (0848 ex-Tweedbank) leaving Newtongrange on 22 May 2022. The train is about to run through the site ...
John Furnevel 22/05/2022
An empty ballast train emerges from under the A7 at Newtongrange on 25 October 2014. The empties are about to return to Millerhill following trackbed ...
John Furnevel 25/10/2014
Newtongrange station looking north on 27/03/1967.
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John Clark 27/03/1967
4 of 25 images. more


The new bistro in the former Dean Oil Works at Newtongrange Station is being opened on 11 May by the
John Yellowlees 07/05/2019
1 of 1 images.


This is a single platform station to the south of the original Newtongrange [1st] station.
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Borders Railway (Network Rail)
A northbound Sunday morning service on the Borders Railway photographed shortly after restarting from Newtongrange on fine and sunny 30 August 2020. ...
John Furnevel 30/08/2020
Autumnal scene at Newtongrange on the morning of 4 October 2018 as the 0850 ScotRail service from Tweedbank calls on its way to Waverley. ...
John Furnevel 04/10/2018
Light but persistent rain on the morning of Sunday 20 September 2020 sees the 0911 Edinburgh Waverley - Tweedbank emerge from below the A7 to arrive ...
John Furnevel 20/09/2020
The southern approach to Newtongrange station on a dull and overcast morning on the first day of April 2021. ScotRail DMU 170404 is nearing its next ...
John Furnevel 01/04/2021
4 of 83 images. more


This was a rail served coal depot. It was originally a loading point for coal from opencast (or non rail served mines). The site covered a large area on the west side of the Waverley Route just south of Newtongrange [1st] station. The Lady Victoria Pit was located just over the Waverley Route on its east side. Also known as Butlerfield. The Industrial Railway Society lists the location as ...

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Although still looking in reasonable condition, this Andrew Barclay 0-6-0ST carrying running number 20 of the NCB Lothians Area gives the distinct ...
Bill Jamieson 25/05/1971
1 of 1 images.


Lady Victoria Colliery was served by a large yard and sidings warranting their own signal box. A major expansion of the Newbattle Colliery led to a new connection and exchange sidings being laid out on the east side of the Waverley Route. The whole scheme was built on a grand scale and included the new village of Newtongrange, to the north. The pit was named for Lady Victoria Alexandrina, ...

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Lady Victoria Colliery (Lothian Coal Co Ltd)
Lothian Lines (North British Railway)
The 0947 (Sunday) Tweedbank - Edinburgh approaching Newtongrange on 16 August 2019. The train is about to run below the B704 road bridge and past the ...
John Furnevel 16/08/2020
A Sunday morning service on the Borders Railway heading for Tweedbank on 22 May 2022. The train is approaching the B794 road bridge half a mile south ...
John Furnevel 22/05/2022
The trackbed of the Waverley Route as it was in March 2007, seen here looking north from the B704 road bridge towards the site of Newtongrange ...
John Furnevel 29/03/2007
Interior of Lady Victoria Pit signalbox in 1973 after all track lifted.
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Bill Roberton //1973
4 of 43 images. more


These catchpoints were north west of the connection between the mineral line serving the Arniston Colliery Gore Pit and the main line Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) ('Waverley Route'). The line going north ran downhill and these catchpoints protected the railway from runaways from the collieries.
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Arniston Coal Company
Track laying imminent at Arniston, between Newtongrange and Gorebridge, looking north towards Lady Victoria on 15th July 2014. ...
David Spaven 15/07/2014
Sunday morning view south at Arniston on 6 July, with the trackbed starting to veer south east prior to crossing the A7 on Gore Glen bridge see image ...
John Furnevel 06/07/2014
View south at Arniston towards Gorebridge on 15 May 2014, with sleepers awaiting tracklaying. ...
John Yellowlees 15/07/2014
View north at Arniston towards Newtongrange on 3 November with 66610 on the rear of a returning ballast train. ...
Bill Roberton 03/11/2014
4 of 6 images. more


This concrete viaduct crosses the A7 on an oblique not far west of Gorebridge station.
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A ScotRail DMU on the Borders Railway heading for Tweedbank on a bright and sunny August morning in 2015. The train is about to enter the Gore Glen on ...
John Furnevel 30/08/2015
ScotRail 158731 heading north between Gorebridge and Newtongrange on 4 August 2018. Beyond the trees on the right is the Gore Glen, while off to the ...
John Furnevel 04/08/2018
An early afternoon southbound service on the Borders Railway photographed crossing the Gore Glen Bridge above the A7 on 25 September 2015. ...
John Furnevel 25/09/2015
A mid morning Tweedbank service on the Borders Railway photographed south of Newtongrange in the summer of 2022. The train is currently passing ...
John Furnevel 09/06/2022
4 of 44 images. more


This pit was sunk by the Arniston Coal Company. It was close to the Waverley Route, just east of Gorebridge station. ...

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Arniston Coal Company
The road that once led to the Gore Pit on the western edge of Gorebridge, seen here in 2016. The road passed between two large waste bings containing ...
John Furnevel 10/04/2016
1 of 1 images.




This is a single platform station on the Borders Railway. The original two storey station building remains standing. The platform occupies roughly the location of the original northbound platform. A similar building remains at Fountainhall.
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Borders Railway (Network Rail)
A route familiarisation trip on the Borders Railway leaving Gorebridge on a fine June morning in 2015 on its way from Tweedbank to Newcraighall. ...
John Furnevel 09/06/2015
A northbound morning service on the Borders Railway leaving Gorebridge for Edinburgh Waverley on 20 September 2020. The train will arrive at its ...
John Furnevel 20/09/2020
Sunday 6th September 2015 was the first day of revenue earning services on the newly reopened Borders Railway. The first train south that day was the ...
John Furnevel 06/09/2015
The 0947 ex-Tweedbank climbs away from the Gorebridge stop on 1 May 2022 with a Sunday morning service to Edinburgh Waverley. ...
John Furnevel 01/05/2022
4 of 154 images. more


