Sniffing Out New Stories

Scotland’s industrial heritage explored through smell with Dr William Tullett

We recently invited members to describe how they remember Scotland’s railways smelling over the years. Unusual as the request was, the responses were enthusiastic and have helped us secure an exciting new opportunity.  We are delighted to be able to announce that MoSR and the branch will be a featured partner in Industrial Museums Scotland’s upcoming project, Sniffers in Residence: Using Smell to Engage Intergenerational Audiences with Industrial Heritage, funded by The British Academy’s SHAPE Involve and Engage fund.

We will be working with Dr William Tullett, Senior Lecturer at York University, whose research explores sensory history and the role of smell in shaping communities. As our “Sniffer in Residence,” William will help us to uncover the smells of Scotland’s railways and use them to tell its story in a scent-sational new way.

We are extremely grateful to Industrial Museums Scotland and to everyone who shared their nose-talgic recollections and helped us secure the bid. If you have your own smell‑related railway stories—big or small—contact Vicky in the MoSR archive. The more people involved, the better the project will be.

New sensory trail coming in May

As part of our 2026 exhibition, which launches this May, explore the halls and discover the sounds and smells of the railway at night. Bring your trail quiz sheet back to the front and collect a special prize from our Exhibition sponsor, Caledonian Sleeper.