Member Article

Mechan jacks enhance updated Glasgow rail depot

Sheffield-based rail depot equipment specialist, Mechan, has created a bespoke set of lifting jacks to furnish an upgraded Glasgow maintenance facility.

The manufacturer has supplied five of its flagship products to Polmadie Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot to help operator, Alstom, reduce servicing times on new vehicles.

Working with contractor, Covanburn, who has overseen improvements at the historic facility, Mechan has designed and built the jacks to enable bogies and wheelsets to be removed and replaced on a new fleet of CAF Caledonian Sleeper coaches, being introduced on the West Coast Mainline.

The 15-tonne jacks will operate as a synchronised set of four and one spare that can be moved around the depot by pallet truck, for safe and efficient deployment. They have been supplied with eight floor boxes, enabling them to be sited in two separate locations within the facility’s crane shed, providing power and reducing cabling that could be damaged.

Lindsey Mills, Mechan’s sales manager, said: “Thanks to our excellent relationship with Alstom, Covanburn knew the operator had a preference for our jacks, although they weren’t specified directly for this project. Following a tender visit, we liaised closely with the depot to produce designs specific to its needs and this was followed by a request for the floor boxes. The equipment is now installed and working to the client’s satisfaction.”

Polmadie opened in 1875 and is now one of five Alstom traincare centres serving the West Coast Mainline. This is not the first time Mechan has supplied equipment to the site, having installed a bespoke bogie drop in 2005.

Mechan is renowned for its lifting jacks, which can be linked together to lift complete trains without decoupling, saving valuable servicing time.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nina Sorby .