This 'junction' is the northern end of the Fushiebridge - Tynehead loop. It is located roughly on the site of a tunnel, just south of Gorebridge station which was opened out. It is not a true junction - there is only one railway here.
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Train in the rain. The 1125 Edinburgh - Tweedbank heads south shortly after restarting from Gorebridge on a wet 9 February 2016. ScotRail 158719 is ...
John Furnevel 09/02/2016
The 1128 Tweedbank - Edinburgh has just left the double track section at Fushiebridge points on 9 February 2016 and is passing below the new ...
John Furnevel 09/02/2016
The points at the northern end of the double track Gorebridge - Tynehead section of the Borders Railway. Long lens view north from Fushiebridge on 29 ...
John Furnevel 29/05/2015
Footbridge in a field. Looking back towards Gorebridge on a wet 9 February 2016 from the new footbridge just north of Fushiebridge points. The bridge ...
John Furnevel 09/02/2016
4 of 5 images. more


This was a two platform station. No new station has been provided here with re-opening of the line. The nearest station is Gorebridge. Stow is the next on the route south, formerly Tynehead was the next south.
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Just a few weeks to go. Another route familiarisation trip on the Borders Railway about to run south through the site of Fushiebridge station on 30 ...
John Furnevel 30/07/2015
A Sunday morning service on the Borders Railway heads south through Fushiebridge on 19 May 2022. ...
John Furnevel 19/05/2022
A soutbound DMU on the Borders Railway about to pass through the site of Fushiebridge station on the morning of 9 February 2016. The junction here ...
John Furnevel 09/02/2016
A northbound train on the Borders Railway on 21 October 2018, ScotRail 158723 has a clear to run onto the single line at Fushiebridge points at the ...
John Furnevel 21/10/2018
4 of 27 images. more


The first station site at Fushiebridge was slightly cramped and located to the south of the road bridge. This was later the site of the goods yard only.
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A northbound DMU about to run through the site of Fushiebridge station on a fine Sunday morning in the late spring of 2022. ScotRail 158707, forming ...
John Furnevel 19/05/2022
Looking north from Fushiebridge on a fine and sunny 19 May 2022 as a the ScotRail 0921 Tweedbank - Edinburgh approaches its next scheduled stop at ...
John Furnevel 19/05/2022
A down Sunday morning service on the Borders Railway approaching Fushiebridge in December 2018. By this time no trace remained of the former station ...
John Furnevel 08/12/2018
Scene at Fushiebridge on 10 May 2013 following the removal of much vegetation and miscellaneous rubbish from the old trackbed as part of the ...
John Furnevel 10/05/2013
4 of 26 images. more


This signal box broke the section between Fushiebridge [1st] station and Tynehead station. The box was located on the Borthwick Bank, on the south side of the line, north east of Borthwick Castle .
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A northbound service on the Borders Railway between Tynehead and Fushiebridge on a bright and sunny 21 June 2018. The train is passing through the ...
John Furnevel 21/06/2018
Black 5 45407 at Borthwick with a Borders Steam special on 6th August 2017.
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Bill Roberton 06/08/2017
Restoration work on the cutting at Bortwick Bank on 13 March 2014, looking in the general direction of Gorebridge. Crew training turns started running ...
John Furnevel 13/03/2014
Author Sandy Mullay's description of a 'sinuous succession of curves'
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David Spaven 20/08/2017
4 of 47 images. more


This former freestone quarry and gravel pit became an ash dump for St Margarets Shed. Sidings, which were moved as required, ran out to the north from Borthwick Bank Signal Box, reached by a headshunt which made a trailing connection east of the box. Material was dumped into Birky Side / Maggie Bowie's Glen - the define of the Tyne Water.
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Deep in the woods to the east of Borthwick Bank lurk a remarkable
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David Spaven 20/08/2017
Old NB rail chair amongst the remains at the former St Margarets shed ash dump sidings at Birky Side on 5 May 2008. ...
Mark Poustie 05/05/2008
Remains of sidings at Birky Side, between Fushiebridge and Tynehead on the Waverley Route, photographed on 5 May 2008. The sidings were used over many ...
Mark Poustie 05/05/2008
3 of 3 images.


This was a two platform station located in a deep cutting. The street level building remains here, in use as a house.
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A crew training trip on the Borders Railway rounding the curve at Tynehead on the descent from Falahill Summit on 2 July 2015. The DMU is en route ...
John Furnevel 02/07/2015
A northbound train on the Borders Railway, seen here on 24 February 2018 shortly after passing the site of Tynehead station. The train is three and a ...
John Furnevel 24/02/2018
A northbound ScotRail 158 aon the Borders Railway about to run through the site of Tynehead station in December 2016. ...
John Furnevel 27/12/2016
A miserable Friday morning in April 2013 looking north from the site of Tynehead station towards Fushiebridge along what was then the trackbed of the ...
John Furnevel 12/04/2013
4 of 41 images. more


The 1328 ex-Tweedbank, consisting of a pair of ScotRail 158 DMUs, has just cleared the points at Tynehead Junction and entered the four mile double ...
John Furnevel 24/02/2018
A southbound ScotRail service waits for the return SRPS Railtour to clear Tynehead Junction on 5th August 2018, as seen from 37516. ...
David Spaven 05/08/2018
A green light at Overbridge 41 south of Tynehead, a notorious example of Transport Scotland's penny-wise, pound-foolish approach to the Borders ...
David Spaven 05/08/2018
The 1259 Tweedbank - Edinburgh runs onto the double track section at Tynehead on 27 December 2016. ...
John Furnevel 27/12/2016
4 of 12 images. more


This is a summit of 880 ft. A weigh station was opened at Falahill with the line. Banking to Falahill Summit was common. The location had up and down loops and sidings. There was a water tank and signal box, dating from 1894, on the east side.
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A southbound ScotRail DMU on the Borders Railway rounds the curve at Falahill with a service to Tweedbank. View is north east, looking back towards ...
John Furnevel 21/07/2022
A southbound train on the Borders Railway runs past the village of Falahill on the morning of 17 August 2016. The car in the left background is ...
John Furnevel 17/08/2016
A cold and misty November morning at Falahill in 2018. The train is the late running ScotRail 0942 Edinburgh Waverley - Tweedbank. ...
John Furnevel 08/11/2018
A train on the Borders Railway heading for Edinburgh, photographed at Falahill on 21 July 2022. ...
John Furnevel 21/07/2022
4 of 46 images. more


