Clough, Smith: Difference between revisions

|industry = [[Automotive industry|Automotive]]<br />[[Electrical engineering]]<br />[[Facilities management]]

|products = [[Trolleybus]]es<br />Rail electrical systems

|services = Rail management

|subsid =
}}

'''Interserve Rail''' (formerly '''Clough Smith''')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/00110192/|title= Interserve Rail Limited|website=companieshouse.gov.uk|access-date=|accessdate=14 November 2018}}</ref> is a British engineering and facilities management company. Founded in 1910, it is a subsidiary of [[Interserve]].

Clough Smith was founded in 1910 by electrical engineers Norman Clough and Sidney Smith, who moved into the manufacture of overhead power supplies for [[Tram|electrical tramways]] and [[trolleybus]]es. It designed and manufactured both overhead and rail supplies for many systems in Britain prior to [[World War I]].<ref name=Lumb>{{cite book|last=Lumb|first=Geoff|title=British Trolleybuses: 1911–1972|publisher=[[Ian Allan Publishing]]|date=1995|pages=48-5048–50, 81|isbn=0711023476}}</ref>

The general manager of the Teesside Railless Traction Board developed a new and improved trolleybus design and Clough Smith arranged for it to be manufactured It was marketed as the ''Straker-Clough trolley omnibus''. This chassis and design came to be regarded as both pioneering and improving the industry standard.<ref name=Lumb/><ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/11th-october-1921/9/the-first-well-designed-trolley-bus The First Well Designed Trolleybus] ''[[Commercial Motor]]'' 11 October 1921</ref> The chassis was manufactured by [[Straker-Squire#Bus manufacturing|Straker-Squire]], the electrical equipment by [[British Thomson-Houston]] of [[BathRugby, SomersetWarwickshire|BathRugby]], with Clough arranging the production of the bodies. The completed product was sold to system operators as part of a package deal which included the design, supply and installation of the overhead electrical equipment.<ref name=Lumb/><ref>{{cite book|title=Companion to Road Passenger Transport History|publisher=Roads & Road Transport History Association|date=2013|page=136|isbn=978-0-9552876-3-3}}</ref>

In April 1990, Clough Smith was purchased by [[Interserve|Tilbury]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/home/27apr90-uk-tilbury-acquires-heavy-electrical/civil-engineering-contractor-clough-smith/1692500.article|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113170235/https://www.constructionnews.co.uk/home/27apr90-uk-tilbury-acquires-heavy-electrical/civil-engineering-contractor-clough-smith/1692500.article|title= Tilbury acquires heavy electrical/civil engineering contractor Clough Smith|website=constructionnews.co.uk|date= 28 April 1990|archivedatearchive-date=13 November 2018|accessdateaccess-date= 14 November 2018|author=CNPlus}}</ref> In October 2001, it was rebranded Interserve Rail.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/industry-news-in-brief-25.html|website=railwaygazette.com|date=1 November 2001|title=Industry News in Brief|accessdateaccess-date=14 November 2018}}</ref> It has diversified into [[facilities management]], being awarded a five-year contract to manage 11 [[Network Rail]] stations in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/interserve-wins-network-rail-station-facilities-management-contract.html|title= Interserve wins Network Rail station facilities management contract|website=railwaygazette.com|date=9 February 2017|accessdateaccess-date=14 November 2018}}</ref>