The Waverley Line

The Waverley railway line ran between Edinburgh and Carlisle with several branch lines spurring from it. It seems incredible how many railways were closed in the short-sighted vision of the times. Fortunately a new generation sees the benefits of passenger rail travel and freight services and there is renewed enthusiasm for the re-opening of railway lines. 

The Waverley line has been partly restored  between Edinburgh and Tweedbank. There were many doubters but the success of the line has been undeniable. Let’s hope those in a position of power and influence do not repeat the shortsightedness of previous generations and give life back to the full Waverley Line.

Ironically this song was not written on a cross-border train but while walking a cross-border route on the old drove road “The Bloody Bush” between Keilder and Liddesdale.

The Waverley Line
© Alan G Brydon

V1
A mind o’ the days 
Growing up in the borders
There wasnae too many had by cars
You walked where you needed to
Biked if ye could
There’s naebody thought that was too hard
You could stand at a bus stop and you’d soon catch a bus
And ye’d never have cause to complain
But the best thing of all
Was a walk to the station
And there you could jump on a train

Chorus
Oh the Waverley, Waverley, Waverley line
The sound of the trains still roll round in my mind
And the wheels on the tracks were like drummers through time
Oh the Waverley, Waverley line
The Waverley line

V2
The highlight for me was a trip to the city
It was always a day filled with fun
The sight o the castle
The smells o’ Auld Reekie
And the sound of the one o’clock gun
And if you were lucky to see the Tattoo
There was nae greater place in the land
For yer wee heart was pumping
And yer goosebumps were up
Tae the pipes and the drums wi’ massed bands

V3
In 1969 they closed down the line
And there wasni a train on the track 
But after forty odd years with hindsight and wisdom
They finally brought some trains back
And the doomsfolk and doubters were A’ proved far wrong
By the Waverley whistling again
So the next stop is Hawick
And onwards to Carlisle
“All aboard” to the borders by train

Bridge
With your hands are on the steering wheel
Your eyes on the road
All you can see is ahead
But sit back on a train
And look out of the window 
and watch the world roll by instead