This was a two platform station with staggered platforms, one on either side of a level crossing.
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The trackbed of the Waverley Route looking north through the site of Heriot station in May 2008. The former level crossing can be seen in the ...
John Furnevel 18/05/2008
Scene at Heriot on 13 April 2014 with remains of the 1848 station, including the old up platform, about to disappear in preparation for the new ...
John Furnevel 13/04/2014
The former station at Heriot, as it was in the summer of 2013. At the far end of the old up platform stood the level crossing and beyond that the 1848 ...
John Furnevel 19/06/2013
Looking north towards Heriot in June 2014, with the A7 on the far right and the Old Stage Road on the left. Running across the picture between the two ...
John Furnevel 30/06/2014
4 of 52 images. more


The northern of the two bridges at Crookston in 2002. The bridge has been repaired and painted green. ...
Ewan Crawford 25/08/2002
The northern of the two viaducts at Crookston, just north of Fountainhall. This bridge is looking grand in its new green paint. ...
Ewan Crawford 03/03/2014
Contractors dismantle the remaining Up track of the Waverley Route in January 1972, at Crookston just north of Fountainhall. In this view looking ...
David Spaven /01/1972
3 of 3 images.


The 0924 Edinburgh - Tweedbank southbound on the Borders Line between Fountainhall and Stow on 25 April 2019. The train is crossing the Gala Water on ...
John Furnevel 25/04/2019
45407 heads up the 1 in 158 gradient a little to the north of Fountainhall with the first Tweedbank - Dalgety Bay trip of the day. 9 October. ...
Bill Roberton 09/10/2016
The 0840 Newcraighall - Tweedbank crossing the Gala Water just north of Fountainhall on 30 August 2015. ...
John Furnevel 30/08/2015
Still no significant change in the temperature by the early afternoon of 26 December with the light already beginning to fade and the mist continuing ...
John Furnevel 26/12/2014
4 of 9 images. more


ScotRail 158740 northbound on the Borders Railway at Bower on 25 April 2019. The train is the 0958 Tweedbank - Edinburgh Waverley ...
John Furnevel 25/04/2019
The late running 0928 ex-Tweedbank northbound on the Borders line at Bower on 25 April 2019. ...
John Furnevel 25/04/2019
Another plate-girder bridge on the northern section of the Waverley route, this one south of Heriot. Photographed on 8 June 2008 looking east towards ...
John Furnevel /06/2008
Under wraps! One of several bridgeworks on the Gala Water, this one half a mile north of Fountainhall station on 13 April 2014. View is west from ...
John Furnevel 04/04/2014
4 of 6 images. more


This was a two platform station with a bay platform for the Lauder Light Railway. The main station building was on the northbound platform with a water tank at the south end of the same platform.
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See also
Lauder Light Railway
A southbound train on the Borders Railway about to pass over the remains of the old level crossing at Fountainhall in July 2019. The abandoned and ...
John Furnevel 25/07/2019
Major changes to the road layout around Fountainhall took place during preparations for the Borders Railway. This May 2015 view south shows the old ...
John Furnevel 20/05/2015
The abandoned station at Fountainhall on 18 September 2022, with the 0912 service from Waverley passing through southbound on its way to Tweedbank. ...
John Furnevel 18/09/2022
A ScotRail 6-car DMU at speed northbound through the site of Fountainhall station on 18 September 2022. The former level crossing is today a Network ...
John Furnevel 18/09/2022
4 of 42 images. more


Looking north to Fountainhall from Torquhan in 1997. Even before line clearance the trackbed here was in pretty good shape with the ballast still ...
Ewan Crawford 15/03/1997
A Waverley Route bridge over the Gala water between Torquhan and Fountainhall. Earlier in the day, a large concrete pour was taking place, this was ...
James Young 26/09/2009
2 of 2 images.




An early afternoon ScotRail service bound for Tweedbank running south alongside the Gala Water between Fountainhall and Stow on 30 July 2017. ...
John Furnevel 30/07/2017
A train on the Borders Railway meets a car on the A7 near Watherston Bridge (right centre background) on a fine spring morning in 2014. The train is ...
John Furnevel 25/04/2019
The first SRPS 'The Forth Bridge & Scottish Borders' of August approaches Galabank Junction with 37685 bringing up the rear. ...
Bill Roberton 06/08/2017
The first SRPS 'The Forth Bridge & Scottish Borders' of August approaches Galabank Junction. 37685 brings up the rear. ...
Bill Roberton 06/08/2017
4 of 18 images. more


A southbound ScotRail 158 on the Borders Railway approaching Galabank Bridge on a sunny Saturday morning in April 2019. ...
John Furnevel 25/04/2019
A southbound train on the Borders Railway crossing Galabank Bridge on its jourrney between Gorebridge and Galashiels on a bright and sunny 25 April ...
John Furnevel 25/04/2019
A morning service on the Borders Line heading south through Galabank on 30 April 2017. The DMU will shortly cross the Gala Water before running onto ...
John Furnevel 30/04/2017
ScotRail 170432 forming the Sunday morning 0911 Edinburgh - Tweedbank about to cross the Gala Water southbound through Galabank on 30 April 2017. ...
John Furnevel 30/04/2017
4 of 12 images. more


This location is north of Stow station. It is the northern end of a double track section which has its southern end at Bowland Junction. From Galabank the line continues as a single track north to Tynehead Junction, a single line on the originally double track line. Galabank Bridge is to the north.
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No. 46100 Royal Scot is seen coasting downhill towards Stow in August 2017 having just entered the double track section at Galabank Junction. I know ...
Bill Jamieson 21/08/2017
67026 Diamond Jubilee emerges from the cutting just to the north of Stow. 10 September 2015 ...
Bill Jamieson 10/09/2015
The first SRPS 'The Forth Bridge & Scottish Borders' of August 2017 approaches Galabank Junction. 37685 brings up the rear. ...
Bill Roberton 06/08/2017
67026 Diamond Jubilee leads the Borders Line Steam Special returning to Edinburgh, with 60009 Union of South Africa trailing. The train is approaching ...
Bill Jamieson 17/09/2015
4 of 14 images. more


