Singer Workers Platforms

Location type

Station

Name and dates

Singer Workers Platforms (1907-1967)

Opened on the Singer Deviation (North British Railway).

Description

This was a private station of six platforms. With the opening of the Singer Works in 1884 further platforms were added on the south side of Kilbowie [1st] station and its goods yard, all accessed from the east. To the west sidings lines served the works from the goods yard. When the works opened there were virtually no houses in the area, the entire workforce had to commute from elsewhere. It was not until well into the 20th century before housing was developed nearby. The station was essential to the success of the works. To give an impression of how important the station was at the factory's height there were 12,000 employees.

The signal box was located at the east end of the station and on the north side of the line.

With expansion of the works around 1907 the through line closed, becoming a works siding, and a deviation was opened to the north with Singer station. Kilbowie [1st] closed. The box was replaced by a new one at the eastern junction of the new deviation, Singer Deviation (North British Railway).

Worker's trains came from numerous locations to serve the site. After closure of Bridgeton Central the destination board still bore a sign 'Singer Worker's Train'.

The platforms were electrified as part of the Glasgow North Bank Electrification scheme.

The station closed to passengers in 1967, and completely in 1969. The line here is closed although Kilbowie Road still crosses over the trackbed, now a walkway. The station site is now the Clydebank Shopping Centre.

Tags

Station private workers platforms
10/02/2022




Chronology Dates

03/11/1907Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
Singer station on new loop line skirting round the north of the Singer Works opened. The old course of the line becomes a goods line to the west of Kilbowie Road and the old station becomes a terminus for worker's trains, Singer Workers Platforms, and is expanded to 6 platforms.
05/11/1960Glasgow North Bank Electrification
Service begins with electric services to termini at; Helensburgh Central, Balloch Pier, Singer Workers Platforms station, Milngavie, Bridgeton Central, Springburn, Airdrie. The new trains (Class 303s) built at Pressed Steel Co Ltd, Linwood, became known as the Blue Trains, these were used in all the Glasgow electrification schemes.
20/03/1964Singer Works
Springburn to Singer Workers Platforms passenger trains cease.
08/05/1967Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
Singer Workers Platforms station closed and electrification removed.
  /  /1969Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Railway
Singer Workers Platforms station closed completely.