Peebles To Symington Junction Railway, Neidpath Tunnel
Railway Tunnel (19th Century)
Site Name Peebles To Symington Junction Railway, Neidpath Tunnel
Classification Railway Tunnel (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Peebles Tunnel; South Park Wood
Canmore ID 278380
Site Number NT24SW 163
NGR NT 23675 40305
NGR Description NT 23405 40248 to NT 23947 40326
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/278380
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Peebles
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Tweeddale
- Former County Peebles-shire
NT24SW 163 23405 40248 to 23947 40326
For associated railway viaduct (adjacent to W), see NT24SW 80.
Peebles Tunnel (also known as Neidpath Tunnel): the most notable engineering feature on the [Peebles-Symington] 'extension line', this brick-lined tunnel was 674 yds [616.5m] long and carried the line beneath South Park Wood, to emerge within sight of Peebles. It was entered through stone horseshoe-shaped portals.
William Scott, the contractor for the tunnel, brought in 10,000ft of timber from Leith and 6000 tons of bricks from Millerhill, Dalkeith and Portobello via Hardengreem Junction [NBR} to Peebles.
P Marshall 2005.
This tunnel formerly carried the Symington-Peebles branch line of the Caledonian Rly under South Park Wood and along the S bank of the River Tweed to the S of Neidpath Castle (NT24SW 22). This line closed to regular passenger traffic on 5 June 1950.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 26 January 2006.
G Daniels and L Dench 1980.
The figure of 674 yards [616.5m] that is commonly cited for the length of this tunnel is apparently incorrect. GIS/Autocad anlaysis of a digitised OS map indicates a figure of approximately 601 yards [549.6m].
Information from Mr S Smith, 15 May 2009.
