The Waverley Route was a major Anglo-Scottish railway running from Edinburgh to Carlisle, passing through the Scottish Borders via Midlothian, Galashiels, Hawick, and rural border communities. It was originally built by the North British Railway, with the section from Edinburgh to Hawick opening in 1849 and the full route to Carlisle completed in 1862. The line took its name from Sir Walter Scott’s famous Waverley Novels, reflecting the cultural importance of the region it served. The line operated for over a century before being closed in 1969 following the Beeching Report, which recommended widespread reductions across the UK rail network. Despite its closure, a section of the route was later revived as part of the modern Borders Railway, reopening between Edinburgh and Tweedbank in 2015. This makes the Waverley Route particularly interesting, as it represents both a lost railway and a partially restored modern corridor. Route Map Stations: Edinburgh Waverley Eskbank & Dalkeith Newtongrange Gorebridge Tynehead Heriot Fountainhall Stow Galashiels Melrose St Boswells Belses Hassendean Hawick Stobs Shankend Riccarton Junction Steele Road Newcastleton Kershope Foot Riddings Junction Penton Longtown Harker Carlisle Rolling Stock: Class 26 Class 108 Class 08 (3 years before closure)
