Alstom recently opened its Glasgow Traincare Centre for the first time in 25 years.

They opened it to the public on the 12th October for a railtour in celebration of the depot’s 150th anniversary, Polmadie 150.

The facility is currently the main base for the Caledonian Sleeper service, and welcomes 17 trains each day, including Class 390 Pendolinos.

The depot originally opened as Polmadie Shed in 1875 and was rebuilt and extended to allow for the maintenance of rolling stock and steam locomotives.

To celebrate, they had a unique lineup. at the depot, which saw over 1,000 visitors attend, where they feature 20 locomotives which has been based at the depot at some point.

This included:

• Caledonian Railway No. 419, courtesy of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS).
• Class 99 (No. 99001), Class 92 (No. 92023 Polmadie 150 1875 – 2025), Class 73/9 (No. 73968) and Class 66 (No. 66710 Karen Harrison), courtesy of GB Railfreight
• Class 93 (No. 93006), courtesy of Rail Operations Group
• Class 90s (Nos. 90018 The Greatest Gathering and 90021 Donald Malcolm), courtesy of Freightliner
• Class 43s (Nos. 43468 and 43484), courtesy of RailAdventure
• Class 37 (No. 37403 Isle of Mull), courtesy of SRPS
• Class 08s (Nos. 08451, 08696 and 08954), courtesy of Alstom
• Class 390 (No. 390119 Progress) Alstom-built Pendolino, courtesy of Avanti West Coast
• Class 334 (No. 334034) Alstom-built Coradia Juniper, courtesy of ScotRail
• Mark 5 coaching stock, courtesy of Caledonian Sleeper
• Mark 1 coaching stock, courtesy of SRPS
• Unimog U 430 road-rail vehicles courtesy of Network Rail

Speeches were made, and Class 92 No. 92023 was named Polmadie 150 1875 – 2025.

Guests then explored the depot on a heritage bus.

Any profits made from the open day will be given to charity.

“Polmadie stands as more than a depot – it represents a beacon of engineering excellence and a vital pillar in Scotland’s rich railway heritage. For 150 years, this site has played a crucial role in keeping the country moving, and we’re incredibly proud of the dedicated teams who continue that tradition today,’

He added: “Opening our doors to the public for the first time in a generation is not only a celebration of our past, but a powerful reminder of the innovation and talent that will drive the future of sustainable rail in the UK. It’s a privilege to honour this milestone with the community, and showcase the people and technology that make Polmadie so special.”

Rob Whyte, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom