Neidpath Tunnel
I’d read about this tunnel quite some time before finally deciding to head off to Peebles to see what it had to offer. This report is from a visit back in July of this year and is the third visit (If I recall correctly) to Neidpath.
Neidpath Tunnel is 600 yards long, it opened in 1864 and was a significant engineering structure of the Symington Biggar & Broughton Railway. It spent a good 90 years in use for various operations, not just for passengers. It was used extensively during World War 2 and is rumoured to have been used as a safe stopping location for the Royal Train. Whether that is fact or fiction it is still interesting nonetheless.
In the early 20th century, C T R Wilson, A Nobel Prize winning scientist used Neidpath tunnel to conduct experiments with his cloud chamber to prove whether or not cosmic radiation existed. Finally it was used for the transport of Timbers by the Wemyss & March estate before closing for good on June 7th 1954
The Tunnel penetrates through a large body of rock that is part of South Park Woods adjacent to the River Tweed. It runs almost straight in an east-west orientation but has a slight southerly curve at its eastern end. The portals are masonry construction and both have retaining walls, more significantly at the west Portal. The tunnel bore is a horseshoe profile with the majority lined with red brick. Towards the western end the sidewalls are of masonry construction as well as a minor portion at the east end.
Roughly in the centre there is a backfilled adit which adds a nice change. This adit would have led to the bank of the Tweed and aided removal of spoil during construction. An oil drum among other unnamed items are present inside the small space that remains. A single bricked up construction shaft is visible in the tunnel crown above the adit entrance.
The Tunnel is very close to the town as well as being part of a public park thus giving it a good deal of ‘traffic’ by walkers, cyclists and groups of kids going through shouting and playing music on their phones which occurred during my last visit. Rubbish is also a bit of a problem but there are plans to turn the tunnel into a designated cycleway which may help matters. Overall it is in good condition with some spalling of brickwork and water ingress which Is more evident close to the portals.
Thanks and I hope you enjoy the report.
(History taken from Forgotten Relics)
The east portal.
Looking back towards the east portal with the green of the engulfing vegetation.
The western portal is in sight.
Notice the adit entrance on the right and the sealed construction shaft directly above.
The spoil adit entrance, now almost entirely backfilled.
A closer view of the internals and the various items kindly donated.
Looking back down the bore towards the east portal
Another view towards the east portal but much closer to the western end. The sidewalls are now masonry.
The west portal.
I’d read about this tunnel quite some time before finally deciding to head off to Peebles to see what it had to offer. This report is from a visit back in July of this year and is the third visit (If I recall correctly) to Neidpath.
Neidpath Tunnel is 600 yards long, it opened in 1864 and was a significant engineering structure of the Symington Biggar & Broughton Railway. It spent a good 90 years in use for various operations, not just for passengers. It was used extensively during World War 2 and is rumoured to have been used as a safe stopping location for the Royal Train. Whether that is fact or fiction it is still interesting nonetheless.
In the early 20th century, C T R Wilson, A Nobel Prize winning scientist used Neidpath tunnel to conduct experiments with his cloud chamber to prove whether or not cosmic radiation existed. Finally it was used for the transport of Timbers by the Wemyss & March estate before closing for good on June 7th 1954
The Tunnel penetrates through a large body of rock that is part of South Park Woods adjacent to the River Tweed. It runs almost straight in an east-west orientation but has a slight southerly curve at its eastern end. The portals are masonry construction and both have retaining walls, more significantly at the west Portal. The tunnel bore is a horseshoe profile with the majority lined with red brick. Towards the western end the sidewalls are of masonry construction as well as a minor portion at the east end.
Roughly in the centre there is a backfilled adit which adds a nice change. This adit would have led to the bank of the Tweed and aided removal of spoil during construction. An oil drum among other unnamed items are present inside the small space that remains. A single bricked up construction shaft is visible in the tunnel crown above the adit entrance.
The Tunnel is very close to the town as well as being part of a public park thus giving it a good deal of ‘traffic’ by walkers, cyclists and groups of kids going through shouting and playing music on their phones which occurred during my last visit. Rubbish is also a bit of a problem but there are plans to turn the tunnel into a designated cycleway which may help matters. Overall it is in good condition with some spalling of brickwork and water ingress which Is more evident close to the portals.
Thanks and I hope you enjoy the report.
(History taken from Forgotten Relics)
The east portal.
Looking back towards the east portal with the green of the engulfing vegetation.
The western portal is in sight.
Notice the adit entrance on the right and the sealed construction shaft directly above.
The spoil adit entrance, now almost entirely backfilled.
A closer view of the internals and the various items kindly donated.
Looking back down the bore towards the east portal
Another view towards the east portal but much closer to the western end. The sidewalls are now masonry.
The west portal.
