Date: 27/03/2013

It is 50 years since Dr Richard Beeching's report on British Railways which led to hundreds of stations and 650 miles of railway line being closed in Scotland. The axing of the 98-mile Waverley Route from Edinburgh to Carlisle was the worst of all the Beeching cuts, according to author and railway expert David Spaven. The closure left the Scottish Borders as the only region of Britain without a train service and Hawick, 56 miles from Edinburgh and 42 miles from Carlisle, as the largest town farthest from a railway station.

External links

What was Beeching's worst railway cut?

BBC News

The axing of the 98-mile 'Waverley Line' from Edinburgh to Carlisle was the worst of all the Beeching cuts, according to author and railway expert David Spaven.

Related images

'Twas a cold and frosty morning.... A chilly-looking scene on the platform at Riddings Junction in November 1964 as one of Kingmoor's Black 5s, no 45481, thunders north through the station with the lengthy 11.15am Carlisle - Millerhill express freight. Note the changeover between bullhead and flat-bottom rail at this point.
Location: Riddings Junction
Company: Border Union Railway (North British Railway)
28/11/1964 Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney)

Too fast for an Ilford Sportsman! With window glass starting to rattle and surface ripples suddenly appearing on the signalman's mug of tea, the peace and tranquility at Kershopefoot is rudely shattered as a Brush Type 4 thunders south through the station hauling an up freight towards Carlisle. A picture taken in haste from Kershopefoot signal box in 1967.
Location: Kershopefoot
Company: Border Union Railway (North British Railway)
//1967 Bruce McCartney

With less than two years to go before the last scheduled passenger train over the through route, a departure for Berwick via Kelso waits in the bay at the south end of St Boswells station on 10 September 1962. Locomotive in charge is Hawick's standard class 2 2-6-0 no 78049.
Location: St Boswells
Company: Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)
10/09/1962 R Sillitto/A Renfrew Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney)

Related news items

Tags: x Waverley Route x Borders Rail x David Spaven x Dr Richard Beeching x The Reshaping of British Railways