A Springburn landmark dating back to 1882 has been given B-listed status in recognition of its special architectural and historic interest.
Historic Environment Scotland has awarded the former St Rollox Railway Works the status breathing new life into the campaign to reopen it as a functioning industrial site.
Springburn was once a global centre of locomotive construction with St Rollox Works described as a 'rare surviving example of late 19th-century locomotive works in Scotland'.
It was the largest and longest of its kind in Scotland having been established and constructed in Springburn by the Caledonian Railway Company as their principal railway construction and repair works and helped expand the railway on the landscape in Scotland.
The St Rollox Works was remodelled by the Caledonian's newly appointed chief engineer Dugald Drummond between 1882 and 1887, in response to their need for much larger works as the rail network rapidly expanded and advances in locomotive engineering, distribution, and export were made.
By 1928, locomotive engine manufacture largely ended at St Rollox but they remained involved in railway repair and maintenance.
At the time of the nationalisation of the railways in 1948, the St Rollox Works continued to employ more than 3300 workers.
It stayed under public ownership and continued to operate until 2019 when it was closed and sold to a private owner.
Prior to its closure, almost 200 skilled engineers were employed at the site, many of whom have been forced to relocate or pursue different careers because of the site’s premature demise.
Historic Environment Scotland described it as 'retaining many features which demonstrate its previous function, including its interconnected workshop design of high-quality ironwork.'
Dara Parsons, Head of Designations at HES, said: "The former St Rollox Works is a significant piece of Scotland’s industrial and transport heritage, and a worthy addition to the list of Scotland’s special buildings.
"It made an important contribution to railway history and to Springburn’s role as a major centre for rail manufacture and repair in the 19th and 20th centuries."
Following the site receiving listed status, Paul Sweeney MSP and trade unions associated with the works have called on the Scottish Government to ensure that it is reopened as a functioning industrial site, and that the jobs of those who worked there previously are reinstated.
Mr Sweeney, who submitted the application for the historic status, said: “The reality is that the St Rollox Railway Works in Springburn should never have closed, it was nothing more than politically motivated industrial vandalism.
“The closure resulted in the redundancies of hundreds of skilled, dedicated workers and meant that the maintenance of Scotland’s railway stock has to be completed in England despite the Scottish Government being in control of our railways.
“This intervention by Historic Environment Scotland puts to bed any doubt about whether the site is of industrial significance and the Scottish Government should use this opportunity to show some humility, reopen the site for the purposes of maintaining our railway infrastructure and reinstate every worker who was shown the door unnecessarily.
"It’s the very least they can do, and I will work night and day to make sure they cannot shirk their responsibilities here.”
Mick Hogg, RMT Scotland said: "The RMT welcomes the listing of rail buildings at the Caley and believe it is not too late for the Scottish Government to step in and ensure it is part of Scotland's railway infrastructure in the future. The Caley has a historic legacy - it drove the industrial revolution of our railway industry in Scotland and was at the heart of Springburn for over 160 years.
"This magnificent site should never be allowed to disappear, and it's legacy will be remembered for generations to come. We owe it to the Caley's dedicated workforce and we are absolutely determined that The Caley plays its part in the recovery of Scotland's railway.”
