NS5574 : Welcome to Milngavie
taken 12 years ago, near to Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland
The colourful murals, which depict local scenes and historic items, are located in the underpass between Milngavie railway station and the town centre. They appear to be painted directly onto the walls of the underpass, in the form of an old fashined spiral wire bound photo album, with the photos held in place with tape. Shadowing is used to good effect, giving the photos and tape a realistic 3D effect.
The mural was created in 1993 by Calum Mackenzie and resembles a 20 page photo album of a family doing the West Highland Way. The album depicts the two week long, 92 mile journey from Milngavie to Fort William by the fictional Paxton family who travelled here by rail from their home in Bangor, North Wales.
MacKenzie commented, ''The son collects postcards and beer mats as souvenirs. The family met Jimmie Macgregor, whose face is featured in the mural. The Ford car was taken up Ben Nevis as a publicity stunt early in the 20th century. The father is an artist and the mother and daughter are interested in botany. Their first stop was at the Carbeth Inn, where Benny Lynch was in training nearby for his world boxing championship fight. Rob Roy McGregor is also featured, plus Samuel Johnson and James Boswell. Local wildlife, in the form of midges, is also depicted''.
See also the nearby Gavin's Mill underpass murals Link .
The station was opened in 1863 by the Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Railway Company. The original part of the station building is Category B Listed Link.
The track was doubled in 1897, two of the original three platforms remain and are still in use today (2018). The line was electrified in 1959. There are regular direct services to Edinburgh, Motherwell and Lanark.
In addition to serving local Glasgow bound commuters, the station is used by many hikers from the West Highland Way long distance footpath to Fort William which starts nearby in Milngavie town centre.