Bits n' Pieces........
PRESENT
This is the present transport Museum housed in a side part of the Kelvin Hall Sports complex. It looks into the River Kelvin near where it flows into the Clyde
WHAT WAS
The tramway system was progressively run down in two stages in the late 1950's. Firstly routes beyond the city boundary went (excepting the 12 miles cross city No 9 run from Dalmuir West to Auchenshuggle). The inside routes went in stages until the end in 1962. For the last two days a shuttle service ran on the 9 route with souvenir tickets. I am fortunate to have bought two and also have a fully working tram ticket machine. When the last tram procession was held, it was estimated that a quarter of the city's then population of over a million, turned out to watch.
It had been the backboneof the city transport as these stats show.
Trams = 1,100 (all double-deckers except 1 remaining single decker)
Male drivers = 1,994
Female drivers = 6
Conductors = 575
Conductresses = 1,628
BUS SITU: Buses = 700, drivers & conductors = 2,437. TROLLEYBUS staff = 159. SUBWAY staff = 247
WHAT NEARLY MIGHT HAVE BEEN - "STRATHCLYDE TRAM"
In the 1980's the then Strathclyde Regional Council produced glossy brochures on a proposed modern tram system. it would be in stages. A circle line in the city centre with lines to the west, northwest, east, south and southeast. Part of the western line would be underground then surface again via a disused rail tunnel. it came to nothing and when the Regional Councils were abolished Glasgow City Council had no interest in the subject. A lost possibility and sad whilst oldrival, Edinburgh once more will habe a tram system to envy.
Edinburgh will be the only Scots city to have trams again. There will be 2 routes. The 3rd was abandoned as it was to be financed by road charges into the city, however a rerendum voted that down. In England, successful modern systems run in Manchester, Sheffield, West Midlands, London (Croydon) and Nottingham. The now rather dated Blackpool Tramway is now under threat due to the cost of modernising
THE FUTURE
This is what the new replacedment Transport Museum will be like. Typical of the city leaders it will be out of the way of the excellent passing public transport at the old site at Kelvingrove.
I HAVE BUILT EVERYTHING ON THIS MAP - AND OFF IT AS OF 1ST JUNE 2008 INCLUDING TRACKAGE NOT SHOWN ON IT BUT EXISTED!
Milngavie off the map
ROUTE MAP
Dalmuir off the map
Airdrie & Coatbride off the map
Paisley lines off the map