This is a two platform station re-opened on the site of the original. The station building remains standing here, waiting for a new use.
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See also
Borders Railway (Network Rail)
170412 enters Stow, with a service from Edinburgh, on 20 September 2023.
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Bill Roberton 20/09/2023
170412 and 170394 pass at Stow on 20 September 2023. View looks south. ...
Bill Roberton 20/09/2023
170393, with a Borders Line service from Tweedbank to Edinburgh Waverley, heading away from the camera, having just departed from the reopened Stow ...
David Bosher 15/05/2016
60103 'Flying Scotsman' on its way to Tweedbank with the 'Cathedrals Express', passing Stow station on the Borders Line, on 15th May 2016. ...
David Bosher 15/05/2016
4 of 76 images. more




Waverley route bridge at Ferniehirst, between Stow and Bowland in May 2009. ...
John Steven 04/05/2009
Railway bridge south of Stow on the Waverley Route, photographed on 8 June 2008 looking east across the valley of the Gala Water. One of a number of ...
John Furnevel 08/06/2008
2 of 2 images.


At Bow/Bow Bridge north of Bowshank Siding. On west side of line making a trailing connection to the northbound line. Probably for farm use although quarry just to east of line.
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This double track girder bridge crosses the Gala Water just north of Bowshank Tunnel.
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Black 5 45407 approaching the north end of Bowshank Tunnel at around 12:35 on Sunday 6th August 2017, seen against the background of Torsonce Hill and ...
Bill Jamieson 06/08/2017
SRPS rail tour from Tweedbank on 9th October 2016 seen just north of Bowshank Tunnel behind Black 5 45407. [Ref query 17]
...
Bill Jamieson 09/10/2016
Ballast train a little to the north of Bowshank Tunnel on 27 January 2015 with Freightliner class 66 locomotives 66613 (leading) and 66614 in charge. ...
Bill Roberton 27/01/2015
View north over the northern portal of Bowshank Tunnel towards the girder bridge across the Gala Water, 30th August 2013. ...
Ewan Crawford 30/08/2013
4 of 8 images. more


This is a double track tunnel carrying a double track line. To the immediate north is Bowshank North Bridge and to the south Bowshank South Bridge. The tunnel opened with the railway in 1848. It fell out of use when the Waverley Route closed in 1969. While out of use it was used for storage of farming equipment by local farmers. The railway re-opened in 2015. ...

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Wide view of the Waverley trackbed on the approach to Bowshank Tunnel, 4 miles to the north of Galashiels, on 24 October 2014. In addition to the ...
John Furnevel 24/10/2014
Amazingly, Network Rail's engineers managed to squeeze double track with modern passenger train clearances through Bowshank Tunnel but any future ...
David Spaven 05/08/2018
Close up of the new bridge over the Gala Water at the south end of Bowshank Tunnel looking essentially complete on 24 October 2014. Note also the ...
John Furnevel 24/10/2014
In the gloom of tree growth by the northern portal of the Bowshank Tunnel in 2002. ...
Ewan Crawford 25/08/2002
4 of 10 images. more


Looking back at the south portal of Bowshank Tunnel on 9th September. ...
David Spaven 09/09/2015
View south from the southern portal of the Bowshank Tunnel. The photograph is taken from the approach to the former (removed) occupational bridge ...
Ewan Crawford 03/03/2014
Train 1X75, the South & West Railway Society Euston – Aberdeen Granite City, approaching Bowshank Tunnel behind V2 60836 on 3 September ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 03/09/1966
Looking north at the south portal of Bowshank Tunnel. ...
Ewan Crawford //1997
4 of 4 images.


Bowland was a two platform station. This was briefly the southern terminus of the line before it was extended south.
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The ScotRail 1205 ex Tweedbank photographed at speed some three and a half miles north of Galashiels in the summer of 2015 (one of the services ...
John Furnevel 04/08/2015
Looking south along the Gala Water from Bowland Bridge on 16 June 2017. In the background a northbound ScotRail 158 on the Borders Railway is about to ...
John Furnevel 16/06/2017
Looking south across bridge no 80 on the former Waverley route towards the sparse remains of Bowland station in 2012. This quiet backwater had closed ...
John Furnevel 18/06/2012
Coffee stop at the end of a country lane at Bowland Bridge, watching a flight of swallows catching insects along the surface of the Gala Water - ...
John Furnevel 16/06/2017
4 of 24 images. more


This is not a true junction. It is the southern end of the double track line which commences at Galabank Junction to the north, at Stow. South from Bowland Junction as far as the terminus at Tweedbank the line is single track.
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Viewed from on board the 'A3 Farewell' railtour of 5th June 1965, A4 60027 'Merlin' is making short work of the climb from Galashiels towards ...
Robin McGregor 05/06/1965
Trackbed of the line on the girder bridge at The Whin in 2002, long before any work to reinstate the line had begun. Ballast had survived remarkably ...
Ewan Crawford 25/08/2002
2 of 2 images.


This single track two span viaduct over the Gala Water is north of Torwoodlee Tunnel. It was rebuilt in 2015 using the rebuilt piers of the original double track viaduct here, closed in 1969. Between 1969 and 2015 the bridge girders were removed.
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One of the Borders Railway's most attractive overbridges, slightly marred by a crude (and unnecessary) heightened parapet, is at Torwoodlee north of ...
David Spaven 05/08/2018
A Crab 2-6-0 with a down freight alongside the Gala Water at Torwoodlee in the early 1960s. [Ref query 793] ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
Just to give an impression of the state of the line before clearance and repairs began, this is the northern bridge at Torwoodlee back in 2002. This ...
Ewan Crawford 25/08/2002
Looking across the Gala Water at Torwoodlee in the early 1960s as a Crab 2-6-0 approaches with a northbound freight. See image 58078. ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
4 of 14 images. more


This single bore double track tunnel currently carries a single track. The line was closed between 1969 and 2015 when the single line was restored. At either end of the tunnel are bridges, Torwoodlee North Viaduct and Torwoodlee South Viaduct. The tunnel is on the east bank of the Gala Water close to the A9 as it leaves Galashiels to run north. A loop of the previous incarnation of the ...

