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The answer might become clear if you had a whisky sitting on a stone wall.

This topic's been quiet for a while. Nice summer day near the Border. Bruce

I emailed Kenneth and here's his reply: After almost 50 years I have no recollection of the occurrence but my notebook covering the date does yield the answer. The loco was D178 (of Gateshead) and was on crew training duties. I presume that it would have been put over there to ease congestion at the shed which as you will recall had a very restricted layout and limited accommodation. The train depicted, 1M88 10.15am Edinburgh (Waverley) - St. Pancras ("The Waverley"), was by that time a Leeds type 4 working, so 60083 "Sir Hugo" (52B) was a substitute that day. Although the train was one that did for many years terminate at Hawick on English holidays that seems to have ended by 1962 (possibly it may have ceased after the passenger service reductions of 1961 which reduced the overall service by about a third). Guess you can't ask for more than that. Bruce. [edit] Railscot site updated with details now.

Inside St Boswells ground frame, March 1969. Bruce.

From circumstantial evidence, I think it was, Bill. But a question I never thought of until now was ... did Galashiels have a diesel shunter right up to the last? The Gala shunter certainly worked the last Kelso freight in March 1968, but the Hawick pilot cleared out the yard at Kelso a week later. ... over to RMweb for the answer. I hope! Bruce.

D 8606 accepted under Regulation 4 by Hawick South from St Boswells at 12.42. Arrived Hawick at 1303 and the other pilot, D 8583 left LE for St Boswells at 13.15 Bruce

Canonbie Coalfield Recent reports about coal-mining in the Canonbie coalfield were a bit ambiguous, however, this morning (15 November) the "Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser" carried a report from the company responsible: "tunnels would be dug from the western end and railway line which was the obvious route from which to transport the coal" ... "There is capacity on the railway line and we have talked to the companies which can move the coal." ... "the benefit to the community would be 300 to 500 jobs, while the disbenefit would be more road traffic and a coal tip." A further report in the newspaper said that Keir Minerals gave a presentation of their plans for an opencast coal mine to the west of the A7 to Canonbie Community Council. I guess we won't be seeing modern versions of the ghosts of coal-carrying trains from the old mine at Rowanburn using the southern end of the Waverley Route. Bruce

Think Harker is extant and I'm sure Shankend is still for sale. Bruce.

Interestingly (or perhaps not!), Golden Plover was working "wrong line" as it was photographed passing Whitrope on this excursion - which might account for the eight minutes spent at Riccarton as it regained the Up line. [edit] as per this eBay ... or ought I say, Colour Rail ... picture http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Riccarton-Roxburgh-Scotland-April-1965-/200832269759?pt=UK_Collectables_Railwayana_RL&hash=item2ec2893dbf Bruce

I wonder if anyone took up this offer from a 2008 Hawick News - I've just discovered the letter: ... "A FORMER Cavers man, who captured the unique sounds of the last trains to travel the old Waverley railway line, is now offering them for sale. James Palmer Douglas was one of many who strongly opposed the closure of the route almost 40 years ago. And with Dr Beeching's axe ready to fall he took steps to record the last St Pancras trains in each direction on Saturday, January 4 and Sunday, January 5, 1969. The first is the Carlisle Express, which conveyed two coaches to be added to the up Thames-Clyde Express at Carlisle and features arguably a record-breaking climb to Whitrope, from Hawick. The second is again on the Saturday afternoon and is the return journey to Hawick, carrying two through coaches form St Pancras from the down Thames-Clyde Express. And the final recording is the famous last run by the Sunday night 'Pullman' from Edinburgh as far as Hawick – the last through passenger or freight train to Carlisle ever to run on the Waverley route after 92 years. Mr Palmer-Douglas said: "It's a chance now for younger people who maybe haven't heard a lot about the Waverley Line to get a feel for what it was like." ... I have rung the telephone number given ... it "does not accept incoming calls." I remember letters in the Hawick press from Mr Palmer-Douglas at the time of closure and, should he still be with us, he will be of advanced years. But perhaps some enthusiast took up the offer some four years ago - these sounds would be a great addition to any WHRA collection. Bruce

Sorry 'Chard, not an X-file shot. The remaining X-files negatives of mine are still to be scanned. This is a run of the mill transparency complete with fungus - but it's amazing what infra-red clean up did to the original on scanning! Bruce.

That's a great photo, Bill. It seems to confirm that, although the daily freight to and from Hawick in 1969 used both Up and Down lines, the track recovery trains, post closure and post BURCo hiatus used just the Down line (judging by the rust on the Up line track). Chard points out, too, the sign obstructing the Up line. This is one of the recovery trains from Hawick at Heriot in 1971- the unofficial passenger took this photo and http://www.railbrit....te.php?id=26307 I wonder if the "E17" description is just random from another trip. "E9" was the Hawick freight trip working in 1969. Bruce

Not only were Deltics rare birds on specials, off the top of my head I can only recall two other diesel hauled enthusiast specials outwirh the final weekend. Grand Scottish Tours 1 and 2 (I think), the first being non-stop thwarted by a deer on the line, the second with a solitary stop to pick up at Galashiels Diesel specials were a rare bird in themselves. Now a question - when was the last special put on by BR for the indigenous population of the Borders - as opposed to enthusiasts? Having read that over, perhaps I've really asked when last did BR promote the line to potential users? Bruce. .

