This section of the site caters to the Kilmarnock-based locomotive builders, Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. of Caledonia Engine Works.

Grace's Guide (click here) superbly covers the history of Andrew Barclay, both the individual and the company. As of 2020, the site is being operated under the management of Brodie Engineering, having been passed through various hands from the late-1990s onwards.

Originally founded in 1840 by Andrew Barclay, the company would go on to produce countless steam, diesel, and most importantly for us here, a series of fireless locomotives as well.

The West Langlands Street (Kilmarnock) site when operating as Brush-Barclay. Image taken c. 2010.
 

The Fireless Locomotive

"A fireless locomotive is a type of locomotive which uses reciprocating engines powered from a reservoir of compressed air or steam, which is filled at intervals from an external source. They offer advantages over conventional steam locomotives of lower cost per unit, cleanliness, and decreased risk from fire or boiler explosion; these are counterbalanced by the need for a source to refill the locomotive, and by the limited range afforded by the reservoir.

They were desirable in situations where smoke from a firebox would be too noxious, or where there was risk of fire or explosion. Typical usage was in a mine, or a food or chemical factory. They were also used where a source of air or steam was readily available, and for moving loads within limited areas, such as a switch yard or within an industrial factory." (courtesy of Wikipedia)

The original concept drawings of fireless locomotives by the Andrew Barclay company.

Andrew Barclay were particularly notable for being the largest builder in Great Britain of the fireless locomotive. Between 1913 and 1961 they built 114 of them. Some of them still survive in use thanks to the rise of the heritage railway and preservation groups, such as the ARPG (Ayrshire Railway Preservation Group) based at the Dunaskin site, who have a 0-4-0 fireless as part of their fleet.

The ARPG site at Minnivey received 0-4-0F in May 1986, and latterly moved to the Doon Valley Railway (formerly the site of the Scottish Industrial Railway Centre). An overhaul of 0-4-0F was completed mid-2015, making it the last remaining fully-operational fireless locomotive in Britain. Others remain in storage or on display elsewhere.

The ARPG's Andrew Barclay 0-4-0F fireless locomotive.
 

For more information, see:

Andrew Barclay Wikipedia Article - here
Grace's Guide on Andrew Barclay - here
ARPG's Andrew Barclay 0-4-0F - here
 

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Thank you to George, Hannah, John, Ryan, and the countless others who made this website possible.