Travel Diaries and Journals

9.15 P.M. 3 Strangers with us in the carriage. one a Mr. Batters of Cornhill who promised to assist us in the (City affair) without being asked. had a pleasant journey down. At the North British Station lost Portobello train by an incivil guard see accompanying letter written to "Scotsman" after my return to London

[newspaper clipping pasted onto page] [Publication title and date pasted vertically] THE SCOTSMAN FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1863.

NORTH BRITISH RAILWAY SERVANTS. London, August 24, 1863. SIR,- A short time ago I arrived at Edinburgh per Great Northern Railway from London on a Sunday morning; and being anxious to proceed at one to Porto- bello, I inquired of the only guard who was to be seen on the platform, "Whether a train would soon leave for that place?" I received no reply to my query, but the mas busied himself about some baggage. As I was unwilling to harass him by questions, I waited until he appeared to be disengaged before repeating my question. Still I received no answer, but he simply turned his back and went somewhere else. Catching sight of him a third time, I repeated my question somewhat peremp- torily, and had the satisfaction this time at anyrate of getting a reply - that being that there was a train; but as it was just leaving, I could not catch it, and, as he spoke, the puff of an engine on the opposite side, as the train moved slowy out, convinced me that what he said was true. I was naturally indignant, but as I could see no distinguishing mark about the guard, I was unable to report his conduct in the proper quarter. A simple "Ay" from him, when I first or even secondly questioned him, would have enabled me with east to have caught the train. The result was that I had to hire a cab to Portobello which cost me 4s., besides causing me considerable loss of time and annoyance. I am induced to sent this to you as I have heard several complaints of similar incivility on the part of the servants of the North British Railway at Edinburgh, and I consider it ought to be part of their duty to assist by every reasonable means passengers from a distance, who are not to be supposed to know the times of starting of local trains. - I am, &c. A.J.