Historically for many Welsh fans, the favourite away trip has always been the one to Edinburgh and for so many different reasons.

 One of which is the fact that until 1975 the matches at Murrayfield were not “All Ticket” so people paid at the gate, as a result, the Welsh always travelled in heavy numbers.

The red tsunami flowing down Princess street as the Scarlet hordes made their way to the famous stadium, framed by the beauty of the castle and the Scott Monument, was a wonderful sight on those crisp cold Saturday winter afternoons.

However, things went horribly wrong on St Davids Day 1975 when at least 104,000 were squeezed into the ticketless stadium for the biannual encounter.

It was a miracle no one was seriously injured, and after that narrowly avoided disaster, Scotland matches then became ticket only affairs.

That weekend trip to see Wales play Scotland in Edinburgh was perceived to be a test of manhood undertaken by many generations of Welsh fans.

The arduous train journey to the game was known as ‘The Killer’ leaving Cardiff at 2100 on Friday night. The train would arrive in Edinburgh at 0700 on Saturday morning. 

The return journey commenced immediately following the match, with the train leaving Edinburgh at 2100 on Saturday night, and arriving in Cardiff at 0500 on Sunday morning. It was not a journey for the faint-hearted.

I know of people who travelled on this weekend marathon and never even got to see the game due to socialising a bit too fervently. 

They returned home with a mysterious and rare form of amnesia, unable to recall the events of the entire weekend, but despite this malady the moment the victims arrived home they started saving, weekly, for the next trip in two years time.

What used to be a pilgrimage now appears to have turned into something of a wake as Wales’ losing run extends further. 

Memories of past wonderful triumphs drift further from the mind in the suffocating gloom that is choking Welsh rugby.

But if Wales haven’t quite found the light at the end of tunnel, they have at least located the tunnel.

Despite a 15th consecutive defeat at home to Ireland last weekend, Matt Sherratt, the interim Wales coach, has delivered some rugby CPR to his group of players. After pushing the men in green so close, there is some cautious hope and even, dare I say it, optimism coursing through the travelling fans veins.

Should that elusive win come at Murrayfield next Saturday, then ‘The journey home on The Killer’ will feel like a trip on the the Orient Express.