I recently visited Colinton Tunnel in Colinton, Scotland. This tunnel is filled with vibrant murals that cover the tunnel walls and ceiling. Along with the artwork, the poem “From a Railway Carriage” is painted on the walls and can be read as you walk through. This poem commemorates the steam train that once ran through the tunnel and that connected the people of Colinton village with downtown Edinburgh.

The poem is also an homage to Scottish heritage, as it describes the Scottish countryside seen on a train journey and is by the famous Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. The tunnel was constructed in 1874 by the Caledonian Railway Company as an extension to the Balerno Branch Line. The line became a popular way for Colinton residents to visit both the countryside and the heart of Edinburgh. In fact, the extension allowed residents to travel to downtown Edinburgh in just 15 minutes when previously it had taken an hour-long carriage ride.

However, the railway line closed in 1967 as tram and bus services became an easier means of transportation. The tunnel deteriorated until muralist Chris Rutterford was commissioned to restore and paint it in 2018. Rutterford designed and created the mural with the help of 600 volunteers, and it was completed in 2021. Now the tunnel is a stunning tourist attraction, as well as a source of pride for the people of Colinton.

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