Provan Gas Works
Location type
WorksName and dates
Provan Gas Works (1904-1958)Description
This gasworks, in the north east of Glasgow at Provanmill, was built between 1900 and 1904 for Glasgow Corporation Gas Dept. The engineer was William Foulis and contractor Robert McAlpine & Sons.
It was served by branches from the former Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway, Blochairn Steel Works Branch (Caledonian Railway) and City of Glasgow Union Railway. A headhunt in the west of the works Provan Gas Works Headshunt gave access to most of the works. The retorts, and coal store, were in the middle of the site and by-products plant in the north.
The site had a standard gauge network, with its own locomotives to operate it, and a 2ft 6in network with further locomotives. In addition there were electric locomotives, (at least) one being provided by the Electric Loco & Foundry Co of Gateshead.
The gas works closed in 1958, although two large gasometers remained in use in the south of the site, one particularly famous for its one-time 'Glasgow Smiles Better' logo, featuring Roger Hargreaves' Mr Happy which greeted arrivals to Glasgow from the east via the M8 motorway. A third remained in use at the north end.
Tags
Gas worksAliases
Provan Gasworks| Nearby stations Garngad Alexandra Parade Barnhill Duke Street Parkhead North St Rollox [2nd] Springburn Robroyston Bellgrove Glasgow (Townhead) Carntyne Cowlairs Gallowgate Central Parkhead Stadium London Road [Glasgow] | Blochairn Junction Blackhill Locks Blackhill Junction Blackhill Incline Provan Tunnel Blackhill Shipyard Anchor Chemical works Germiston Junction High Balornock Shed Provan Gas Works Headshunt Germiston Junction Low Provan Mill Balornock Junction Garngad Quarry Tourist/other Germiston House |
| Location names in dark blue are on the same original line. | |
Chronology Dates
| / /1899 | Provan Gas Works Agreement made between the Caledonian Railway and Glasgow Corporation for access to Provan Gas Works. (Connections from Germiston Junction High, incoming, and Blackhill Junction, outgoing.) |
| / /1903 | Provan Gas Works Caledonian Railway's Provan Gas Works branch authorised. |
