In this week"s Know Your Largs, we look back to the historic opening of Largs Railway Station which was greeted by only one bystander due to the first train"s early departure hour!

However it just happened to be the local town-crier who would no doubt have regaled the special send-off to the masses throughout the day in Largs! We also take a look back to gruesome details of the burning of local witches in Ayrshire and the perils of the "impassable" Gogo Burn which affected church life and horse and cart travel down the centuries.

In the edition of May 16 1885, the 'News' previewed the upcoming opening of Largs Railway Station.

We reported: 'The work is now advancing very rapidly, strenuous efforts being made to get the line open early in June. From the bridge at Charles Street to the station at Main Street, the scene is one of the greatest bustle and activity. The Messrs Arnot, who have the contract for the powerful bridge being cast over the Gogo Burn, and the misfortune to be somewhat delayed at the start by the material being hardly ready when the foundations had been finished.

'When they did begin operations, however the greatest energy was shown, and progress was made rapidly. So much was this the case that on Wednesday night the permanent way was laid over one part of the bridge and is now almost quite into the station. The building, which was taken by Messrs Mitchell and Ireland, who were the contractors for the formation of the line from Fairlie to Gogo Burn, is now completed excepting the filling in behind the mason work, and there can now be little doubt that three or four weeks will see the service to Largs inaugurated.

'The platforms are four in number, and extend a considerable way over the bridge on the south side of Gogo Burn.' Largs Railway Station opened its doors on Monday June 1 1885 with passenger traffic commencing early at 6.40am with little fanfare. The 'News' reported: 'The only person on the platform who thought the occasion worthy of a cheer being again the town-crier; perhaps he was the only one who could muster sufficient energy for the occasion at that early hour. The second train to leave was at 7.55am, carried quite a respectable number of passengers.

'The first arrival took place at 9am and by this time, the town was beginning to assume a gala look with shop fronts profusely decorated with flowers and shrubbery. The station is a most ample one, each of the three platforms being 300 feet in length, the side platforms being covered in for 75 feet. The station offices are built along the front of the station, facing the Main Street, the frontage of the buildings to the street being 140 feet.' The offices include ladies" and gentlemen"s first and third class waiting rooms, lavatories, telegraph office, booking hall, stationmaster"s office, cloak room, porter"s room, and lamp room. The central entrance to the station leads through the booking office on to the middle platform from the west side of which the outgoing trains start.' While the train station may have had a quiet start early in the morning, the commissioners of the town had announced by placard on Saturday afternoon that in honour of the opening, places of business were recommended to close from 1pm to 6pm on Monday and a special train journey would be leaving Largs to commemorate the opening of the line.

Quite a throng of people in holiday attire made the train trip to Ardrossan after being offered a return at a single price. The Magistrates and Commissioners, some of whom had their 'better halves' with them, were provided by the Railway Company with a saloon carriage to themselves.