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UK Railtours' excursion from Kings Cross to Tweedbank entering Torwoodlee Tunnel on the new Borders Railway, along 30 miles of the rebuilt former ...
David Bosher 30/12/2015
Looking out from Torwoodlee Tunnel, just north of Galashiels, on 5th December 2012, with Railscot contributor Bill Jamieson silhouetted under the ...
David Spaven 05/12/2012
Northern portal of Torwoodlee tunnel. ...
James Young 26/03/2007
Signs of surveyor's paint in Torwoodlee tunnel on 26 March 2007. Trains will pass through here on a reopened <i>Waverley Route</i> to ...
James Young 26/03/2007
4 of 6 images. more


This is a two span single track viaduct, a substantial 2015 reconstruction of the original double track viaduct over the River Gala.
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Looking east along the Gala Water at Torwoodlee on 9 June 2014. The rebuild of the viaduct looks to be essentially complete, with the majority of ...
John Furnevel 09/06/2014
Wide view showing the major works underway on Torwoodlee South Viaduct and approaches on the north side of Galashiels in September 2013. Considerable ...
John Furnevel 18/09/2013
The underside of Torwoodlee South Viaduct looking north across the Gala Water in October 2015. Photographed following major renovation and ...
John Furnevel 09/10/2015
A mid morning Edinburgh Waverley - Tweedbank 158 crossing the Gala Water at Torwoodlee on the approach to Galashiels in October 2015. ...
John Furnevel 09/10/2015
4 of 18 images. more


A mid morning service to Edinburgh heading north out of Galashiels in November 2016. The train has just passed the site of the former Kilnknowe ...
John Furnevel 10/11/2016
A ScotRail 158 on the Borders Railway crosses the rebuilt bridge over Wheatlands Road on the northern approach to Galashiels during the early ...
John Furnevel 10/11/2016
With the mist over the town beginning to lift an Edinburgh bound train heads north out of Galashiels on an autumn morning in 2017. The ScotRail 158 ...
John Furnevel 09/10/2017
A Tweedbank - Edinburgh sevice runs north through the site of Kilnknowe Junction on 9 November 2017. ...
John Furnevel 09/11/2017
4 of 47 images. more


This single track three girder viaduct crosses the River Gala in the west of Galashiels. It is a reconstruction of 2015 of the original double track viaduct. Single track girders rest on the double track piers of the original bridge. At the western end the bridge crosses a mill lade and former footpath.
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The trackbed of the Waverley route at Galashiels on a fine morning in April 2010, looking north through the bridge carrying Plumtreehall Brae (still ...
John Furnevel 11/04/2010
Warm work. Bridge no 95 over the Gala Water north of Galashiels station in the proc ess of having a new deck fitted in June 2014. View north towards ...
John Furnevel 09/06/2014
Morning sunshine illuminates a deserted Borders Railway works site on Boxing Day 2013. The view is north from Plumtreehall Brae, Galashiels, with ...
John Furnevel 26/12/2013
Major work in progress on bridge no 95 spanning the Gala Water just over a mile north of the new Galashiels station, photographed on 9 June 2014. The ...
John Furnevel 09/06/2014
4 of 28 images. more


A southbound ScotRail 158 running between Kilnknowe Junction and Ladhope Tunnel on the northern approach to Galashiels on 11 September 2018. The train ...
John Furnevel 11/09/2014
An unidentified train heading north out of Galashiels in the 1960s. ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
A down freight runs through Galashiels in the 1960s behind Doncaster based A1 Pacific 60128 Bongrace. ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
A 158 on the northern approach to Galashiels on 11 August 2015. The ScotRail crew training turn is just over half a mile from Galashiels station. ...
John Furnevel 11/08/2015
4 of 8 images. more


This short siding and loading bank were directly west of Ladhope Tunnel. The siding made a trailing connection with the northbound line and had a short headshunt, also alongside the loading bank. The siding was provided for Paterson's Wood Yard.
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The ScotRail 1529 ex-Tweedbank runs past the rear of the various retail units on Low Buckholmside as it heads north out of Galashiels en route to ...
John Furnevel 09/04/2022
The walkway built along the trackbed of the Waverley Route running parallel with Low Buckholmside, Galashiels, in September 2011. The photograph, ...
John Furnevel 28/09/2011
A mid-morning Tweedbank - Edinburgh service runs north under the footbridge linking High and Low Buckholmside shortly after leaving Galashiels ...
John Furnevel 16/06/2017
A 158 emerges from Ladhope Tunnel, shortly after leaving Galashiels station with a mid-morning Tweedbank - Edinburgh service on 11 September 2018. ...
John Furnevel 11/09/2018
4 of 29 images. more


This short tunnel is west of Galashiels station. It currently carries one track under High Buckholmside (the A7). Prior to the closure of the Waverley Route it carried two lines.
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Shortly after making its first scheduled stop at Galashiels on 8 April 2022, the 1529 ex-Tweedbank accelerates away from Ladhope Tunnel on its journey ...
John Furnevel 08/04/2022
View from the south portal of Ladhope Tunnel in January 2013, with the site of the proposed new Galashiels station just beyond the bend. Following ...
John Furnevel 06/01/2013
Approaching Galashiels station on 22 March 2018, an Edinburgh - Tweedbank service is about to pass through Ladhope Tunnel under the A7. ...
John Furnevel 22/03/2018
The north portal of Ladhope Tunnel in early May 2014, with work well advanced on increasing the height of the bridge parapet, along with the wall ...
John Furnevel 03/05/2014
4 of 24 images. more


