Alloway Railway Tunnel Art Project
I'm on a circular bike ride starting in Alloway, a couple of miles from Ayr. Twenty-five miles in I come down off the hills and, near the coast, turn north back towards Alloway.
The final few miles is along the track of a former railway line and I’m in for a real treat. Approaching Alloway, I’m riding through a lengthy tunnel and come across a couple of guys discussing some murals on the walls. They are stunning (the artwork, not the men) and, as I’m wont to do, I stop for a chat.
Alloway Tunnel - so far
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‘Wow,’ I say, ‘those are wonderful.’
One guy turns and points at his mate, ‘all his idea.’
I turn to to a chap with glasses, who’s name I later learn is Ron. ‘Please, tell me more.’
‘Well, as you can see on the information board over there, it’s called the Alloway Railway Tunnel Art Project. The idea really came about because the tunnel used to be a gloomy, rather threatening place where folk would come and drink and smoke or whatever, so we thought we’d try and brighten it up and turn it into a community project.’
I knew exactly what he meant by gloomy tunnels. During our boating days we’d occasionally come across people sitting in a tunnel or under a bridge with a can of Stella and a Pitbull on a chain. Two pairs of piggy eyes followed our passage. We were always wary.
‘I think it’s terrific.’ I say
Initially, there had seemed a slight wariness, as perhaps you’d expect when a porky stranger on a bike pulls up, wheezing. But he could see I was genuinely interested so told me the tale with the enthusiasm of someone proud of his endeavours. ‘That’s kind of you to say, thank you.’ he said. ‘It’s largely thanks to the artist, Chris Rutterford.’ He points to the mural behind him. ‘That’s him there with me next to him.’ The artist is wearing a beaming smile and a Tam O’ Shanter hat while playing a fiddle. Next to him there’s a chap wearing glasses who I recognize as my companion. Next to him, a lady with other figures in the background, ‘all local people,’ he tells me. They are all laughing and look to be having a ball. The artist has a colourful, slightly naive way of capturing this jolly scene. The whole thing is really engaging. The mural is perhaps eight feet across by six high and is one of many that adorn the walls. I’m told they are created off site and brought in. They have multiple coats of varnish, some (I think) painted on by people on ‘community service’, others by local volunteers.
The artist, left and Ron, centre
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Directly across the tunnel is a fabulous depiction of Robert Burns in his cottage, writing at his desk with his beloved Collie, Luath, by his side. Sweeping left along the mural, outside is his pet sheep Maillie. The scene moves to his garden, then beautiful wildflower meadows, forests, farmland and fauna. The nature scene will eventually fade to night and a spectacular new depiction of Tam O’ Shanter overlooking Brig O’ Doon. Burns wrote his poem in 1790 and he and his work is fittingly honoured by this superb artwork.
Robert Burns at his desk
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I estimate half of the tunnel wall is yet to be covered, but fund-raising is underway and the artist is in action. Chris Rutterford is one of the UK’s top mural artists. His paintings breathe fresh life into gloomy corners. This one in Alloway, driven by the community is a stunning example of people coming together to create something special. They have already had help from 850 local people including school children, college students and community groups.
Next up will be the painting of crowd scenes where local people can pay to be immortalised on the ‘Last Train to Butlins’, a reference to the trains that historically carried fun-seekers from Ayr to Butlins Holiday Camp, four miles to the south. The ‘Butlins’ camp was renamed Wonderwest World in 1987, closed in 1998 but reopened a year later as Craig Tara and I believe it’s still going strong.
Speaking with these two gents and seeing the wonderful, ongoing community project they’ve inspired, has me desperately wanting to see it succeed and reach it’s full potential. I wish them luck and head off back to the van, somewhat inspired. If you’re in the area, go and have a look for yourself.
The project has some good local support and I believe The National Trust for Scotland are showing interest because the railway line on which the tunnel sits, links the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and Culzean Castle, about 10 miles down the coast, both of which are National Trust of Scotland properties.
Here is the website for the Alloway tunnel and Facebook Page
And the website of the artist Chris Rutterford
Look out! A bit of senior nostalgia here….. I live in a town that used to be a village. Though we didn’t really term it as such fifty-plus years ago, there was a sense of community at the heart of the village. It was an organic thing, it didn’t have to be created, it was just there as part of our life. There was an ‘open door’ policy where lock and alarms were not needed. Also, help somebody out without the need to tell everyone else about it. These days, with things becoming so much more ‘commercial’, that sense of community is being herded into smaller and smaller pens. ‘Community events’ are created to try and bring people together, but after they’re over, families drift back to their own gated worlds and disappear into their electronic gadgets. I’m sure there are other ongoing community projects up and down the British Isles, but the one I saw in Alloway is an evolving entity involving people of all ages that, God willing, will endure, even grow with each generation. I sincerely wish them luck.