YOUR featured archive photograph of the Coronation Express and the actress Teddie St Denis (“1937: Actress Teddie St Denis gets train driver’s autograph”, The Herald, October 14) reminds me of another railway-related story.

For many years the chairman of the Alhambra Theatre in Glasgow was Col Douglas McInnes Shaw. As well as being head of his foundry business in Maryhill he was a decorated hero of the First World War in which, age 23, he became the youngest commander of a battalion after his senior was killed in action. He and his wife moved to Symington in Ayrshire and after watching shows at the Alhambra they would walk to St Enoch`s Station to catch the last train to Ayr, which was a direct service. On reaching the platform he would always walk up to the front and have a chat with the engine driver. To the surprise of other passengers there were unscheduled stops at the darkened Symington station.

Graeme Smith,

Greenlaw Road,

Newton Mearns.