The Glasgow Subway: 1896-1977, & 1980 onwards
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2021
- The Glasgow Subway is one of the world’s oldest metro systems.
In this third- and final instalment- of our series examining its history, we’ll be looking at the two incarnations that have defined the Subway over the past 125 years.
The first of these operated between 1896 and 1977 and was defined by a Victorian infrastructure, whilst the second is a more modern system, born from an extensive overhaul that was carried out in the late 1970s. Both versions have very distinct characters.
If you missed the previous two instalments, which cover the Subway’s origins and its chaotic first day, please be sure to check them out!
Part 1:
• How The Glasgow Subway...
Part 2:
• The Glasgow Subway's D...
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In making this video, I’ve been aided greatly by several documentaries which feature archive footage, and have been kindly uploaded by other CZcamsrs. These films can be viewed in full at the following links:
Glasgow Underground: The Final Days (1977):
• Glasgow Underground (1...
The Glasgow Underground Documentary:
• Glasgow subway
The Glasgow Underground Modernisation Promotional Film (1980):
• Glasgow Underground Mo...
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If you’re in Glasgow, I would highly recommend a visit to the Riverside Museum which contains some wonderful artefacts related to the city’s Subway, including original cars. Even better, entry is free!
www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museum...
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I would like to express my immense gratitude to all of you who support this channel. Your kinds words and likes mean so much to me, and they really do spur me on to make these videos.
If you haven’t yet subscribed to the robslondon channel, I’d appreciate it very much if you could please consider doing so as this will ensure you don’t miss out on any content, whilst also helping the channel to grow!
If you’re looking for a Glasgow Subway themed gift (or if you fancy treating yourself), I’ve designed a collection of hand-drawn mugs featuring the system’s rolling stock, colour schemes and station lists. These are available from my Etsy Store; robsonlinedesigns:
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/robsonli...
My website:
robslondon.com/
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Music used in this video:
Gold Rush (Kevin MacLeod)
Friendly Day, (Kevin MacLeod)
Plucky Daisy (Kevin MacLeod)
Onion Capers (Kevin MacLeod)
Slapstick Buster (Freesound Music)
Midday Dance (Kevin MacLeod)
Mr Mealey’s Mediocre Machine (Kevin MacLeod)
Horror Ambiance (ESN Productions)
Awkward Apocalyptic Pickup (Kevin MacLeod)
Stringed Disco (Kevin MacLeod)
Ether Disco (Kevin MacLeod)
Nocture Em Op72 (Frederic Chopin, Musa Music Channel)
Flute on Satin ( royalty free Music by Giorgio Di Campo for FreeSound Music
freesoundmusic.euwww.f....
/ freesoundmusic )
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Illustrations by Robert Lordan
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Thanks again friends. Stay well, and please be sure to stay tuned! - Krátké a kreslené filmy
The 1977 closure happened a week early, there was cracks on the tunnel roof at Govan Cross during preliminary works before demolition. The old subway closed and it never reopened. There were commemorative tickets made which were never used. The farewell week and last journey never happened.
Yes, spot on. I'm sure there were a lot of disappointed folk that week...
@@Robslondon Hopefully the 1978-1979 Metro Cammell cars will get a proper farewell that the original cars didn’t get
During the modernisation of the subway the GGPTE (Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive) which was SPT at the time replaced the subway when out of action with a “Centre Circle” bus service around the city centre
@@dminalba Much agreed; they certainly deserve it.
You did well with this wee series Rob, although you were struggling a bit with "shooglin'". I remember the old system and can confirm that the smell was different to today's cleaner aroma. Various studies have been carried-out over the years but they've never really pinned down the ingredients. Several components came from various ends of the human passengers, mixing with a range of take-away produce, some liquid, some food. All the usual stuff would be in there too, stuff like hair, skin, fluff etc, found on all underground systems. I suspect a few traces of Irn Bru as well.😁
Cheers for now,
Dougie.
Ha ha! I could've attempted Shoogle in a Scottish accent, but my other half- who is from Glasgow- wouldn't let me! Interesting thoughts on the aroma. Cheers Dougie!
I remember getting my head caught in the gate on one of the old red caurs by an over-enthusiastic driver, probably in 1977.
Did you know that there were problems with the new orange stock in the first few months because the wheels were going square?
There is another statue of a Bud Neill character near Park Circus - Lobey Dosser riding his faithful steed El Fideldo, the only two-legged equestrian statue in the world!
Great video, brought back many memories.
Thanks so much for the kind words Algie- your comment is nothing short of wonderful! Love your memories from 1977, and I had no idea about the other Bud Neil statue; will have to check it out next time I'm in town. Thanks again, and stay well.