This short siding and loading bank were directly east of Ladhope Tunnel. The siding made a trailing connection with the northbound line. The siding was provided for Paterson's Wood Yard.
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The imposing retaining wall immediately north of Gala station was built by the NBR following a major landslip in 1916, and is one of the ...
David Spaven 05/08/2018
A Scotrail 158 photographed leaving Galashiels station and heading for Ladhope Tunnel one morning in June 2017. ...
John Furnevel 16/06/2017
158728 runs north alongside Ladhope Vale, Glashiels and is about to pass through Ladhope Tunnel on 16 June 2017. The train is the ScotRail 1029 ...
John Furnevel 16/06/2017
From the records of the late Mike J Henry, the Deltic (the prototype English Electric DP1) leaving Galashiels northbound on the 8th of June 1959. (See ...
The late Mike Henry, courtesy Alistair Barrie 08/06/1959
4 of 14 images. more


The new Galashiels station has a single platform on a single track line.
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See also
Borders Railway (Network Rail)
Galashiels 27 August 2017. ...
John Yellowlees 27/08/2017
170404, on a service from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank, departing from Galashiels station on 27th February 2018 ...
David Bosher 27/02/2018
170471 departing from Galashiels with the ex-12.19 Borders Line service from Tweedbank to Edinburgh Waverley, at 12.23 on Friday, 17th June 2022. ...
David Bosher 17/06/2022
158731, with a Borders Railway service from Tweedbank to Edinburgh Waverley, arriving at its first port of call at Galashiels, just as the Beast from ...
David Bosher 27/02/2018
4 of 98 images. more


This signal box was located at the north end of Galashiels [1st] station and was closed during the re-signalling of 1937 when it was replaced by a new box at the north end of the station.
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This was a three platform through station, originally covered with a large timber overall roof which was later replaced with platform canopies. Carriage sidings were on the east side. The main station building was on the west side and has, unfortunately, been lost. Opposite the station building was a large watertank for replenishing the locomotives.
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A4 No 60031 'Golden Plover' is having a break at Galashiels whilst heading for Carlisle via the Waverley Route during the 'Easter Rambler Number 4' ...
Colin Kirkwood 18/04/1965
Approaching Galashiels from the south on 10 November 2016, the 1128 ex-Tweedbank crosses Currie Road bridge. Photographed looking north east from what ...
John Furnevel 10/11/2016
Not every trace of the original Galashiels station has vanished. These gateposts look a bit much for an office car park; in fact this was the entrance ...
David Panton 09/10/2019
B1 4-6-0 61354 leaving Galashiels with a southbound service in the 1960s. The train in question is thought to be the 1610 Edinburgh - Hawick. ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
4 of 95 images. more


The goods yard was south of Galashiels [1st] station and on the west side of the line. Approach was from the south east.
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St Margarets B1 4-6-0 61242 Alexander Reith Gray shunting at Galashiels in the summer of 1963. ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) /07/1963
Evenly Distributed. Herbert Romanis at work at Galashiels goods depot in the 1960s. ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
Scene in the sidings at Galashiels in the 1960s. The trio of railwaymen includes shunter J Jardine standing alongside St Margarets class 08 D3881, ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
A parcels van stands at Galashiels, thought to have been photographed in the 1960s. The route restriction board reads 'TO WORK ONLY ON DOWN & UP ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
4 of 9 images. more


This shed was established in 1903, supplementing a turntable which was located at the north end of Galashiels [1st] station, west side.
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Looking south over the site of Galashiels Station. The shed was on the left where the large building is. ...
Ewan Crawford //
Inside looking out. The closed (since April 1962) and unlit shed at Galashiels, seen here in January 1964. The building was being used at that time to ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 12/01/1964
A4 no 60026 Miles Beevor photographed at the rear of Galashiels shed in January 1964. (The shed had been officially closed since April 1962.) ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 12/01/1964
3 of 3 images.


This signal box was south east of Galashiels [1st] station and controlled the approach to the station from the south as well as the access to Galashiels Goods. The box was on the south side of the line.
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This junction faced Galashiels. Here the single track Selkirk branch, after crossing a viaduct, met the Waverley Route. The branch doubled just before the junction.
...

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See also
Selkirk and Galashiels Railway
Less than a mile south of Galashiels station a branch left the Waverley Route, crossed the Gala Water and continued south west for a further six miles ...
John Furnevel 08/02/2015
A Tweedbank service passes the site of Selkirk Junction in Galashiels on 12 September 2018. It was one of those junctions named for the place it ...
David Panton 12/09/2018
Looking north over the site of Selkirk Junction, a mile south of Galashiels station, in February 2015, during the latter stages of construction work ...
John Furnevel 08/02/2015
The 0955 Edinburgh - Tweedbank has just run through the site of Selkirk Junction and passed below the Galafoot Lane footbridge on 11 September 2018. ...
John Furnevel 11/09/2018
4 of 21 images. more


This was built as a double track five arch viaduct. At present it carries one track and a footpath, the Southern Upland Way . The railway track is on the north side, path on the south.
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An Edinburgh bound train on the Borders Railway photographed shortly after starting its journey from Tweedbank on 16 June 2016. The train is about to ...
John Furnevel 16/06/2016
A ScotRail 158 DMU completes the crossing of the River Tweed as it comes off the Red Bridge between Tweedbank and Galashiels on 10 November 2016. The ...
John Furnevel 10/11/2016
The bridge built to carry the Waverley route over the River Tweed between Galashiels and Tweedbank, seen here looking south in October 2014. Following ...
John Furnevel 24/10/2014
A mid-morning service on the Borders Railway crosses the River Tweed northbound on 16 June 2017. ScotRail 158709 is about to come off the Red Bridge, ...
John Furnevel 16/06/2017
4 of 46 images. more


This is the set of points at the west end of Tweedbank station where the track divides to serve the island platform.
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Milage? ...
David Panton 09/10/2019
An Edinburgh service, having just set off from Tweedbank approaches the points for the single track section through Galashiels to Bowland Junction. ...
David Panton 28/03/2017
For a few hundred yards from Tweedbank westwards the Southern Upland Way is hard by the Borders Railway, sharing a viaduct over the Tweed. Though the ...
David Panton 12/10/2016
The most southerly of the points on the Borders Railway, all named as 'Junctions' is just west of Tweedbank station where the line splits to serve the ...
David Panton 12/09/2018
4 of 5 images. more


This is a terminus with two platforms on either side of an island and a large carpark. It is just north of A6091. The station is in the eastern extremity of Galashiels, being separated from the town by the River Tweed, and is just over a mile west of Melrose.
...

