Special events are being lined up on Saturday 16 May to mark the 150th anniversary of the railway and pier at Wemyss Bay. Caledonian MacBrayne will have one of its ferries dressed overall for the day - the boat will be decorated from stem to stern with flags/bunting.

On board there will be a special display of photographs and models of paddle steamers, supplied by members of the Clyde River Steamer Club, the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society, the Scottish Maritime Association and others. In the gallery at Wemyss Bay Railway Station, there will be an exhibition of railway paintings by Dugald Cameron, including new work showing the original station and pier in operation.

During the morning only, from 10-12 noon, also on display there will be models Caledonian Railway locomotives.

During the afternoon, the AGM of the Friends of Wemyss Bay Railway Station will be held in Skelmorlie and Wemyss Bay Parish Church Hall at 2pm, when all will be welcome. The speaker will be Richard Kinsella, of Network Rail, who will talk about the current programme of renovations at the station.

The railway to Wemyss Bay opened in May 1865, in order to provide a quicker journey to Glasgow from Bute and other places on the Clyde and Loch Fyne. Four trains ran between Glasgow and Wemyss Bay each day, except Sundays. A return trip from Wemyss Bay to Glasgow cost 2s 9d third class, which is equivalent to about £6 today. Steamers sailed from Wemyss Bay as far as Ardrishaig and Arran. It was also possible to take a steamer from Wemyss Bay to Largs, which did not have its own railway until 1885.