Drawing on Scotland’s national archives, the exhibition transports visitors to the steam era – charting the development of the railway from the days before the first passenger railway in the early 19th century, to the rise of the motor car over a century later.
The exhibition captures moments which changed Scotland’s history and landscape forever. Discover how cheap fares and posters advertising Scotland’s beauties encouraged a tourism boom. Glimpse a fascinating snapshot of Victorian society and the ways in which different social classes travelled.
In a period that saw the birth of some of Scotland’s most famous railway lines, including the West Highland Line, the exhibition also looks at the benefits of the new method of transport, and the faster movement of goods and people.
In conjunction with the exhibition, there will also be a series of free talks on the railways and tourism in Scotland. These should be pre-booked online.
Free to attend, Scots on the Move: Railways and Tourism in Victorian Scotland runs from 04 August to 26 September 2025.
