Ronnie Cockburn

[GlenPudzeoch]

Sad to relay the news of Ronnie Cockburn, owner of the Bearsden Wagon Works, passed away at the beginning of August.

Ronnie started his career in engineering as an apprentice with Babcock and Wilcox in Renfrew, then sailed with the Furness Withy line as a junior engineer.  He returned to ABbcocks initially in Renfrew before moving to Dalmuir and into their Cranes division.

 

His main railway interest was private traders wagons and this led to him forming the Bearsden Wagon Works initially in OO building and painting to corrctly reflect the companies and clours of Scottish private owner wagons.  Despite his best efforts to try to encourage and educate some ready to run manufacturers followed a different drum..

 

Ronnie like many moved from OO to O gauge and continued the Bearsden Wagon works in 7mm, continuing with the same degree of accuracy and detail.  Keen to advocate the importance of the Scottish cupboard door style intead of the more Anglicised drop flap he was well known in Caledonian Railway Association and Glasgow and South Western Railway Association circles and attended meetings as long as he was able.

 

Ronnie looked after his wife before her passing and his own illness.

 

Rest in Peace Ronnie.

[duncan]

he was a gentleman