A celebrated railway sculpture has returned to Springburn Railway Station ahead of a wider redevelopment of the Glasgow station.
Stored away for over two decades, Heritage and Hope, created in 1989 by artist Vincent Butler, depicts a railway worker and his daughter – symbolising the area’s proud locomotive-building heritage and generations of families who helped shape Scotland’s railway.
After the closure of Springburn Museum in 2001, the sculpture was placed in storage until local artist Mandy McIntosh stepped in to ensure it was preserved in 2024. Working with Network Rail and ScotRail, as well as local community groups, such as the Springburn Shopping Centre, and Springburn Unity Network, the sculpture has now been restored and placed at Springburn Station.
Network Rail supported the work, casting a new plinth and installing it in a prominent position on platform one, where it will be seen by the hundreds of thousands of passengers who use the station each year.
The installation aligns with broader plans to improve Springburn Station, with future phases potentially including accessibility upgrades and frontage enhancements.
Brian Maley, project manager for strategy and investment at Network Rail, said, “We’re delighted to see Heritage and Hope return to Springburn. Springburn has played, and continues to play, an important role in Scotland’s railway story.”
Mandy McIntosh added, “This sculpture is so important in recognising Springburn’s industrial heritage It’s fitting that Heritage and Hope now has a permanent home at the train station. It’s a wonderful link to the future for people and place in an area of such significance.”
