Through the landscape of southern Midlothian, down the Gala Water to within sight of the Eildon hills, the route along the Borders Railway passes some spectacular scenery.

For many years, allowing access to these stunning views and the places which lay beyond the line were among the many reasons spurring campaigners to fight for the reopening of the track, which had closed in 1969.

It has come as no surprise then to campaigner and railway writer David Spaven to see people avidly document the views of, and from, the tracks since the route between Edinburgh and Tweedbank opened in 2015.

But as the official opening of the railway is marked today, David says another prediction held by campaigners has also become reality.

"As I expected, the railway has turned out to be a mixture of the very good and the not so good," he says.

"The good is that it has been very popular both with locals in the Borders, Midlothian and Edinburgh but also visitors, particularly those coming down from Edinburgh to the likes of the National Mining Museum at Newtongrange and down to Galashiels, Tweedbank and Stow in the Borders.

"So that's bringing in money to the Borders economy that wouldn't otherwise be there - that's all very encouraging.

"There are lots of things to do in the Borders and it is an attractive run through the landscape."

He adds: "The downside, as predicted by rail campaigners, is that the service has not been as reliable as it should have been because of cut backs in the amount of double track, problems with the reliability of the trains and problems with the reliability of some of the existing infrastructure.

"That's been very worrying because the warnings that campaigners made years ago about skimping the railway and being penny wise and pound foolish were largely ignored and we are now paying the penalty for that."

Come rain or shine: Capturing the Borders Railway

Tracking the steam train

Enticing photographers during all four seasons of the last 12 months, one of the draws to the railway has been the introduction of some steam trains, with the Royal Scot and the Union of South Africa both featuring on the line.

Despite campaigning for over two decades, David managed to wait three days after the first passenger trains opened on September 6 to take his seat on the steam train at the official opening with the Queen.

"It was a very emotional occasion for me because it took me back to my childhood and it also took me back to the 20 plus years of campaigning with my campaigning colleagues," he says.

"There were thousands of people standing along the line side and not just in the towns and villages.

"We came past this great big field half way down the Gala Water and there were people who had a big trestle table in the middle of the field and had their picnic and bottles of champagne and were waving at the train so it was wonderful."

For David and the other Campaign for Borders Rail members, the fight continues to ensure improvements to the current service are made and to present the case to extend the railway line.

"Many people in Hawick would like to get back on the railway map and I think it is important that the studies that are being planned look properly at that and learn the lessons of what's gone wrong with the rebuilding of the Edinburgh to Tweedbank section.

"I think it is important to get the existing line right first but that shouldn't stop, for example, a feasibility study being done to look at the line extension too."