“WE’VE had trouble with vandals before,” said British Rail’s assistant divisional engineer, “and it would seem reasonable to assume that vandals were responsible for this act.”

He was speaking as B.R. investigators sifted through the charred timbers of the platform buildings at Glasgow’s Bellgrove rail station, which began late one Sunday evening in September, 1980 and raged for at least two hours.

A team of demolition contractors moved in to dismantle the wrecked structure.

Morning rush-hour commuters were ferried by bus between Carntyne and High Street stations.

Services on the busy Airdrie-Helensburgh line ground to a halt after overhead power cables were brought down in the blaze, which raged for at least two hours. The Springburn service and Cumbernauld trains were briefly diverted to Queen Street high level.

As investigations continued, a B.R. spokesman said in the morning: “The engineers have already started work on replacement of the damaged cables and we’re hoping to have some services restored by early afternoon.”

The station itself was expected to be closed for several days until it had been made safe.

The Glasgow Herald reported that the fire broke out while the station was unmanned.

Passengers had to leave a train and some of them later claimed that they had been left waiting in the street for about two hours until alternative transport could be laid on.

That same week, however, it was reported that police involvement in community affairs, and an increased police presence, had helped cut the crime rate dramatically in the city’s East End and Maryhill areas.