The Glenmutchkin story was published in 1845. First published anonymously it relates the political and technological issues surrounding the buildings of railways in Scotland at a time of dramatic industrial development. The first wave of truly manic railway promotion took place in 1844. By the summer of 1845, when Aytoun was writing his piece, the British Parliament was finishing its consideration of the projects hatched in 1844, approving some lines and rejecting others.