THE wheels are in motion to honour Peebles’ historic railway by creating a museum in the town.

In recognition of the prosperity the railway brought to the community, members of the Peebles Community Trust (PCT) are hoping to transform the former weigh bridge, located in Edinburgh Road car park, to house the railway archive dating back to 1855.

The development of Peebles owes a great deal to the railway, which made its final stop in 1962. During this time there were three railway stations in Peebles – one where Tesco now stands, which was then extended to create a line to Galashiels; the second in Dean Park; and the third on Caledonian Road, serving travel to the west and Glasgow.

The rail link not only encouraged thousands of visitors, with The Hydro having its own spur, but underpinned the huge expansion of the weaving industry by providing fast, cheap links to world markets.

Until now there has been little recognition of the influence of the railway on the development of Peebles and, while some evidence can still be found in the Viaduct Bridge over the River Tweed and the railway tunnel connecting the bridge to the town, much has been lost.

But now railway enthusiasts are steaming ahead with plans to establish a museum which will house artefacts and photographs of historic trains during their journeys through Peebles.

The PCT is now hoping to gauge if there is an appetite amongst the people of Peebles for the museum.

Further investigations will have to be carried out, as it is believed the building is owned by Scottish Borders Council.

If the railway museum is given the green light, funding will be sought for the renovation of the old railway building. PCT chairman Lawrie Hayworth said: “This a really exciting project which can help us all have access to this important period in the town’s history, a period of rapid local transformation akin to the wider impact we see today with global internet access.

“This should also boost visitor numbers to Peebles and provide economic benefit to the town. It is important to safeguard our heritage for future generations, and recognise the influential role the railway has played over the years.”

If you would like to be involved in the project, contact PCT co-coordinator Alex Wilson at admin@peeblescommunity.org