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See also
Borders Railway (Network Rail)
60009 'Union of South Africa' newly arrived at Tweedbank with an excursion on 18th October 2015. ...
Roger Geach 18/10/2015
170426 arrives at platform 1, Tweedbank, with a service from Edinburgh on 21st June 2021. 170408 is spare in platform 2. In the background, the ...
Bill Roberton 21/06/2021
66003, with UK Railtours' excursion to the Borders Railway, on 30th December 2015. This left Kings Cross before dawn on a freezing cold morning, and ...
David Bosher 30/12/2015
170471, just arrived at the Borders Line terminus at Tweedbank with the ex-11.11 service from Edinburgh Waverley, exactly one hour later on Friday, ...
David Bosher 17/06/2022
4 of 107 images. more


These sidings were approached by reversal from the southbound line.
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Sculpture in Darnick Community Woodland near Melrose. It commemorates a train crash on 10 July 1921 and incorporates a buffer head found during tree ...
Bill Roberton 21/06/2021
Darnick looking to Edinburgh showing the remains of a bridge over Lye Road and looking towards the site of the sidings.

...
Ewan Crawford 06/03/2016
2 of 2 images.


This was a two platform station. It had a large wooden roof over both platforms. The southbound (up) platform and building still stand. The trackbed is now occupied by the A6091.
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Surviving British Railways Scottish Region running-in board at the former Melrose station, on the as yet un-restored section of the former Waverley ...
David Bosher 15/05/2016
The old station at Melrose in November 2016. View is east with the A6091 Melrose bypass just visible on the right of the picture. ...
John Furnevel 10/11/2016
The one remaining platform at Melrose station on the Waverley Route, nonsensically closed on 6th January 1969, seen here looking south on 15th May ...
David Bosher 15/05/2016
The distinctive platform-level features of Melrose station are captured in this 21st June 2021 view from the west. The building was designed in 1846 ...
David Spaven 21/06/2021
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This was a short lived station to the east of Melrose.
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This was the junction between the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) of 1849 and the Berwickshire Railway of 1865.
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Berwickshire Railway
A tranquil stretch of the surviving solum of the Berwickshire Railway between the former Ravenswood Junction and Leaderfoot Viaduct - seen here ...
David Spaven 08/05/2013
An Earlston - Gordon - Greenlaw trip working returning to St Boswells at Easter 1965. Ravenswood Junction signal box stands in the right background ...
Bruce McCartney //1965
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This station was located in Newtown St Boswells, thus its original name, but was renamed for the larger nearby town. In addition to serving the town it was a junction station, described by its large station boards featuring 'St Boswells Change for Jedburgh, Kelso and Berwick' (southbound platform) and 'St Boswells Change for Kelso, Berwick also Jedburgh' (northbound ...

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A Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0, with a St Boswells-Kelso service, in the bay platform at St Boswells on 24th August 1963. ...
Brian Haslehust 24/08/1963
'Peak' Type 4 D160 calls at St Boswells on 4th January 1969, the final Saturday before closure of the Waverley Route the following day. The train was ...
Brian Haslehust 04/01/1969
78049, one of Hawick's Standard Class 2s has brought a Kelso Branch service into St Boswells on 19th August 1963. It is seen here after running round, ...
Brian Haslehust 19/08/1963
A Class 26 brings an Edinburgh-bound service into St Boswells in September 1962. ...
Brian Haslehust 03/09/1962
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A small single line shed existed to the north of St Boswells station, this was replaced, probably in anticipation of the opening of the Berwickshire Railway, with a larger two road shed at the south end in 1863. This shed lasted until 1959.
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This junction was south of St Boswells station, where there was a bay platform for branch trains, and was formed between the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)] (1849) and the Kelso Branch (North British Railway) (1850).
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Kelso Branch (North British Railway)
'Crab' 2-6-0 42752 off Carlisle Canal shed approaching Kelso Junction with a down freight in September 1962. [Ref query 681] ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) /09/1962
Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 no 44767 with the much photographed northbound train of diesel shunters over the Waverley route on 11 April 1967, seen here ...
Bruce McCartney 11/04/1967
Approaching Kelso Junction from the south on 11 April 1967. Black 5 44767 is heading for Edinburgh hauling Hunslet class 05 DM shunters D2608, D2617 ...
Bruce McCartney 11/04/1967
A pickup freight off the Kelso branch is held at Kelso Junction in 1966 as a 'Peak' passes with a southbound train on the Waverley Route. ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //1966
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This was a two timber platform halt built in connection with the nearby Charlesfield Munitions Factory. Platforms were to the south of the tall bridge over the roadway. Oddly the southbound platform was longer than the northbound.
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Two old gates, the one on the left permanently open, that on the right permanently closed. The former stands at the well used entrance to a field, ...
John Furnevel 14/02/2017
A night-time view looking north over the site of Charlesfield Halt towards the Eildon hills. See image 58394. ...
Ewan Crawford 27/12/2017
The bridge that once carried the Waverley route over an unclassified road, one and a half miles south of Newtown St Boswells, seen here looking east ...
John Furnevel 14/02/2017
Looking north from the site of Charlesfield Halt in February 2017. The Eildon Hills are just visible through the trees. ...
John Furnevel 14/02/2017
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This siding was south of Greenend Farm. The siding was on the east side of the line and reached by reversing. There was a signal box.
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An old and battered North British Railway Company notice concerning bridge traffic, issued under the Locomotive Act of 1861... 'An act for ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
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This out of use double track masonry viaduct is north of the former Belses station.
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View north up the west side of the disused Ale Water Viaduct. The viaduct is a mile north of the former Belses station and hides in the steeply sided ...
Ewan Crawford 27/12/2017
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This was a two platform station.
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A type 2 photographed with what could be the 13.00 Carlisle-Edinburgh train at the wayside station of Belses on the Waverley route some 45 miles south ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //
Looking south, in failing light, from the track bed to Belses station in 1974. ...
Jim Scott //1974
View south in failing light from the footbridge at Belses in 1974. For a similar view, in happier times, see image 31873. ...
Jim Scott //1974
Preserved A3 Pacific 4472 with the Flying Scotsman Anniversary Special on 16 April 1966. The special, which ran between Northallerton and ...
Dougie Squance (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 16/04/1966
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Standhill Siding was a pair of sidings just south of Standhill Farm. The sidings were approached by reversal from the southbound line and were on the east side of the line.
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View north over the former sidings at Standhill Siding. Although the site has been landscaped the road bridge and Standhill Farm remain today. ...
Ewan Crawford 27/12/2017
Much of the alignment of the Waverley Route between Hawick and St Boswells is relatively unobstructed, but at a number of locations the solum has been ...
David Spaven 09/08/2013
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This station probably opened in 1850, the year after the line opened.
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The refurbished up side at Hassendean station on the Waverley Route in February 2008. View is north towards St Boswells, with the trackbed having been ...
John Furnevel 06/02/2008
Entrance to the former Hassendean station on the Waverley Route, seen from the south in February 2008, almost 40 years after official closure. The ...
John Furnevel 08/02/2008
Looking south to the unclassified road bridge over the line just south of Hassendean station in 1974. The sidings were on the left. ...
Jim Scott //1974
View of the station and platforms in August 1974. See image 59048 for a view of the station today. The view looks north. ...
Doug Nicholls /08/1974
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This signal box controlled the northern approach to Hawick [2nd] station and yard, much of which was built on the site of Hawick [1st].
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Looking northwards from Hawick on 18 March 2023, they are putting replacement tar down on the path of the trackbed to Burnfoot Road. ...
Duncan Ross 18/03/2023
An underpass between Wilson Drive and Hamilton Road takes a footpath under a section of embankment carrying the old Borders Line trackbed, to the ...
Duncan Ross 18/03/2023
St Margarets V2 no 60813 with its distinctive shovel-rim smoke deflectors heads a down Waverley route freight past Appletreehall Road bridge ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //1964
A1 Pacific no 60121 Silurian with a Carlisle - Edinburgh semi-fast photographed north of Hawick in September 1964. ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) /09/1964
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Hawick Shed opened with the line from Edinburgh. It remained on the same site until closure. It was to the immediate north of Hawick [1st] station, the original terminus, which was to become the site of the goods shed when the line was extended south through Hawick [2nd] in 1862. Further goods facilities opened to the north of the shed, resulting it its being in the middle of a goods ...

