This is a transcript of a presentation given by Mr K Mitchell at the Mission's annual meeting in May 1903.

The London City Mission has been working for many years on the Great Northern Railway - one which is worthy of its efforts. I am happy to say of railway men as a whole that what we know of them makes us believe that they will compare well with any portion of the community in their ordinary moral character. When I was on the staff of the Great Northern Railway, I met with a Missionary now gone home to Glory, and it was that Missionary who induced me to offer myself for this work. I think there is certain appropriateness about my visiting men with whom I worked side by side in former days. It helps me very often to answer the objection that men on the line cannot be Christians.

The Great Northern Railway runs the fastest trains in the world, travelling, for instance, between Grantham and Doncaster at a speed of ninety miles an hour. Therefore it is very important that the men on that line should be the very best men possible. There is such a tremendous responsibility resting on their hands, that everything should be done that can be done to ensure their being sober, and to bring them into real fellowship with the highest good.

The Company employs 33,000 men. I have to limit myself to a certain district - viz., to the London part of the line, and in that portion the Company employ over 5,400 men. I come into contact, more or less, with these men, and also with some women employees, though not with many of the latter. The Company have helped us in the Mission very much, and given us every encouragement. In fact, only this week, I was able to visit from the Board-room down to the very lowest office in King's Cross. I am glad that I now come into contact with all ranks of the staff, and bring the Gospel to their notice. The officers of the Company have been very kind. They have built for us one of the best Mission-halls that you can see in any part of London, and they support it. If there are any other railway companies who have not done the same, I hope they will do so also. We have had some 270 meetings during the past year in the hall, and 80 in the mess-rooms (where we meet with the men at their breakfast) attended by 12,700 adults and 11,000 children. So that we meet with a good number, and are able to make known the unsearchable riches of Christ to them. The young people are a very important part of our work. We cannot have more of them, because the place is always as full as it will hold. We have a Gospel meeting on Sunday evenings.

Lately there has been a good work going on amongst those who are just beginning to work. I remember one young man who was a very great trouble to us in the earlier part of our work, but he was convicted of sin not very long ago in a meeting, and he then spoke to our good hall-keeper, and had some profitable words with him. At length I was introduced to him, and he did not leave the hall until he had decided for Christ. Since then, he has become a center of attraction for other young men. They have come together, and banded themselves into a Bible-class, which is being carried on by our hall-keeper one night a week. In the locomotive department we have a great many young men from the country as cleaners. Not long ago I came across one who told me he was glad to meet with some Christian brother who would speak with him on spiritual subjects, because he had been bought into a vortex of sin, and, he added, how splendid it was to come into contact with one who was on the Lord's side in London. I was able to speak to him among the engines, and point him to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, and he went on his way rejoicing in the Saviour.

We have distributed some 50,000 tracts and pamphlets during the year. One of these - which is very handy for the purpose - is our localised Culross Hall Magazine, of which we distribute 1,000 per month. It enables us to preach the Gospel to men whom we could not reach otherwise. It has been a splendid help in reaching the clerks and officers of the Company. The Company help us in the expenses, and the officers also help us. Generally, when I visit any of the homes of the men, I find that some of their relatives know me by name. They will say: "You are the gentleman that gives my husband tracts. I have seen your name in the magazine". In that way - that is, through the literature, we reach more than we can reach by the visitation itself.

We meet often with a great number of the highest and lowest on the line. We have got the hooligan class, and a great number of van-men and carmen (between 500 and 600 altogether) who, in many instances, are drawn from the lowest ranks of society. It is remarkable how they appreciate our visits and efforts. In Farringdon Street, where there are 250, they will hardly pass me if I am there with my literature. Some lad who is driving a van will call out: "Have not you got something for me gov'nor? Are you going to pass me?" I can hardly pass any of them without their applying for some literature. When I have passed along, and sometimes come back again, I have found little chaps on some van, sitting and eagerly reading the tracts they have received. Although 50,000 tracts have gone through our hands during the past year, I have seldom or ever seen one tract destroyed. They may be destroyed, but I have never seen any sign of it.