Red Wheel honour is a Scottish first
LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER
A Transport Trust Red Wheel has been placed on the former railway station building at Paisley Canal – the first of its kind in Scotland.
The official unveiling marked the significance of the location in Britain’s transport heritage, firstly as a canal designed by Thomas Telford and latterly as a railway with a varied history.
The Glasgow, Paisley and Johnstone Canal opened in 1810, incorporating Blackhall Bridge, the longest aqueduct span of the Canal Age.
Tragically disaster struck on November 10, 1810 when more than 80 people drowned at the spot when a passenger boat overturned at the wharf.
Historical accounts differ on whether the final death toll was 84 or 85.
In 1865 the canal was acquired by the Glasgow and South Western Railway, who 20 years later converted it to relieve the line via Paisley Gilmour Street.
Trains through Paisley Canal Station ceased in 1983 and the goods yard was sold for housing.
However, in 1990 passenger trains resumed running to a new Paisley Canal station on the other side of Causeyside Street, and the trackbed beyond has been developed into the Paisley and Clyde Railway Path operated by Sustrans.
More recently, the Paisley Canal branch has been electrified in a scheme that many believe points the way for future sustainable electrification on other parts of the rail network.
The site is the first in Scotland to be given a red wheel and was expected to be closely followed by one at Glenfinnan to commemorate the viaduct.
It was unveiled by Bill Reeve of Transport Scotland, Provost Lorraine Cameron and Jerry Swift of the Transport Trust.
John Yellowlees, a volunteer for ScotRail, believes the red wheel at Paisley Canal will act as encouragement for young people in the transport industry.
He said: “The idea is to mark places of multiple significance and Paisley Canal is a site of multiple historical significance.
“If you are a young person joining a career in transport you can look at this plaque and say ‘ I’m joining an industry with significant heritage’.”