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Scott class 4-4-0 no 62422 Caleb Balderstone in the shed yard at Hawick in 1958, its final year of operation. ...
K A Gray //1958
Gresley A3 no 60098 'Spion Kop' photographed in the shed yard at Hawick on a bright and sunny summer afternoon in 1963. The Pacific was ...
K A Gray 02/06/1963
C16 4-4-2T no 67489 languishes in the sidings at Hawick in the summer of 1958. ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 10/08/1958
Resident J35 0-6-0 64494 photographed in the shed yard at Hawick in 1958. Standing just beyond on the adjacent road is shedmate J36 0-6-0 65317. ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) //1958
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When built, this terminus was opened next to the north bridge over the River Teviot, a little way from the town centre.
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Locally based J36 0-6-0 65331 with a freight just north of Hawick station in August 1958. ...
Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 24/08/1958
The old goods platform at Hawick, photographed looking east from the A7, Wilton Hill, in the summer of 2009. Hawick shed and yard once stood off to ...
John Furnevel 10/07/2009
The goods platform at Hawick looking south. The original terminal station was to the left and out of shot to the left was the later built Border Union ...
Ewan Crawford //1998
The view south towards the station, shed and goods yard at Hawick. The original station had been straight ahead and the replacement on the line ...
Ewan Crawford 27/12/2017
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Edmonstone Colliery



The former Waterloo Pit, later a farm, with the course of a tramway off the NBR main line passing through the gate and over Old Craighall Road. ...
Bill Roberton //1987
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This location is out of use. The junction was immediately south of Millerhill station (1849). It was the junction between the Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) of 1847 and the Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway of 1874. (The 1831 Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway alignment was off to the west.)
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Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway
Millerhill Marshalling Yard (British Railways)
Withdrawn from passenger service in February 1968, AC Cars railbus W79977 was used as a store at the south end of Millerhill Yard, roughly at the site ...
John Clark /04/1969
26042 shunts a ECML electrification train at Millerhill Junction in 1990.
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Bill Roberton //1990
37153 propels a wiring train into the ECML electrification yard at Millerhill Junction in 1990.
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Bill Roberton //1990
Millerhill has been a location of long slow decline but in May 1995 there was still something to see. The abandoned ECML electrification depot ahead ...
David Panton 25/05/1995
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Fushiebridge Exchange Sidings

The first station site at Fushiebridge was slightly cramped and located to the south of the road bridge. This was later the site of the goods yard only.
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A northbound DMU about to run through the site of Fushiebridge station on a fine Sunday morning in the late spring of 2022. ScotRail 158707, forming ...
John Furnevel 19/05/2022
Looking north from Fushiebridge on a fine and sunny 19 May 2022 as a the ScotRail 0921 Tweedbank - Edinburgh approaches its next scheduled stop at ...
John Furnevel 19/05/2022
A down Sunday morning service on the Borders Railway approaching Fushiebridge in December 2018. By this time no trace remained of the former station ...
John Furnevel 08/12/2018
Scene at Fushiebridge on 10 May 2013 following the removal of much vegetation and miscellaneous rubbish from the old trackbed as part of the ...
John Furnevel 10/05/2013
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This granary was rail served. Also known as Gorebridge Granary or Fushiebridge Granary. It has been converted into housing.
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These exchange sidings for the Esperston Lime Works Railway were south east of Fushiebridge [1st] station and on the south side of the Waverley Route. There was a loop and siding (approached from the north west). To the south east was a headshunt for the quarry line from which it struck off to the south west.
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Esperston Lime Works Railway