Kelso, Station Road, Station Goods Shed
Goods Shed (19th Century) - (20th Century)
Site Name Kelso, Station Road, Station Goods Shed
Classification Goods Shed (19th Century) - (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Kelso Station
Canmore ID 99364
Site Number NT73SW 89.02
NGR NT 7316 3321
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/99364
- Council Scottish Borders, The
- Parish Kelso
- Former Region Borders
- Former District Roxburgh
- Former County Roxburghshire
Today the most tangible reminder of Kelso Railway Station is Station Road, which ran from the centre of Maxwellheugh to the site of the station. When the station closed to passengers in 1964, it had three platforms, a main building containing the booking office and accommodation for the stationmaster, and waiting rooms. East of the station there were several sidings with a goods shed and an engine shed.
Reference to the first edition of the Ordnance Survey 6-inch map of Roxburghshire (1860) shows two goods sheds at Kelso. One goods shed survived in the 1970s and photographs show that it was built of wood on brick foundations. There was a small single-storeyed brick office at either end, one later being extended. There were openings at each end for railway wagons, and inside there was a platform for unloading. Three doors at the rear of the building allowed goods to be interchanged between road and rail vehicles.
In the late nineteenth century, the North British Railway still relied on horses for moving goods around stations. As horses were expensive to maintain, the company began using steam- or petrol-powered shunting engines. Yet Kelso was an exception, for the curves at the goods yard were so tight that only a horse could successfully negotiate them. This arrangement continued at Kelso until 1921 when the company straightened the curves and brought in a petrol-powered shunter.
Text prepared by RCAHMS as part of the Accessing Scotland's Past project