It has been a memorable week for author and railway enthusiast Ann Glen. Her latest book, ‘The Waverley Route – Its Heritage and Revival’ was published on Thursday and today she was one of the first to travel on the new line between Waverley Station and Tweedbank.
Since the project was announced, Ann has visited the site on around 80 occasions, walking several parts of the route and speaking to workers on the line to gather material for the book.
Ann comes from a family of civil and mechanical engineers with links to the railways. She is a graduate of Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities, a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and by profession a geographer and economic historian.
Having had an interest in transport history, especially railways, Ann is the co-author of several books notably on the Caledonian and Great North of Scotland Railways. Other publications have been ‘Airdrie – Bathgate Rail Link’ and ‘Waverley, A Novel Railway Station.’
After a smooth trip through the beautiful Borders countryside the train reached Tweedbank where Ann told the Edinburgh Reporter: “I am delighted to see the railway back here in the Borders and to see so many people so enthused about it because it’s these people who will make it so acceptable right along the line.
“I have been writing a book and have visited the area on many many occasions in order to gather information and take photographs so you couldn’t wish for a nicer occasion than this with the sun out and everyone in good form.
“My father was quite concerned abut the closure of the line and the loss of the Waverley route and it was a subject of conversation in our house on many occasions, what might be done to save it and whether that would be feasible. Various efforts was made to do just that by others who were more closely involved and I’m afraid none were successful. That was a serious disappointment.
“I am booked on the first steam train which is on the 10th September and I understand that the others have been sold out. It’s a great achievement.
“I would like to have seen better facilities here (at Tweedbank) because there were those of us who said that you need to make preparations for chartered trains, and especially for steam haulage and it would be better to do this when the whole system is under construction.
“We would liked to have seen a turntable for example installed because a locomotive will come down hauling the train but another locomotive will have to take the train back. we understand that the steam locomotives will be attached at the end of the train. so that is a pity because I think that today for people to see a steam locomotive being turned is a spectacle and it’s well worth doing.
“The most obvious benefit for the people of the Borders and Edinburgh is the linkage and the easy communication between the two for all kind of purposes whether it be family, tourism, educational or business or economic reasons.”
The Waverley Route – Its Heritage and Revival is published by Lily Publications. To order a copy contact nicola@lilypublications.co.uk
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
