Level Crossing Hold Up

AI Generated image of what the scene might have looked like.

The Callander Advertiser of 12th June 1926 reported upon a Court case against four young men who were charged with stopping a passenger train at Cornton level Crossing on Wednesday 5th May during the General Strike. The men were: –

Alexander McIntyre Cairns, 11 Baker St., Stirling
William Colqhoun Wright, 4 Brighton Place, George St., Stirling.
John Blackwood Nicoll, 67 Port St., Stirling.
John Blair, 32 Cowane Street Stirling.

The full transcript of the report can be read here.

Essentially these four were present among many others, reported to be around 200, when the train was stopped. Stones and turf were thrown and a fireman was hit on the chin. The Crowd were chanting towards the driver with Boos and shouts of “Scabs”! The engine was disconnected from the carriages by one of the crowd and driven off towards Stirling by the driver. A Police Sergeant and a Constable were reported to have “Drawn their Batons” at which point the Crowd dispersed.

While the trial did not appear to accuse the quartet of organising what turned out to be a riot, the Sheriff, in his summing up is reported to have said “…Even if they were in the vicinity they were guilty…” “…They took upon themselves to see that the working of this line was not going on. Now that would not do!…” Cairns seemed to be the ringleader and he would go to prison for three months and the other three accused to prison for two months each!