Springburn Virtual Museum

Railway industry

Hugh Reid, Aug 1896

Hugh Reid, seen here standing in the cab of a new locomotive, was the eldest surviving son of James Reid, owner of Neilson, Reid and Company, his older brother having been accidentally killed whilst grouse-shooting. James Reid made four of his sons partners in the firm in 1893.

By the end of the nineteenth century there were three locomotive building companies in Glasgow: Neilson, Reid and Company (Hyde Park Works, Springburn), Sharp, Stewart and Company (Atlas Works, Springburn) and Dübs and Company (Queen's Park Works, Polmadie). Despite their rivalry in business, the directors of the three companies decided it would be advantageous to merge.

On 1 April 1903, the official merger took place and Hugh Reid became its first chief managing director. The giant conglomeration had a total workforce of over 8000 men and a capacity to build 600 locomotives a year. Its peak years were 1920-21, with profits in excess of £100000. The trademark of the new company, a diamond lozenge shape, was based on the one used by Dübs and Company.

Source: Glasgow City Archives