Largs' first ever train trip to place 138 years ago - and it only cost 10p for a trip to Glasgow!

On May 1885, the first passenger train steamed into the new station with about a dozen directors of the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company on board.

After waiting for a short time to inspect the buildings of the platforms and the wooden station the train steamed out again in a fusillade of fog signals.

Twelve days later on Monday June 1 the extension to Largs of the Ardrossan and Fairlie branch was opened to traffic.

The News reported:" The Largs line was in use two days before. On the Saturday special arrangements were made to carry the local company of Rifle Volunteers over the new line en route for the annual inspection at Kilmarnock.

Through the kindness of Captain Watson, the Largs and Millport News made the run to Fairlie in the train conveying the volunteers.

The carriages, we reported, ran very smoothly on the new line, and we added: "with the splendid views of the Firth of Clyde, it makes this extension of the railway system as pleasant a little bit of travelling as to be found in Scotland

At Fairlie, the volunteers' train was coupled on to the regular train, the Fairlie contingent of volunteers were taken on board and the train moved off to Ardrossan.

The return of the volunteers at night was watched by a very big crowd at the station.

It was at the official opening of the line to ordinary passenger traffic on June 1 that the townspeople celebrated the occasion.

It was recommended that all places of business will be closed from 1pm till 6pm in honour of the event.

Local dignitaries had agreed to take a trip to Ardrossan by train to leave at 1.30pm and recommended as many residents as possible to do likewise.

Not a great many people assembled at the station at 6.40am at June 1 to witness the inauguration of the passenger traffic on the new railway line apart from the town crier. The second train to leave at 7.55am carried quite a respectable number of passengers as the number of onlookers increased.

The first arrival was at 9am as the town began to assume a gala look with shop fronts being decorated with flowers and shrubbery.

It cost only 10p to travel by train from Largs to Glasgow in 1885. The first Saturday excursion fare for third class seats was two shillings but first class travellers had to fork out four shillings (20p).

For those wishing to go to London the third class ticket cost 52 shillings (£2.60) and first class 113 shillings (£5.65).