Midlothian World History Society lecture
Jim Summers presents some reflections on ‘Railway Enterprise in Scotland’ on November 19th
The Midlothian World History Society is a membership organization which has delivered an annual programme of public lectures for more than 30 years.
This November 12th, Jim Summers, sometime Chief Operator ScotRail, will present a talk to the Society titled ‘Railway Enterprise in Scotland: Some Reflections Upon the Anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway of 1825’.
The session takes place at the Arts Centre, Buccleuch Street/ Komarom Court, Dalkeith at begins at 7.30pm.
Admission is free, and anyone who is interested in history, or who could become interested, is welcome to attend.
Upcoming lectures
Among other topics covered this year are a screening of the ‘Lighthouse Lives’ project with Martine Robertson (Producer GaelGal Creative Productions); an exploration of the Mills of Tweedale and their international connections’ by Dr Stephen Scott (Peebles Civic Society); and insights on ‘The Invention of the Book’ by Professor Emeritus Paul Hare (Heriot-Watt University).
Full details of the lecture schedule and information on how to get involved with the MWHS can be downloaded by clicking the link below.
Jim M. Summers operational archive (3657/JMS)
The Museum of Scottish Railways acquired the Jim M. Summers archive in 2022.
This collection consists of over 300 documents relating to Summers’ career on the railway, supported by extensive research material.
Documents record Summers’ time as Area Manager, Dunfermline/Dundee in the 1970s; as liaison to the emerging Passenger Transport Executive at a time when it was challenging the railway’s authority over its own business; and as Regional Operations Manager in Chris Green’s ScotRail. Later material relates to the operational realities and challenges of privatisation.
Of unique value are comprehensive records of Scotland’s overnight travel operation, and of electrification, the completeness of which are unparalleled.
Contact us for more information or to make an appointment with our archive team.
‘Railway 200’ celebrations at the Museum of Scottish Railways
2025 marks 200 years since the birth of the modern railway. Help us to celebrate the past, present, and future of rail. Look out for upcoming news of events taking place at Bo’ness throughout the year