Two centuries of Scottish rail travel are being celebrated with a new exhibition that opens today at National Records of Scotland.
Titled Scots on the Move: Railways and Tourism in Victorian Scotland, the free exhibition runs in the striking Adam Dome at General Register House on Princes Street, just steps from Waverley Station.
Timed to coincide with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, it offers a rare chance to step back into the age of steam and discover how railways transformed Scotland between 1837 and 1901.
Treasures from the nation’s vast railway archive are on display, including original train tickets, timetables, tourist posters, vivid guidebooks, private letters and evocative early photographs.
These artefacts reveal how the arrival of the railways changed holidays forever, turning travel from an exclusive luxury into a pastime enjoyed by people from all walks of life.
The exhibition explores how iconic routes like the West Highland Line were created, how tourism boomed in seaside towns and rural retreats, and how Scottish society itself shifted in response to fast, affordable travel.
Not everyone welcomed the change.
Among the exhibits are anti‑rail pamphlets, hand‑written complaints and private reflections from those wary of the railway revolution.
Outreach archivist Veronica Schreuder says the collection offers a vivid window into Victorian life.
“This exhibition draws on National Records of Scotland’s unique archive, the largest Scottish railway collection in existence,” she said.
“These records transport visitors straight into the era of steam, showing how trains didn’t just change the way people moved, they changed the way people lived.”
Among the highlights is an original timetable recording one of Queen Victoria’s last journeys, from Balmoral to Windsor in 1899.
“I hope visitors will come and see us in the Adam Dome,” Veronica added.
“It’s one of Edinburgh’s hidden gems, a magnificent space that offers the perfect setting to immerse yourself in this incredible chapter of our history.”
Three free talks will run alongside the exhibition, exploring Victorian tourism, railway construction and the role of Scotland’s aristocracy in shaping routes and stations.
Recordings of the talks will also be made available online.
The exhibition is open on weekdays from 9am to 4pm until 26 September, with late opening until 6.30pm on 7 and 21 August.
Entry is free and recommended for visitors aged 12 and over.
Details and updates are available on the National Records of Scotland website
