Whitrope Siding was a short spur off the southbound line on the Waverley Route, featuring a trailing cross-over, two railway cottages, and a signal box. The site is now home to the Whitrope Heritage Centre and serves as the terminus of the heritage Border Union Railway.
The siding is situated just south of Whitrope Summit, the highest point on the line at 1,006 feet (307 m) above sea level.
The Waverley Route Heritage Association operates a small museum featuring Waverley Route artefacts and photographs in a static carriage, with an adjoining buffet carriage.
Plans include rebuilding a replica of the Whitrope Signal Box and extending the running line south to the former Riccarton Junction site. In 2005, a survey of Whitrope Tunnel assessed the feasibility of a northern extension toward Shankend.
The Witrope Tunnel is the fourth longest in Scotland. Located on the Hawick to Carlisle section of the former line, it was opened in the 1860s by the North British Railway and closed in 1969, along with the Waverley Route, by British Rail.
The Waverley Route Heritage Association is working to restore the tunnel to its original standards and function. As a Category B listed building, the tunnel is a significant part of the former route.
A partial collapse of the tunnel roof at the south portal occurred in March 2002, followed by a major collapse in March 2021. Although repairs are possible, a lack of funding has led to the tunnel being sealed for public safety.
Photographing transport heritage, it is easy to imagine the former passengers as lingering spirits, their presence haunting the abandoned railway with an unmistakably eerie atmosphere. Twenty-five years ago, Matt Stoddon and Len Ashton started the Waverley Route Heritage Association to turn their hopes and dreams of restoring this important piece of transport history into reality. You are invited to visit, lend your support, or volunteer your time to make a difference.
Waverley Route Heritage Association