I took this photo on the closed Waverley Route on 1st April 1970. It shows an Engineer's Special poking out of Whitrope Tunnel. A few minutes before this I'd been on the footbridge at Stobs taking a photo of this loco and carriage approaching and had an exchange with a gentleman walking his dog on the track further up the line towards Shankend. I shouted 'There's a train coming!' To which he replied, 'Huntie gouk' [English translation 'April Fool']. Seconds later came the sound of both the Type 2 diesel and the rusty track being scrunched. I took my photo facing the Hawick direction, then turned round to look towards Shankend and watched the gent scrambling up the verge. He approached me after the train had passed and mumbled, 'Ye bugger, ye were right!'

Location: Whitrope Tunnel (former)

Original line: Border Union Railway (North British Railway)

Photographer: Bruce McCartney

Contact photographer: Bruce McCartney

Contact editor

Date: 01/04/1970

Image number: 28313

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