Borthwick Bank Signal Box

Freightliner Heavy Haul No. 66 605 eases a returning empty ballast train down the 1 in 70 Borthwick Bank on 3rd November 2014, overlooked by Borthwick Castle, which dates from the 15th century. The laden ballast trains operating during the construction of the Borders Railway - at 2,900 tonnes 'gross trailing load' - were by far the heaviest freights in Scotland at the time. These were operated at slow speeds due to several bridge weight restrictions, but there was nevertheless some irony in the presence of such giant trains when the railway establishment had - at least initially - set its face against the possibility of accommodating any commercial freight traffic on the re-opened Borders Railway. This photograph is used on the front cover of David Spaven's book Waverley Route: The battle for the Borders Railway. See article!

Location: Borthwick Bank Signal Box (former)

Original line: Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway)

Photographer: Bill Roberton

Contact photographer: Bill Roberton

Contact editor

Date: 03/11/2014

Image number: 51037

Tags: Class 66 Co-Co Diesel-electric General Motors
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