In 1806 Train published his first set of poems, Poetical Reveries, dedicated to Hunter-Blair."Joseph Train" Future Museum South West Scotland. Retrieved 4 November 2022. In 1810 he was sent to Balnaguard in the Aberfeldy district, to aid in the suppression of smuggling in Breadalbane. But besides his official interest in the suppression of the traffic, he regarded the welfare of those engaged in it; and, convinced that the excessive resort to the practice in the Highlands was in part due to erroneous legislation, he prepared a "Paper on Smuggling", in which he argued against what was called the "Highland Line" and the refusal to license stills of a capacity less than five hundred gallons. His suggestions, having through Sir Walter Scott been placed before the board of excise in 1815, were finally adopted.
