Artists have transformed a disused Victorian railway tunnel in Colinton, Edinburgh into one of the best spots to see street art in Scotland. Photos by Buenos Aires Street Art.
Lines from poem “Lumping along with man and load” (photo © BA Street Art)
Colinton Tunnel is regarded as Scotland’s largest mural measuring 140 metres in length. The mural was created by local artist Chris Rutterford and team together with street artists Craig Robertson and Duncan Peace painting the words of the poem ‘From a Railway Carriage’ by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Man & his dog (photo © BA Street Art)
The mural project started in June 2019 and was completed in October 2021. Around 600 young people from five local schools plus various youth groups and members of the Pentlands Art Club also collaborated with Colinton Tunnel charity raising funds to make the completion of the artwork possible.
Local people (photo © BA Street Art)
The mural itself includes portraits of local people on its walls and ceiling as well as the words from the poem which relate to the joy of a child on a rail journey through the Scottish countryside at a fast pace.
Colinton Tunnel entrance & railway locomotive mural (photo © BA Street Art)
The poem’s meaning significance has extra importance for Stevenson, whose had close connections with Colinton as he visited the village many times to see his grandfather who was the minister at Colinton Church.
One of the two railway tunnel entrances that was previously bricked up (photo © BA Street Art)
On the 4th December 1967, the last freight train ran on the Balerno Branch Line and all services were stopped as the line closed. Shortly after this, the Colinton Tunnel was also closed and bricked up at both entrances.
Tourist attraction (photo © BA Street Art)
Since its completion, the tunnel located in the Colinton area in the south of Edinburgh has become a tourist attraction which is impressive, considering the Scottish capital is one of the most visited cities in the UK.
Kingfisher (photo © BA Street Art)
Parts of the mural also have sections with wood cut outs mounted on the walls of the tunnel featuring animals, flowers, plants and wildlife.
Wildlife in Scotland (photo © BA Street Art)
This section of the mural above features native animals to Scotland including a fox, badger, deer, squirrel, rabbit, hare, stoat and frog.
Mushrooms & fantasy (photo © BA Street Art)
One section of the mural (below) features a rainbow with a line from Stevenson’s poem and the line: “And ever again, in the wink of an eye”.
Rainbow mural in Colinton Tunnel (photo © BA Street Art)
We had fun taking photos in Colinton Tunnel and walking along by the paths by the river and enjoying the birdsong and nature.
Water of Leith river close to the tunnel (photo © BA Street Art)
Colinton Tunnel is not easy to find but can be accessed by heading to Colinton Parish Church and walking down Dell Road then along the pedestrian pathway to the tunnel opening or heading to the other tunnel entrance at Easter Hailes Gate. More information about the project at www.colintontunnel.org.uk/history
All photos © Buenos Aires Street Art
