GLASGOW'S TROLLEYBUSES
Glasgow was the last major UK city to take the trolleybus on board as a major form of transport.
It was a mode of transport destined to have a short lifespan however with only 18 years elapsing between Glasgow's first trolleybus silently slipping into service in 1949 to the final fond farewell on 27th May 1967.
At it's peak in 1959, Glasgow boasted the third largest fleet of trolleybus vehicles in Britain with 194 buses and over 700 "greenstaff".
The trolleybus was in many ways a transport dream machine. A combination of the tram with it's silent, environmentally friendly electric power and bus with it's manoeuvrability and capacity. In its day, the trolleybus was considered to be an inexpensive way of providing suburb to city transport when comparable forms of transport [tramways with the necessity to lay track and expensive maintenance costs and buses in a fuel starved rationed late 40s] were seen as expensive.
Transport manager E.R.L.Fitzpayne gave the go ahead for Glasgow to adopt the trolleys and the fleet began with the delivery of TB1 on 25th February 1949. The service began a few weeks later on 3rd April and such was the novelty that over 20,000 Glaswegian's were carried on that first day.
The buses themselves were unlike anything Glasgow had ever seen before. There were sixty four six wheel vehicles, each capable of carrying 70 seated and 10 standing passengers [the equivalent bus capacity being 56 and tram 59].
The first bus was based on London design numbered TB1 [TB standing not for Trolley Bus but for Trolleybus British United Traction - the chassis builder]. Trolleybus livery was designed so that buses would be easily identified and different from their diesel driven counterparts.
Due to the regulations in existence at the time, the first 34 buses seen by the citizens of Glasgow were 6 wheelers built by Metro Cammell of Birmingham. Another 30 buses manufactured at nearby Coventry's Daimler works followed these and entered service as numbers TD1 through to TD30. Technical features included automatic acceleration which ensured a steady rate of speed increase to ensure a smooth ride [something over their diesel counterparts]. After some initial lodging in various tram garages which could provide the necessary overhead cabling, the buses were eventually based in the specially designed Hampden Garage in the last month of 1950. With the exception of major overhauls [which were carried out at Eglinton Toll's Larkfield Garage.
Hampden, nestled in the shadow of Scotland's national stadium, was to become home for a majority of Glasgow's trolleybuses throughout their working life.
101 RIDDRIE TO SHAWFIELD Running Time 28 mns
101 RIDDRIE TO RUTHERGLEN Running Time 34 mns
NOV1949 - Service commenced between CATHEDRAL STREET and SHAWFIELD.
Operated by LARKFIELD GARAGE. Replaced Tram 10.
AUG1950 - Cathedral Street terminus altered to ROYSTON ROAD.
DEC1950 - Service operations transferred to HAMPDEN GARAGE.
FEB1956 - Some buses now run to RUTHERGLEN.
SEP1962 - Royston Road terminus altered to RIDDRIE taking over part of the route formerly
operated by TrolleyBus102.
APL1966 - Service withdrawn. Replaced by Bus 27.
Route: [as at 1962] From RIDDRIE [Maxwelton Rd]via Hallbrae Street, Provanmill Road, Royston Road, Castle Street, High Street, Saltmarket, Albert Bridge, Crown Street, Old Rutherglen Road and Rutherglen Road.
To SHAWFIELD via Rosyth Street and Roseberry Street to SHAWFIELD [Dalmeny Street].
To RUTHERGLEN via Rutherglen Road, Glasgow Road, Main Street [Rutherglen] and Caledonia Avenue to RUTHERGLEN [King Street] returning via Farmeloan Road and Main Street [Rutherglen].
102 ROYSTON ROAD TO POLMADIE Running Time 21 mns
APL1949 - Service commenced between POLMADIE and RIDDRIE.
Operated by LARKFIELD GARAGE. Replaced Tram 2.
JLY1949 - Some buses now run to HAMPDEN PARK.
AUG1950 - Hampden Park extension renumbered Trolleybus Service 103.
DEC1950 - Service operations transferred to HAMPDEN GARAGE.
SEP1962 - Riddrie terminus altered to ROYSTON ROAD. Riddrie route now covered by TrolleyBus 101.
APL1966 - Service withdrawn. No replacement.
Route: [as at 1962] From ROYSTON ROAD [Forge Street] via Darnick Street, Royston Road, Castle Street, High Street, Saltmarket, Albert Bridge, Crown Street, Cathcart Road and Aikenhead Road to Bennan Street. Returning via Brereton Street and Aikenhead Road.
Return journey at Royston Road via Royston Road and Mull Street to Forge Street
103 RIDDRIE TO HAMPDEN PARK Running Time 32 mns
AUG1950 - Service commenced between RIDDRIE and HAMPDEN PARK.
Operated by LARKFIELD GARAGE. Replaced part southbound Trolleybus Service
102. Buses still show 102 northbound.
DEC1950 - Service operations transferred to HAMPDEN GARAGE.
MAY1959 - Service withdrawn. No replacement.
Route: [as at 1959] From RIDDRIE [Maxwelton Rd] via Hallbrae Street, Provanmill Road, Royston Road, Castle Street, High Street, Saltmarket, Albert Bridge, Crown Street, Cathcart Road, and Aikenhead Road to HAMPDEN PARK [Hampden Garage].
104 CATHEDRAL STREET TO MUIREND Running Time 26 mns
AUG1952 - Service commenced between CATHEDRAL STREET and MUIREND.
Operated by HAMPDEN GARAGE. Part replaced Bus 37.
