Get on board with rail stories
Railway enthusiasts have been invited to get on board with a project designed to record people’s memories of the area’s fascinating heritage for an upcoming exhibition.
The team at Perth Theatre has linked carriages with Culture Perth and Kinross to collect reminiscences to act as the platform for a future showcase titled ‘All Aboard – the Railways of Perth and Kinross’.
Those behind the project – which will run from June 26 until September 19 – are on the lookout for 12 people with stories to tell about former railway lines across the area to take part in the project over the course of the spring and summer months.
In particular, the search is on for information about the Strathearn branch lines – including the Crieff and Methven Junctions Railway, Perth Almond Valley and Methven Railway, Crieff Junction Railway – and the North British lines to the south of Perth.
The latter group includes the Glenfarg, Kinross and Devon Valley lines.
Elsewhere in the region, the team is also keen to speak to anyone with any knowledge of the Strathmore route from the Stanley junction to Coupar Angus, as well the Alyth and Blairgowrie branch lines.
A Perth Theatre spokesperson explained: “The memories could be the everyday experiences of regular rail travellers, the lives of people who worked on the railways, interesting facts from train enthusiasts, or accounts from people who witnessed something remarkable, unusual, or exciting happening on one of the routes.”
Potential participants are invited to register their interest with Perth Theatre’s learning and engagement team by Friday, May 14.
The dozen people chosen will be sent an activity pack designed and illustrated by Laura Darling.
These include short videos with railways experts, objects that will support reminiscence about the railway lines and creative activities that will stimulate recollections and get people thinking about how they want to share their experiences.
Once the participants have completed the pack, a member of the Perth Theatre team will arrange to meet them outside to record their stories and recollections.
The completed exhibition will ultimately become part of the Perth and Kinross Archives, held at the AK Bell Library in Perth.
Victoria Beesley is an associate director of learning and engagement for Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre.
She said: “We’re really happy to be working with Culture Perth and Kinross to record and preserve these memories, because it’s important that future generations can hear people’s stories and get a feel for the impact the railways had on the lives of those who travelled on them.
“The activity packs will make it an interesting and enjoyable project for anyone who remembers travelling on these railway lines.
“The activities contained in the pack will all be simple tasks that should be good fun to have a go at.
“They are designed to spark memories and get people thinking about places, people and events they may not have thought about for a number of years; or the railways might be linked to important moments in their
Nadia Alexander outside her multi-brand store in Edinburgh life that they want to share with us.”
JP Reid, senior programming and interpretation officer for Culture Perth and Kinross, said: “For railway and train lovers both old and young, the ‘All Aboard!’ exhibition explores the heyday of rail travel and features original objects together with model railways, photographs and videos.
“Railway travel across Scotland has changed radically since the mid20th century and people’s stories and memories of Perth and Kinross’ railway past provide a powerful insight into that change.
“Displayed alongside railway artefacts and photographs, the voices of railway workers and passengers are at the heart of this story.”
Anyone who would like to get involved in the project is asked to register their interest by sending an email to engagement@horsecross. co.uk or calling 07931 237769 prior to the deadline.
Activity packs will be sent out during the week commencing May 24, with audio recordings taking place between June 7 and 19.
Funding for the project has been sourced from the Scottish Government’s Communities Recovery Fund.