Whitrope Tunnel
Location type
TunnelName and dates
Whitrope Tunnel (1862-1969)Where: Scottish Borders, Scotland
Opened on the Border Union Railway (North British Railway).
Description
This is a disused twin track tunnel, 1208 yards long. It is the 6th longest railway tunnel in Scotland. It is located between the former Shankend and Riccarton Junction stations on the closed Waverley Route.
The tunnel passes below Sandy Edge where there is a natural spring. It has suffered rockfalls since closure, something it suffered from in its operation history, partly due to the burn above the tunnel. As a result, the tunnel is now gated at both ends. The owner is currently the Forestry Commission.
Above the tunnel, particularly at the northern end, can be found former tram line routes and spoil heaps from the construction period.
Tags
TunnelExternal links
Canmore site recordNLS Collection OS map of 1892-1914
NLS Collection OS map of 1944-67
NLS Map
| Nearby stations Whitrope Siding Riccarton Junction Shankend Saughtree Steele Road Stobs Deadwater Stobs Camp Kielder Forest Newcastleton Hawick [1st] Hawick [2nd] Lewiefield Halt Plashetts Kershopefoot | Whitrope Summit Whitrope Culvert Laidlehope Culvert Riccarton Railway Village Riccarton Shed [1st] Riccarton Workshops Riccarton Shed [2nd] Shankend Viaduct Catscleuch Culvert Dawstonburn Viaduct White Hill Quarry Siding White Hill Quarry Primrose Cottage Tourist/other Hermitage Castle Stobs Castle |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
Chronology Dates
| /02/2003 | Border Union Railway (North British Railway) Portals of the Whitrope Tunnel fitted with locked gates by the Forestry Commission. |
News items
| 10/03/2002 | Rockfall in Whitrope Tunnel |