Great storytelling of Glasgow's subway - a superb trilogy! Very good documentary that doesn't hang around but keeps moving. Most enjoyable - thank you.
Thanks so much Richard, I really appreciate your kind words. Stay well.
Brilliant series Rob. I remember the old subway in the 1970s when I lived in Glasgow as a young child, and my first ride on the ‘new’ one in 1981 when up visiting family. The familiar smell, slightly sulphurous, was still present, though I can’t comment on the strength of it relative to the 1970s. If only they’d expanded it…!
Great comment and memories Doug; many thanks 😉 Cheers and stay well
That's a subway system to be proud of, and the new rolling stock is very smart. I loved those old Victorian cars though with the Bostwick style gates. Did not realise that the rail gauge was only 4ft. Another fine piece of storytelling, packed with illustrations and information.
Thank you so much John.
Really enjoyed this trilogy. Full of information but with a good pace, which never lags. Looking forward to more videos. Cheers.
Thanks so much Ralph; really appreciate your support. Stay well.
This trilogy gets better and better. So much useful information. Appreciate it must have been a massive job to put together so well done!
Thanks so much Peter; really appreciate that :-) Stay well.
A very nice comment Peter and an obvious understanding of the effort it takes to produce quality work.
Your videos deserve a wider audience and those 1980's trains look so retro futuristic.
Thank you so much.
In the first 10 years of the modernised subway the tickets the subway used were a yellow magnetic style a bit like the ones used in the early days of the Victoria line, where a red stripe was drawn on middle of the ticket inside the turnstile machine after going though the gate. They were replaced by a ticket machine similar to the London Underground pink tickets in the 1990s. The new smart tickets turnstiles recently installed you just tap the orange pads to enter & exit. In 1984 SPTE introduced the yellow tickets to the rail network by installing at Glasgow Central, Queen Street, Hillhead, St Enoch and Motherwell integrated self service ticket machines which can be used on the SPT rail area and the subway, these didn’t last long on the subway as they changed the turnstiles in 1990.
Interesting. Thanks for that.
Thanks very much for this series, I remember going on the subway with my mum & dad in the mid 70’s. We lived in a place called cambuslang which is nowhere near the subway. We were going to an electrical shop in Patrick as my dad was buying a “state of the art” music centre. We didn’t realise that everything came in one box .
We got the train from cambuslang to Glasgow then the subway at st enochs to partick. The return journey was “fun” my dad carried the hifi in this massive box in to the subway station. It was a Saturday & the station was full , my dad couldn’t get the box on the train so the guard let him stand with it in the caged (door) between the cars. Every time the train stopped he had to get out & let people off the subway. We must have been popular 😅😅😅
By the way , the place stunk to high heaven .
Brilliant comment, thank you so much for sharing that memory- I enjoyed reading it! Stay well ;-)
Another exemplary piece of documentary making. Thank you.
it’s a pleasure Brian, thank you so much for the support and kind words. Stay well.
As a Govan lad,I can confirm the subway has a wonerful smell.I remember the pre 1970 cars even though I was a young 'un back then.Football match days are a lively affair on the subway....
Im looking forward to trying the next generation of Glasgow subway trains😉
Great comment Paul, thanks ;-)
Having missed the Glasgow trams and trolleybuses due to location and year of birth I WAS lucky enough to ride the Glasgow Subway in 1976 before it became the Clockwork Orange. I did a circular trip starting from Buchanan Street and the smell was noticeable. Hard to define it really....a mixture of drains and a faint component of creosote perhaps? I remember the "shoogle" of the caurs, the "No Spitting" signs which seemed like something out of the arc and the feeling that the bodies of the vehicles were actually rocking on their chassis (as if something hadn't been nailed down properly 🙂. It was a unique and memorable experience.
What incredible memories Bob, thanks so much for sharing.
@@Robslondon Talking of elusive characteristic but indefinable smells on public transport the chunky 4-COR units of the Southern Electric that started pre-war and survived until 1972 had a wonderful whiff about them that I heard someone describe as oil and electricity - nonsense of course and yet I can understand why.
@@bobk4404 Lovely 😉
Another excellent video, obviously well researched and informative 👍
Many thanks!
That Thames Television opening makes me all warm & fuzzy.
😄
Great video Rob. Much appreciated! I spent many happy days cantering around the inner and outer circle in the late eighties and early nineties!
Thanks so much!
Hi Rob. Another informative and entertaining video; thanks.
Thank you sir :-)
Great video, so much detail, hours of research, add in all the achieve film. Gone one further today have hit the bell, do not want to miss these videos
That’s great; really appreciate that thanks!
