Building Bridges

During the railway age, coal mines, ports and cities were linked together in many lucrative ventures. However, that extraordinary optimism and willingness to invest also spread into many predominantly rural areas with sparse populations, connecting modest-sized market towns by way of a string of villages. Viewing some of the amazing edifice that have survived closure up close, one gets an idea of how extraordinarily bold the driving force must have been that inspired them.

The iconic Royal Border bridge at Berwick-upon-Tweed is still very much in use, of course. From the quayside, I did not have the full vista to aim at, unlike the many paintings and photos of trains crossing the river between Scotland and England that have often been viewed from raised positions on the Tweedbank side.

The area we were staying in around Coldstream lost its railway connections decades ago, though many of the associated structures remain. The NER’s Alnwick to Tweedmouth route, The NER’s Coldstream to Kelso branch, the NBR’s line from Kelso to St Boswells, the Waverley route between Carlisle and Edinburgh and the NBR’s Roxburgh to Jedburgh branch have all long gone, leaving some distinguished structures behind and many traces of the former track bed.

The 1850 Roxburgh Viaduct on the former Kelso branch is exceptional. Built on a curve across the River Teviot, it is a category A listed building. It is possible to walk its length, though an original metal footbridge strung from its piers at a lower level has been temporarily removed for maintenance. At Mindrum on the Alnwick to Cornhill branch the splendid station house is a private residence, as is the nearby goods shed.