Peebles Railway Heritage Project

The Peebles Historic Railway Group was formed in 2018 to develop the project to acquire the former railway goods and weighbridge office in the East Station car park in Peebles. The aim is to save this deteriorating  building and then consider how to return it into community use.

Peebles owes much of its development to the introduction of the railways through the latter part of the 19th century and into the 20th. At one time there were three stations in Peebles serving the needs of three woollen mills; the railway also played a significant part in developing an interest in Peebles as a visitor destination, an interest which still exists today. Also, as a centre of commerce, the railways in Peebles, had an important role in shipping livestock to and from the nearby cattle market.

As the sole surviving building from the railway era, it is felt that it could be used to educate residents and visitors about our important railway heritage. The PRHG feel that the demise of a tourist information office from Peebles can be mitigated to some extent by using this building as an information point, highlighting historical aspects of our railway heritage, signposting places of interest around the town and providing visitors with information of a more general nature.

The PRHG have been in discussion with Scottish Borders Council, who own the building, they have agreed to a long term lease on favourable terms. The PRHG will then seek the necessary funding from various groups to enable the project reach fruition. It is hoped that the first stage of the project, acquiring the building and making it safe and secure will be completed by early 2020. Further funding will be sought to complete the project to a high standard.