JAN1962 - Service withdrawn. No replacement.
Route: [as at 1959] From CATHEDRAL STREET [Macleod Street] via Collins Street, Cathedral Street, Castle Street, High Street, Saltmarket, Albert Bridge, Crown Street, Cathcart Road, Holmea Road and Clarkston Road to MUIREND [Muirend Road].
105 QUEENS CROSS TO CLARKSTON Running Time 42 mns
105 QUEENS CROSS TO MUIREND Running Time 37 mns
105 QUEENS CROSS TO MOUNT FLORIDA Running Time 28 mns
JLY1953 - Service commenced between QUEEN'S CROSS and MOUNT FLORIDA or MUIREND or CLARKSTON. Operated by HAMPDEN GARAGE. Replaced Tram Service 13.
MAY1967 - Service withdrawn. Replaced by Bus 66.
Route : [as at 1966] From QUEEN'S CROSS [Northpark Street] via Maryhill Road, Garscube Road,
Cowcaddens Street, West Nile Street, St Vincent Place, George Square [South] ,South Frederick Street, Ingram Street, Glassford Street, Stockwell Street, Gorbals Street and Cathcart Road. , Holmea Road and Clarkston Road.
To MOUNT FLORIDA via Ballogie Road, returning via Carmunnock Road and Cathcart Road.
To MUIREND via Holmea Road, Clarkston Road and Muirend Road
To CLARKSTON via Holmea Road, Clarkston Road, Busby Road and Benview Road. Returning via Mearns Road and Clarkston Road.
Return journey at Queens Cross via Garscube Road, Springbank Street and Firhill Road to Northpark Street.
COMMENTS:
Glasgow's last trolleybus on 27 May 1967.
106 BELLAHOUSTON TO RIDDRIE Running Time 46 mns
106 BELLAHOUSTON TO MILLERSTON Running Time 51 mns
JUN1958 - Service commenced between BELLAHOUSTON and RIDDRIE or MILLERSTON.
Peak hour extensions ran to SHIELDHALL and LINTHOUSE instead of BELLAHOUSTON. Operated by GOVAN GARAGE, DENNISTOUN GARAGE and HAMPDEN GARAGE. Replaced Tram Service 7.
NOV1960 - Dennistoun Garage closed. Service operations now Govan with specials from Hampden.
NOV1964 - Peak hour extensions to Shieldhall and Linthouse withdrawn. Service operations now Govan Garage only.
OCT1966 - Service withdrawn. Replaced by Bus 65.
Route : [as at 1966] From BELLAHOUSTON [Minto Street.] via Jura Street, Craigton Road, Crossloan Road, Elder Street, Loie Street, Golspie Street, Govan Road, Paisley Road, Morrison Street, Nelson Street, Norfolk Street, Ballater Street, Kings Drive, James Street, London Road, Abercromby Street, Bellgrove Street, Duke Street and Cumbernauld Road.
To RIDDRIE via Tay Crescent.
To MILLERSTON via Station Road.
107 MAITLAND STREET TO MUIREND Running Time 30 mns
MAY1957 - Service commenced between MAITLAND STREET and MUIREND.
Operated by HAMPDEN GARAGE.
FEB1965 - Service withdrawn on Sundays.
MCH1967 - Service withdrawn. Replaced by Bus 67.
Route : [as at 1966] From MAITLAND STREET via Cowcaddens Street, West Nile Street, St Vincent Place, George Square [South] ,South Frederick Street, Ingram Street, Glassford Street, Stockwell Street, Gorbals Street, Pollokshaws Road, Victoria Road, Queens Drive, Langside Road, Grange Road, Battlefield Road, Holmea Road and Clarkston Road to MUIREND [Muirend Road]
Return journey at Maitland Street via West Nile Street, Port Dundas Road and Milton Street to Maitland Street.
108 MOUNT FLORIDA TO PAISLEY ROAD TOLL Running Time 18 mns
108 MOUNT FLORIDA TO LINTHOUSE Running Time 31 mns
108 MOUNT FLORIDA TO SHIELDHALL Running Time 35 mns
NOV1958 - Service commenced between MOUNT FLORIDA and PAISLEY ROAD TOLL.
Peak hour extensions ran to SHIELDHALL, LINTHOUSE and SUMMER TOWN ROAD. Operated by HAMPDEN GARAGE. Replaced Tram 12.
NOV1964 - Peak hour extensions to Shieldhall, Linthouse and Summertown Road withdrawn.
MCH1967 - Service withdrawn. Replaced by Bus 68.
Route : [as at 1967] From MOUNT FLORIDA [Ballogie Road] via Carmunnock Road, Cathcart Road, Allison Street, Nithsdale Street, Nithsdale Road, Kenmure Street, ,Saint Andrew's Road, Shields Road, Scotland Street, Seaward Street and Paisley Road to PAISLEY ROAD TOLL [Admiral Street.] Returning via Milnpark Street and Seaward Street and at Mount Florida returning via Cathcart Road, Kings Park Road and Ballogie Road.
Specials ran as per Mount Florida / Paisley Road Toll route to Seaward Street then via Paisley Road.
To SUMMERTOWN ROAD via Govan Road and Summertown Road.
To LINTHOUSE via Govan Road, Burghead Drive and Peninver Drive returning via Moss Road.
To SHIELDHALL via Govan Road and Renfrew Road to Shieldhall Rd.
COMMENTS:
Operated by single deck trolleybuses, one of which is now preserved in the Glasgow Museum of Transport.