Bill, my mind was dottled thinking it was an 8F. However, the Brit (or whatever) was certainly on an ECS working. However this is the one I ought to have out up. Obviously a freight and for once, I've a date, 6 January 1967. Is this an 8F? I can't quite make out the number in the photo I took at the water column at Hawick. This is the last of my X-files for a while! Bruce. [for the record, the grub screws keeping the lens holder in place had worked loose. With, say, f22, - eg http://www.railbrit....te.php?id=29747 - photos were perfectly in focus unlike this one shot on a murky afternoon and other X-file ones.]

Another from the X-files, 'Chard! Taken 6 January 1967 Bruce

It wizna' mei! Bruce

Penton Station on the Waverley Route - August 1967 With the imminent closure to freight of the Langholm branch and the closure of Riddings Junction signal box, his tomato plants were being transferred for safe keeping to Penton. And a quote I got that day, "Son, Liddesdale without a railway would be like hell without a fire!" Bruce.

Crumbs, Bill, I could make a book with my fuzzy and out of focus photos! Ii was too embarrassed to show you the X-files on your visits here. I suppose bouncing around on a Velocette didn't help either the camera or a steady hand. About that photo - I'm not at all sure now, I'd assumed that it was the 8f with the ecs. I'm sorry for the confusion. My worst photo must be the time exposure I tried from the 'Killin Hoose Brae' of the Pullman one Sunday night with two type 4s in charge. Only the street lamp appears. Bruce.

Is this an 8F? Taken just north of Hawick by my wonky camera. Whatever it was, it was an ECS working. I heard it come down the line through Lochpark and took the bike out to Burnfoot. B.

Goodness gracious - just goes to show what I thought was a "random" shot of Eric. I wonder what other serendipitous details my innocent shots might throw up! Bruce

Yes, one of those - also used from Hawick, calling at St Boswells, Melrose and Galashiels, during the Trades Holiday for excursions, e.g. to Pitlochry. Bruce

Perhaps this is a bit off-topic as it's not a special train, but I suppose being a diversion, it was special in its own way. The usual student train back on a Sunday evening from Hawick to Edinburgh was the DMU sometime after 6 pm. On this Sunday, we were sitting in the DMU in the bay platform at Hawick, when the Area Manager appeared on board and shouted that there was a non-stop for Edinburgh arriving and if we wanted to use it, we had to transfer NOW. I removed to the Down platform to see a train arrive from the south and drawing to a halt was a loco-hauled train. On a Sunday, the section was Hawick to St Boswells - it may even have been Galashiels - and I expected a speedy trip as it had to clear the section before the DMU would leave ~ somewhat late, so here's the log - the one and only I ever took: Sunday diversion – Carstairs trains via Hawick. D 168 and 5 coaches Headcode 1S38 which ran non-stop to Waverley from Hawick, leaving Hawick at 6.04.50pm Hawick time Hrs.min.sec 18.04.50 Speed 62 Hassendean 09.45 Speed 63 Standhill 11.30 Belses 12.45 Speed 63( for1mile) KelsoJunct 16.43 St Boswells 17.00 Speed 65 Melrose 20.05 Galashiels 23.47 Bowland 28.00 Stow 31.37 Fountainhall 35.45 Speed 64 Heriot 39.10 Speed 43 Falahill 40.35 Tynehead 41.40 BorthwickBank 43.40 Speed slow Fushiebridge 45.15 Speed slow Gorebridge 46.20 Speed slow LadyVicPit 48.55 Speed slow Newtongrange 49.45 Hardengreen 51.35 Eskbank&Dalkeith 51.45 Speed slow Millerhill 54.05 Speed slow Portobello 58.00 Craigentinny slow Waverley(stop) Hrs.min.sec 19.02.35 So some 58 minutes Hawick to Edinburgh. Coming down Falahill was an experience as we rocked about. The amusing upshot was that having arrived early in Edinburgh, I decided to walk back to my flat and not take the bus. I was drenched by an April Shower! I'm sorry about how this post appears, the formatting of the Word document has gone to pigs and whistles! This wasn't my fasted trip over the northern end of the line - this was beaten by a Glasgow set - with three stops at Galashiels, Melrose and St Boswells - substituted after our 10.15 Saturday DMU ex-Waverley jumped the points drawing away from the platform. We were transferred to a Glasgow set sitting in one of the through platforms. Bruce

Willie Whittaker features on http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=23226 also http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=23225 Bruce

Am I right in thinking that Brush "Kestrel" ran over the line? I remember being taken out to near Millerhill (the top of the hill on the A68 bridge) and waiting for it. It must have been early as we waited - with cameras - for about an hour. No joy! Bruce

Yes. The loop was away by 1964. Bruce