He did ‘The Locomotion’ with Kylie – now music mogul and railway enthusiast Pete Waterman has a locomotive named after him thanks to a Kilmarnock firm.
Veteran record producer Pete, 75, visited the town on Monday where he was a VIP guest at the long-awaited official opening of Brodie Engineering’s Caledonia Works rail plant.
And after performing the honours at the West Langands Street site, the former Pop Idol judge was thrilled to discover the company has named a small locomotive ‘shunter’ in his honour.
He quipped: “I’ve heard of Thomas the Tank Engine, but not Pete the diesel!”
Waterman was invited to the opening in his guise as president of the Railway Benefit Fund along with Scottish Government minister Patrick Harvie, Willie Coffey, the MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley, and Provost Jim Todd of East Ayrshire Council.
Brodie Engineering bought the historic Caledonia Works site in August 2020 – five months after its closure – with 90 employees on the books.
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The rail engineering plant dates back to around 1847 and Brodie’s intervention preserves its future in Kilmarnock and Scotland. The site is a stone’s throw from Brodie’s existing Bonnyton Rail Works with each on either side of the Kilmarnock rail track.
Brodie Engineering’s owner and managing director Gerry Hilferty said: “I saved these works during a challenging time with the Covid pandemic and, despite us safeguarding this important rail asset, we were immediately limited to concentrating our essential rail engineering work in our already established Bonnyton depot.
“As Scotland’s railway returns to public ownership and the rail industry across the UK responds to the renewal of the industry following on from Covid, I am confident there is a bright future for both our Caledonia and Bonnyton Rail Works.
(Image: Kilmarnock Standard)
“In addition to our traditional rail repair work, I look forward to working alongside and supporting rail industry leaders as we all navigate our way to delivering on future commitments on the development of the zero-emission railway.
“As a business, we will evolve and increase our capability to work with the industry to support any new outputs and developments.”
Mr Harvie, minister for zero carbon buildings, Active Travel and tenants’ rights, said the investment was “very good news for the rail manufacturing and supply industry in Scotland”.
He added: “It offers real benefits, including supporting over 90 existing jobs while also creating the potential for new highly-skilled roles.”
Waterman, who was awarded an OBE in 2005, said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been asked to conduct the official reopening of the Caledonia Works.
“The Caledonia Works are steeped in history and tradition and it’s great that rail engineering will continue here, under Brodie Engineering’s ownership, for what I hope is for many years to come.”
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