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Bowshank Tunnel

Railway Tunnel (19th Century)

Site Name Bowshank Tunnel

Classification Railway Tunnel (19th Century)

Alternative Name(s) The Waverley Line; Edinburgh To Hawick Branch Railway

Canmore ID 283845

Site Number NT44SE 28.04

NGR NT 45339 41262

NGR Description From NT 45276 41338 to NT 45381 41171

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/283845

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Digital Images

Detail.  N entrance of tunnel showing arch and abutments from NW.
Detail.  N entrance of tunnel showing arch and abutments from NW.View.  From NW looking from inside tunnel to farm access footbridge.  Land Rover from Soil Test team part of Waverley Line rebuilding Project.View.  From SE from railway bridge over Gala Water looking to farm access footbridge and S entrance to tunnel.View. From SE from railway bridge over Gala Water looking to farm access footbridge and S entrance to tunnel.Detail of painted number at Bowshank railway tunnelVertical aerial view showing the course of The Waverley Line including Bowshank Tunnel and bridges.Interior view of Bowshank railway tunnel from S entranceOblique aerial view of the construction of the Bow section of the Hawick to Edinburgh Branch Line and Bowshank Tunnel, looking SW.Zipped folder containing additional field survey photographs taken by team B, Borders Railway ProjectOblique aerial view centred on S end of Bowshank Tunnel, foootbridge and bridge over the Gala Water, taken from the SSE.Oblique aerial view centred on S end of Bowshank Tunnel, foootbridge and bridge over the Gala Water, taken from the SE.Interior.  From inside tunnel looking SE to farm access footbridge, from NW.Oblique aerial view centred on S end of Bowshank Tunnel, foootbridge and bridge over the Gala Water, taken from the SE.Detail.  S entrance rebuilt arch and abutments from SE.Detail.  From SSE showing S end of tunnel and rebuilt tunnel mouth.  Land Rover from Soil Investigation team part of Waverley Line rebuilding Project.View.  From SSE showing S entrance to tunnel and farm access footbridge.Oblique aerial view centred on S end of Bowshank Tunnel, foootbridge and bridge over the Gala Water, taken from the S.Interior view of Bowshank railway tunnel from SEField survey, Bowshank Tunnel (Site 218), Borders Railway Project

Administrative Areas

  • Council Scottish Borders, The
  • Parish Stow
  • Former Region Borders
  • Former District Ettrick And Lauderdale
  • Former County Midlothian

Archaeology Notes

NT44SE 28.04 from 45276 41338 to 45381 41171

Railway Tunnel about 195m in length under 600m high promontory of land with Bowshank farmsteading on top.

The Tunnel has a stone-faced portal at the N end only and is mainly brick lined. The N portal is in random rubble whilst the S entrance is of imitation rustication in shuttered concrete. There is evidence of repairs to the stone and brickwork at the N end, on the W side the strone quoins have been replaced with brick and the S portal has a secondary entrance in concrete providing evidence of major repair work or strengthening. The tunnel is numbered No.75.

There are several linesman's alcoves near the S entrance.

Photographed in 2007 as part of a survey of Waverley Line remains in advance of proposed rebuilding of the railway and to enhance and augment the existing holdings of the National Monuments Record Scotland.

Information from RCAHMS (DE), April 2007

Activities

Project (April 2009 - February 2015)

The Borders Railway Project proposals are to reinstate the Newcraighall to Tweedbank section of the former Waverley Line. The reinstated railway line will be approximately 48km long and the majority of the route will use the existing railway embankment.

Several field surveys, archaeological evaluations and standing building surveys were undertaken by CFA Archaeology from April 2009 until February 2015.

CFA Archaeology

References

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