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I would think that points in a tunnel would be a no-no, especially one for routine moves. Newcastleton P.way may be able to advise.

Possibly, it still seems like a good tall tale though!

A little bit of background detail about the construction of Whitrope Tunnel (detail which has been gathered from the engineer reports that I previously mentioned), the whole 3 years of which can be found on one of the interpretation boards in Whitrope Heritage Centre together with diagrams of how the tunnel was constructed and much, much more:

I'm guessing that there'll be a few "heritage" ones stashed somewhere offshore .... these could be preserved somewhere more deserving to give it a retro-feel, so to speak.

I'm lucky enough to have all (and I mean ALL) the BUR engineer reports from when the tunnel was dug, currently in a folder on my bookcase. I have studied these at great length and there is absolutely no mention whatsoever of such a secondary bore being tunnelled when the main bore was tunnelled. I would also think it highly unlikely that during the lifetime of the railway being operational such a massive undertaking was taken in a working tunnel. There are also no overhead air vents as the shafts were infilled, though no.4 shaft (around 400 yards from the south portal) still continues to pour water at great rates and it's likely the wall around this section occasionally had to be rebuilt & strengthened. There are in fact several sections of the tunnel lining that have been renewed at some stage. Border Collie says he saw a set of points and a signal inside the tunnel yet the Shankend Bobby, seemingly knowing a lot about the "secret", said these had been removed. Like Steele Road, I too have walked through the tunnel, on many occasions, and have also videoed inside the tunnel aided by hi-intensity lamps. Not wishing to be a sceptic, but I have my doubts - it sounds like this is a classic tale of someone being at the receiving end of a practical joke - a good one, but a joke nonetheless, I'm sorry to say.

Looked through the gen in the diesels article but not got that one down - yet ... a little more research on the way I think

Think this one was linked from Flickr on the image discussion thread, probably towards the back end of 2011 - I seem to have made a comment on Flickr about it 13 months ago! http://www.flickr.com/photos/69363014@N08/6305987970/

Found this one last night at Forfar (undated) showing buffers freshly whitened ..... http://www.flickr.com/photos/rgadsdon/5096168513/

I'm amazed you've still got a copy of this - thanks for digitising it - it sounds great after all this time! Did it need much processing?

Just looking though several other photos of BP and came across this one, "near Dalkeith": http://www.flickr.com/photos/31767778@N06/2971730883

Tell you what is green though, Dave - D6844 to the right and behind Blue Peter

Remembered that there's currently a Colour Rail slide of this train available on ebay - looks pretty maroon throughout: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COLOUR-RAIL-35mm-RAILWAY-SLIDE-SC-153-CLASS-A2-60532-BLUE-PETER-/290840680336?pt=UK_Collectables_Railwayana_RL&hash=item43b7749790

Got my eye on one of these at the mo .... Peak Class 46, D139 (later 46002) on 1M91 at Melrose, 31st August 1968. Strathwood are releasing a few copies of each transparency in their archive, available through their eBay shop. I don't think much of their slide scanner or processing though, horrendous colours! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASS-46-PEAK-D139-at-Melrose-on-31-August-1968-Railway-Slide-/150894849808?pt=UK_Collectables_Railwayana_RL&hash=item232208af10

I wonder if my brother has read this posting?

Was hoping to have been able to attend .... plans scuppered unfortunately

Also found that we printed an article in "The Waverley", Journal number 6 - it's the double centre pages - which includes a photo of 77011 at Reedsmouth on the last day of the Border Counties, amongst others. For WRHA members, back issues are all downloadable from the members' area here. Any fully paid-up members who require the password, please contact us via the usual means with your membership number.

It's a great story, Bruce - just been ploughing through old copies of "The Waverley" to see which one you allowed it to be printed in - for any WRHA members interested it's in Journal 10 - available to download from the members' area here along with all back issues.

To put more into Bill's research above, I've been delving through my collection of Railway Observers and found this:

77011 & 77014 are both on Kenneth Gray's list of locos to have worked into/through Hawick, and 77011 is listed elsewhere as having worked the morning Hawick-Newcastle on several occasions in early 1956. Source is http://www.lner-pacifics.me.uk/cms/news.php?default.0.60

Got that as a 6"x8" so will take a closer look and let you know!

See my post, above this one .... yep, hence the correction needed on there.

I think we may have done - definitely the Flickr one if not both. There are several new images available on there, which I've only just discovered. I ordered several of the Waverley Route shots as 6"x8" a few months ago - great quality photos. I also let John Chalcraft (the chap that runs Rail Photoprints) know that his caption for http://railphotoprints.zenfolio.com/p692212777/h2b1890c5#h2b1890c5 was incorrect but it still hasn't been rectified!

One for Bruce- Carlisle Canal's J39 0-6-0 64895 at Langholm with the 9.12 to Riddings Junction, 27/8/60. From http://railphotoprints.zenfolio.com/p748395313/h40187ebc#h40187ebc

Carlisle Canal's A3 Pacific 60093 'Coronach' waits at Galashiels whilst heading the 12 Noon Edinburgh Waverley - Carlisle 'Waverley' route service, 26/8/60 From http://railphotoprints.zenfolio.com/p748395313/h40187750#h40187750

Kicking off 2013 with a Border Counties photo from 60 years ago in May, D49 4-4-0 62771 'The Rufford' approaches Riccarton Junction, 27/5/53. From http://railphotoprints.zenfolio.com/p748395313/he810d5#he810d5 where copies are available.