ST ROLLOX WORKS COULD RESTORE FORMER PLYM VALLEY GARRATT
In stark contrast to the Caledonian Railway engines it built, and the ‘Black Fives’ it overhauled, Glasgow’s Springburn Works could restore South African Beyer-Garratt No. 4112.
Better known to enthusiasts as St Rollox, Springburn Works is due to close on July 26, putting 180 jobs at risk – and the proposal to restore the North British-built 4-8-2+2-8-4 is a move to keep the site active while its owner, Gemini Rail Services, seeks a new operator.
As this issue went to press, the 18-month project was dependent upon funding being secured.
North Lanarkshire Council owns the 3ft 6in gauge ‘GMAM’ class locomotive, which was originally repatriated in 1984 for an abortive scheme to lay dual gauge track at the Plym Valley Railway, and is now on display at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life at Coatbridge.
Gemini took over Springburn Works from previous operator Knorr-Bremse Rail Services last year. The firm blamed the introduction of new trains for ScotRail, and a resulting decline in overhaul work on existing stock, for the subsequent closure proposal in December.
The Scottish Government has said that state aid rules mean that it cannot take over the site, and it does not have direct control over ScotRail’s train maintenance contracts – but Paul Sweeney, the Labour MP for Glasgow NorthEast, put forward the idea of restoring the Garratt because, he said in the House of Commons on July 10, “the restoration of a steam engine for heritage purposes would not engage the state aid restrictions that the Government has otherwise claimed would restrict its ability to save the site.”