Springburn Virtual Museum

Railway industry

Fourth annual excursion of Caledonian Railway employees, Carlisle, 1899

Companies sometimes organised outings for their employees, although any time off work would be unpaid until the 1938 Holidays With Pay Act. Like other railway works, St Rollox was a focus of social life for its workers and their families.

Fourteen 4-4-0 'Dunalastair' class locomotives pulled trains full of workers to Carlisle, where they were greeted by Lord Rosebery, Mayor of Carlisle and 'chief excursionist'.

The entertainments available included the Band of the Glasgow Highlanders, a revue show staged at the nearby racecourse, dining and dancing, and even an organ recital.

Source: Glasgow City Archives