Innocent Railway Tunnel

The Innocent Railway Tunnel is a 517 metre long tunnel beneath Holyrood Park which holds the title of the first railway tunnel to be built in Scotland. Opened in 1831, it was part of a purpose-built railway line that brought coal from the Dalkeith area to fuel the bustling city. Today it is hidden beneath the park with a slightly obscure entry reached from the city side via a residential estate near the Royal Commonwealth Pool. Once worked by horse-drawn wagons, it is now a well-used cycle and pedestrian route that forms part of the city’s cycle network. Expect cyclists and walkers passing through the frame.

An interior subject that is nearly half a kilometre long can be a tricky subject. Light is fairly minimal in the tunnel and so tripod shooting is ideal here. Always remain mindful of cyclists when working from the centre. The ceiling lighting is the only real source of internal lighting which creates an almost spinal feel to the passage, and shooting wide can help a feeling of enclosure within the space. A twenty-second exposure helps passers-by blur away as well as bringing out low-lit detail in the brickwork. Be aware of the dynamic range between the dark walls and the highlight of the distant tunnel opening and bracket your exposure if needed.