'While billiards are good study is better'
In 1889, under the direction of George Leeman and inspired by Victorian values of 'instruction and self improvement', the NER built the Railway Institute on the site of the Railway Tavern. Removing the tavern itself was an important motive as the men of the locomotive and wagon works on Queen Street were known to be tempted by 'the demon drink' even before arriving at their workbenches. The Institute had a 'well stocked library and a reading room well supplied with various periodicals and newspapers' (G. Leeman).