The faded glory of the canopies of Perth station, in north-east Scotland, always feels evocative of a former era, of steam locomotives pulling luxurious Pullman sleeper carriages.
A sign to the station manager’s office caught my eye. The very office that a girl in the 1930s would have been led to, clasped firmly by the wrist, after she’d been caught having hidden away without a ticket on the London to Inverness express.
They’d have used the strap up here, of course, given the proximity to Lochgelly. Perhaps there was even a special Railway Tawse: extra extra heavy, but extremely flexible, to be used on girls caught evading their fares. Her not explanations and protestations were dismissed out of hand, for the manager had no tolerance whatsoever for those found thieving from the company. And hence the whipping would be especially hard, with two members of station staff holding her tight over the manager’s desk as he lifted her skirt, bared her bottom, and punished her.
They’d have heard everything from the platform outside, of course. That would add to her humiliation when they sent her on her way and she emerged to the curious – and not entirely sympathetic – gazes of fellow passengers. And then there’d be the question of how she could continue her journey – either further north, or back to England – given she had no money. I do wonder what she might have to do to bribe one of the station staff to issue her with a ticket, and how shamed she’d have been when complying with his forceful demands.