The Waverley Route had a number of branches plus the Peebles Loop from Hardengreen Jct. to Galashiels. Glenesk Jct - Dalkeith. Fountainhall - for the Lauder Light Railway. Galashiels - Selkirk. Ravenswood Jct - Reston. Kelso Jct - Tweedmouth and from this line (Roxburgh Jct - Jedburgh). Riccarton Jct for the Border Counties Line. Riddings Jct - Langholm and Longtown to Gretna.

The locos used for the Express passenger turns being provided by Edinburghs Haymarket and Carlisle Canal Sheds, Semi Fast Passenger and Goods Locos came from Carlisle Canal and Edinburgh St Margarets with Sub Sheds at Hardengreen Jct and Galashiels for banking and local traffic. Hawick provided locos for branches and banking with Sub Sheds at Kelso, Riccarton Jct and St Boswells. Now that the Line is to be rebuilt from Newcraighall to Tweedbank just South of Galashiels - I hopefully will be around when the Line Reopens to traverse some of the Borders Countryside once again.

This Collection mainly consists of Ex LNER Locos in and around the South of Scotland as I did not visit the Southern Region or in fact not take any Great Westen Locos on my annual visits to Wales. A number of photos have been purchased recently which has helped add a bit more variety.

St Boswells was a Junction station lying approximately halfway between Galashiels and Hawick on the Waverley Route. It was central for Border Livestock Sales. St Boswells Station was actually in the village of Newtown over a mile away from the village it was named after.
The station consisted of 2 through Platforms, 2 bays, 2 road Engine Shed with Water Tower and Turntable as well as a substantial Goods Yard and facilities. The Shed and Water Tower still exist today in use with an Oil Company.

This collection shows a variety of Diesel Classes that could be seen at St Boswells in the 1960s. Diesels arrived in the late 50s early 60s class 08 shunters at Galashiels, class 100 units on the Peebles Loop. Class 45/6 (Peaks) from Leeds on St Pancras trains. Class 26s where tried in multiple on freight, then became the norm singly on Waverley/Carlisle Passenger Services. Class17/20/24/25/37/40/47 & 55 appeared. Odd visits included class 31 and 50 also the prototype Deltic.

Luckily I decided with my Father to take some photos at St Boswells before the lines where lifted and the majority of the Station demolished, today only part of the up platform remains along with the 2 Road Engine Shed and Water Tower.

Diesel Photographs around the UK in the 60s some taken by the late Robin Barbour.

This Collection contains one photograph of Shankend Viaduct between Hawick and Riccarton Junction (If only a V2 was climbing towards Whitrope Tunnel on a heavy Goods!

Also some Photos taken at the Waverley Route Heritage Centre. The Association site link can be seen in Links Box.

This line was closed WEF 05.01.70 with the last train running from Macclesfield on Saturday 3rd January 1970. The route is now called the Middlewood Way and was opened by Dr David Bellamy on 30.05.85 as a Cycle, Horse Riding and Walking route. This Collection contains a number of photographs taken along the route during 2006 between Higher Poynton and Rose Hill.

Kielder Viaduct was built in 1862 to carry the North Tyne Railway (Border Counties Railway) between Riccarton Junction and Hexham. The Line closed to passengers in 1956 and freight in 1958.

The stones in the Arches were individually shaped making the Viaduct a Skew Arch example.

These pics mostly taken in 2006 at Galashiels including the Old Bridge over the station, since demolished with the new bridge under construction which allows for the new Railway to Tweedbank. Also at St Boswells on the old Waverley Route and Leaderfoot on the branch from Ravenswood Jct to Greenlaw, this ran at one time throughtout to Reston on the East Coast Mainline. Some local photographs included showing the wonderful views and scenery that can be found in this part of the Borders.

The Railway Station at Wooler was on the Branch line that ran from Alnwick to Cornhill. The line opened during 1887 and finally closed in 1965.
The Station site is used by a number of Businesses, however Railway Locos are again appearing in Wooler albeit for repairs at a local Engineering Company a short distance from the old Station.

The Southern Railway was formed in 1924 and was an amalgamation of several Railway Companies. It had works at Ashford, Brighton and Eastleigh. As I was unable to see or photograph any of this regions locomotives. I am grateful for the work done by preservationists in returning many of these fine engines to working condition. I have travelled behind a few on preserved lines, but not on main lines.

The LMS was formed in 1923 from a number of Companies. I noted Ex LMS locos at Carlisle, Crewe and Shrewsbury during 1950s visits to South Wales, Black Fives visited the Waverley Route during the 60s, other classes appeared occassionally. Hawick 64G had Ivatt Class 4MTs 43138/41. Shed visits included Ayr and Perth also Princes St Station and Dalry Road Shed in Edinburgh boosted my LMS sightings.

The LNER was formed in 1923. As the Waverley Route was operated by mainly ex LNER Locomotives and ex North British types locally, I suppose it is no surprise that they provide my favourite classes, particulary locos A4 Kingfisher, A3s Flamingo, Spearmint, Salmon Trout. A2 Trimbush and B1 Chamois, D49 Roxburghshire to name a few LNER and NBR D30 Wandering Willie.

The GWR was formed in 1923 mainly from Welsh Railway Companies. Like the Southern I am Indebted to preservationists for their work in returning many locos back to running order. Although I do not seem to have logged many as haulage to date, many being noted at Open Days such as Crewe Works.

I do not greatly appreciate Foreign locos and stock working on UK preserved lines, however I will take photos of them at times. Its just a pity that so many classes of locos in the UK do not have a preserved member in existance. I refer mainly to LNER classes like K3, J39 and V1/3s but thats history.

British Standard Steam locomotives where produced from 1951 onwards, the final one being 92220 Evening Star in 1960. Many having an extremely short working career with steam finallly finishing nationally in 1968. Its no surprise therefore to find many examples of some classes on the Main Line and also Preserved Lines. I have included WD 2-10-0 3672 Dame Vera Lynn in this collection.

These are a mix of Ex-Industrial and Ex-Military Steam Locomotives.

This Collection contains both Station and on board shots from the Jacobite train from Fort William to Mallaig and return, hauled by Class 5 45231 The Sherwood Forester on Thursday 7th June 2007. Also some further shots taken the next day at Glenfinnan and Loch Eilt.

Collection taken Monday 24th July 2006 by Calum Burrell at my Steam Footplate Experience Day at the East Lancs Railway Bury. For those who prefer steam in the old Black & White I have included the shots taken at Ramsbottom in monochrome.
Thanks to everyone involved for a excellent day.

Thanks to Dave Luke for providing these images of a great line. I visited it many years ago, but did not travel on it or take any photographs, something I will have to rectify in future. I did see a TV film on the line recently, the locos look very authentic and seem extremely powerful.

Much work goes into these mostly scenic little lines and the Locomotives and Stock are usually very well cared for by the staff. I will certainly add to this collection when possible and also include some miniature items.