Route Waverley Route (carlisle - Edinburgh Waverley) (1966)

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


(2 years before closure)

 

Class 26 definitely, but the Class 17 Claytons would be a real crowd pleaser too.