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4th February 2014 - What the Railways Did for Us

Jim Watt

At the meeting held on Tuesday 4th February the club President welcomed members from Carluke Probus Club.  The speaker was Jim Watt whose subject was 'What the Railways Did for Us' .

Pre-rail travel was such that most people would seldom, if ever, travel much more than 10 miles from where they were born.   For example, a journey from London to Glasgow in 1780, in summer and in good weather, took 10 days.   In 1848 the same journey took 13 hours.

Rail travel introduced daily excursions, package holidays and the development of national events such as the Great Exhibition in 1851 where hundreds if not thousands of people could be moved to established venues.

The vote of thanks was given by Blane Duncan.   The next meeting will be on February 18th.   New members are always welcome.

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