A new exhibition at National Records of Scotland will explore how the birth of the railways transformed the country.
“Scots on the Move: Railways and Tourism in Victorian Scotland” is part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, running between 4-29 August 2025. Held in General Register House’s spectacular Adam Dome on Princes Street, the exhibition will be free and open to all.
Drawing on Scotland’s national archives, the exhibition will transport visitors to the dawn of the steam era. It starts before the first passenger railway in the early 19th century and ends with the rise of the motor car over a century later.
The exhibition will capture moments which changed Scotland forever. Spectacular viaducts and grand stations sprang up as remote communities became connected. The period also saw the birth of iconic rail routes including the West Highland Line.
Before railways, journeys were a battle against harsh terrain and weather. Now everyone could travel, from day trips down the Clyde to luxury Highland holidays. Visitors will follow the evolution of the train from Stephenson’s "Rocket" to Queen Victoria's royal carriages.
The exhibition will also explore how Victorians felt about railways. Fears over the changing landscape mixed with exciting freedoms and a brand new industry: tourism. Items on display chart the development of the railway across the century including tourist guides and booklets, posters and letters.
Alison Byrne, Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland said:
“Our summer exhibition will capture an exciting moment in Scotland’s history. Railways normalised travel and shaped holiday habits which we still recognise today.
“It will be a great opportunity for visitors to take a peek inside Scotland’s national archive and sample some of the history that National Records of Scotland preserves for current and future generations.”
