Barclays
The company (now renamed
Andrew Barclay and Company) grew and grew from it's
small original workyard, establishing first the Caledonian Foundry
and Engineering Works, again in
Kilmarnock, creating a vibrant local industry which
attracted other company's to the town. The first of these was
established in 1859 - The Glasgow and South Western Railway's
locomotive and wagon building works at Bonnyton, in the north of
the town. These were moved to Barassie, a few miles away, in 1921
when GSWR merged with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, the
old site being taken over by Barclays as a plant for the
manufacture of engines, pumping gear and
boilers.
This ability to act ensured Barclays survival through the
years of World War
II, when they produced a variety of products to aid the
war effort including substantial parts for the army's Churchill and
Valentine tanks and subsequently the company came out of the war
with full order books, a specialised and experienced workforce and
an enhanced reputation. They changed in the 1950's from steam
locomotive production to diesel engines.
In the early 70's Barclays became part of the Hunslet group
which enabled them to further adapt and continue their tradition of
diversifying, turning their hand to meeting the needs of a changing
engineering climate and thus stayed strongly competitive through
the next few years and even in 1983 entered the maritime sector and
began manufacturing machine tools for shipbuilding. In 1989 the
company became 'Hunslet-Barclay Ltd' and today remains as the sole
railway manufacturing business in Scotland. In 2007 Brush
Traction, which is part of the FKI Group, has been successful in
acquiring the business of Hunslet Barclay in
Kilmarnock.
