Editorial – The Scottish Banner Says….

May 2025 (Vol. 48, Number 12)

The Banner Says…

Celebrating 200 years of train travel

Should you be visiting Scotland, and the UK,  this year there is a good chance you may find yourself on a train or at least seeing one. This year marks the 200th anniversary of rail travel in the UK. In the coal region of County Durham the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened in September 1825 and was the beginning of what would completely revolutionise how people connected with communities and each other.

That first twenty-six-mile train journey carrying over 400 people did not just set the stage to transform Britain but the entire planet.

Scotland’s oldest railway

Our ancestors were using horse and cart to transport people and goods prior to this, and the thought of a passenger train ignited the imagination of the world. The first rail line built in Scotland was the Kilmarnock and Troon Railway which opened in June 1812 and was constructed to transport coal from pits around Kilmarnock. The railway initially used horses to pull the carriages. On June 27, 1812, the historic journey marked the beginning of regular railway passenger services in Scotland. It also became the first railway in Scotland powered by a steam locomotive in 1816. Scotland’s first steam locomotive was called “The Duke” which pulled a passenger service, nine years before its use on the Stockton to Darlington Railway being celebrated this year.

Scotland can trace railways even further in history as the Tranent Waggonway in East Lothian was first constructed in 1722 and considered to be Scotland’s oldest railway. Tracks were made for horses to pull coal and salt filled wooden wagons and are a unique part of Scotland’s industrial history. The railway has quite a history as in 1745 the opening skirmish between the English army and Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Highlanders took place at Prestonpans on the Waggonway line. Scotland’s first railway fatality also took place on the Waggonway when in 1762 James Paterson was hit by the train and later succumbed to his injuries. This is reported to also be the first death on a railway anywhere in the world.

Railway Mania

By the 1840’s ‘Railway Mania’ had swept across the UK with thousands of new railway lines being planned. In 2022/23 the UK railway carried 1.4 billion passengers on 9,864 miles of route between 2,578 stations. It also moved more than 15.7 billion tonnes of freight, taking 6.4 million trucks off the nation’s busy road network. In Scotland you can of course take a train to get from A to B but there are some great rail experiences on offer.

The West Highland Line is widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest train journeys. The route leads from Glasgow to Mallaig on the west coast, passing over the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct and offering breathtaking views of locations such as Loch Shiel, Loch Eilt and Ben Nevis. The West Highland Line is also known to millions as the railway that took Harry Potter from Platform 9 ¾ all the way to Hogwarts.

The Far North Line is Britain’s most rural railway and connects Inverness with Thurso (the UK’s most northerly station) and Wick at the northern limits of the Highlands. The full journey takes around four hours and follows hundreds of miles of beautiful varied landscapes, from peatland bogs and minuscule hamlets to the gates of the magnificent Dunrobin Castle.

The Belmond Royal Scotsman train offers a truly glamorous oncein- a-lifetime trip with fine dining and five-star hospitality. The Royal Scotsman whisks travellers around Scotland on unforgettable luxury breaks, stopping off for day trips along the way.

Strathspey Steam Railway takes in the majestic Cairngorm mountains which can be seen from the comfort of a plush carriage on a trip along the route. Visitors travelling from England can catch the Caledonian Sleeper at London Euston and be swept up to the Highlands overnight, waking up to stunning views of Rannoch Moor before arriving in Fort William. Other options include waking up in Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen or Glasgow before continuing your Scottish adventure.

No Scottish rail experience is complete without a trip across the Forth Rail Bridge. Connecting Edinburgh with Fife, this remarkable structure has the second-longest single cantilever span of any bridge in the world and has been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.

In this issue

Scotland is blessed with an incredible history and part of that story has to be the many castles found across the nation. These fortresses of power and wealth have an amazing and often bloody history and castles have changed over time incorporating different styles and uses. Who better to do a ‘Scottish castles 101’ than our very own Castle Hunter- David C. Weinczok.

Last month the 80th anniversary of VE (Victory in Europe) Day took place. Celebrations were marked across the world. Jim Stoddart reflects on his family’s history in Clydebank during the war and the celebration that followed.

Rail adventures

One of my favourite rail trips in Scotland is Glasgow to Oban, full of incredible scenery and a great way to travel. Without question my favourite station in all of the UK is Glasgow Central Station, the architecture draws me in every time. My grandfather made rivets used in the station, so maybe that draws me in closer. If you ever have time do the amazing station tour on offer, it is incredible to do, and you will not be disappointed.

I am looking forward to experiencing some Scottish rail adventures myself this summer and will no doubt reflect just how far down the rails we have evolved in the last couple of hundred years. Happy travels to those doing the same…

Have you travelled by train in Scotland? Do you have a favourite rail adventure? Do you have you any comments from the content in this month’s edition? Share your story with us by email, post, social media or at: www.scottishbanner.com/contact-us

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