IT was said to be the largest locomotive of its kind ever to be built at the North British Locomotive Works at Polmadie, Glasgow. And its ultimate destination was Mauritius.

The two-unit diesel hydraulic locomotive was successfully tested in November 1953 over a stretch of railway on the old Coatbridge-Airdrie-Slamannan line, which was reckoned to be the steepest gradient in the country.

Each unit weighed 51 tons, and each engine developed 625 horsepower. When working together they were driven from a dual control in the one driving cabin.

On the first braking and efficiency test, reported The Bulletin, one locomotive pulled the other and several wagons to make a total of 180 tons, and stopped and started several times on a 1-in-23-gradient with comparative ease. The second test reversed the engines. “The officials who were watching the test,” the newspaper recorded, “were delighted with the performance.”

The North British works were established in 1903 when three thriving rival companies were amalgamated.

As Ian Mitchell records in his fine book, Walking Through Glasgow’s Industrial Past, the British Empire “was held together by its railways, and before 1914 more than half of the locomotives riding the lines of mother country and colonies were built in Springburn. As Govan was the world capital of shipbuilding, Springburn was the world capital of locomotive building.”