Earlston - train about to leave for Greenlaw
Fans Loanend siding (site of!)
Last train to Greenlaw
16 July 1965
These pictures depict the last days of the Berwickshire Railway - the western end of it, that is. Built
as a through route from Ravenswood Junction, near St Boswells on the Waverley route, to Reston
on the east coast main line, it was already little more than a byway when the floods of 1948 washed
away a stretch of track roughly in the middle of the line between Duns and Greenlaw. The floods
closed the main line for 11 weeks, resulting in some interesting diversions. The severance of the
Berwickshire Railway was permanent however, and for the remainder of its existence it was
operated as two branch lines. Formal closure of the western branch was on the 19th of July 1965 -
but the last train ran the previous Friday. Bruce was out to record its passing - and had a ride on the
train too.
Between Earlston and Gordon
Gordon - train about to leave for Greenlaw
Leaving Gordon for Greenlaw
Between Gordon and Greenlaw ("by this time",
comments Bruce, "I'd cadged a lift on the loco!")
End of the line at Greenlaw
Leaving Gordon
Shunting at Gordon
Shunting at Gordon
Stationmaster watches last train leave Gordon
Between Earlston and Gordon
Level crossing just outside Earlston on the Gordon
side
Last train leaves Earlston
Family group at Earlston prior to departure
Almost back at St Boswells - Leaderfoot Viaduct
For a map and further details on the line, see Ewan Crawford's excellent "Railscot" page:
Berwickshire Railway
Bruce McCartney’s
book”Memories of
Lost Border
Railways” is now
available, and it’s a
great read. Click
the book for more
details