Another great video, thanks Rob 😊😊
Thank you! :-)
It's fantastic to see that it still exists today 🙂
Thanks Craig; yep it's going strong! Well worth a spin :-)
@@Robslondon my more recent question however is it becoming driverless, where did the existing drivers go? 🤷🏼♂️
@@wakandaforever5732 Good question...
it's been decades since I was in Glasgow. You've made me remember how I fell in love with it and want very badly to go back, I guess that tells you what a great job you did with this series.
Thanks so much Angela 😊 You really need to get back to Glasgow; it’s a great place. Thanks again and stay well.
Well done video. Thank you!
Thanks Tony!
Great video Rob. We visited Glasgo very recently, and enjoyed using the Subway.
Many thanks! Glad you enjoyed Glasgow ;-)
Thanks, Rob.
Simply fascinating: well done Rob!
Cheers from DownUnder. 😉
Thanks so much Bryan 😊
Excellent trilogy! The Subway is my favourite little system and I've been lucky to travel on it in all its incarnations. I know quite a bit about its history from the publication "Circles Under the Clyde" but you brought out some interesting additional information, so thanks! Subscribed for the London stuff too of course.
Really appreciate that Marcel; thank you so much. Cheers and stay well :-)
@@Robslondon Not at all! 🙂
Brilliant! Really enjoyed this! I vaguely remember the old system pre modernisation and the distinctive smell lol
Thank you so much Hamish!
When we travelled between Copeland Road, as it was then, and Govan Cross, we used to always look for the place where the subway sleeps!
😄
Enjoyed very much including the Test card at the end.
Thank you!
Nice 70’s music in the rebuilding section.
Thanks Ian 😉
Another fascinating video. I didn't even know Glasgow had a subway system! I lived in England for 30 years but never visited Scotland. I wish I had because I'm now a long way away in Phoenix, Arizona.
Ha ha! Thanks so much :-) Glasgow is one of my favourite cities; well worth a visit if you make it back to the UK which I hope you do at some point. Thanks and stay well.
The centre island platforms look a bit dangerous. Although some stations do have side platforms, I would have thought that side platforms would have been installed all over the system. I only rode it once back in 1973. I think it could have been expanded by now. Well at least Glasgow has a subway unlike Leeds and Birmingham which are much larger cities. Great series of videos. Newcastle, like Lverpool, is more of a heavy rail unerground system rather than a Metro Subway.
Nice comment and thoughts, thank you.
These videos are great. It would be great if you did another with more detail on the content in the riverside museum!
Thank you so much! I was in fact planning on doing a video on the Riverside Museum earlier this year, but went for the Hunterian instead!
What a great series of videos! This video brought back some surprising memories of travelling the underground since when I was a kid in the late 90’s/early 2000’s. 19:17 and 21:53 definitely brought back a lot of memories! It’s amazing how much has changed. That said I’m not a fan of the next generation cars - a bit too fancy looking for my liking.
Thank you so much Angus; really appreciate your kind words. Have the new generation cars started running yet? I've not been in Glasgow since the summer (miss it a lot), but am due up over New Year, finger's crossed. Would be interesting to see the new rolling stock in action if they're in service, although I do prefer the older cars from what I've seen. Thanks again for the lovey comment mate and stay well.
Hi Rob used to go to school on the subway ,cessnock to Govan Cross yes loved the smell of the subway pre 1977 ,it was like a mix of tar and dampness from the tunnels I loved the smell ,you can still smell it today but no where as strong though ...ahhh great memories 😊😊😊
Beautiful comment Mauro, thank you so much- really lovely description you give of the smell! Cheers and stay well.
A great 3 video series. I never rode the old subway and indeed, my first trip in the underground was this year (2021) as part of a series of journeys I made on various interesting rail routes in the UK. But you've made a fascinating video. I think the term clockwork orange was only ever used by the media
Thanks so much Patricia. Yes, I think you’re right about the Clockwork Orange term! 🍊 Thanks again and stay well.
Brilliant stuff 🚉.
Thank you John! Much appreciated.
Do you know why they modernized the whole thing at once rather than in phases so it could remain partially open? 3 years of not using the subway would surely mean a lot of people went out and bought cars or found a bus route they could use instead.
I believe the initial plan was to modernise one direction at a time, but it was decided that just wasn't practical. During the modernisation they did have bus replacement routes which covered the circuit. Interesting point though; I imagine some people would not have returned to using it once it reopened.
@@Robslondon I can't imagine the subway in London closing for more than 3 days and people putting up with it; a 3 year hiatus makes you wonder if it's even necessary esp. if replacement buses did s comparable job.
i'm getting the impression that if i ever went on the Glasgow subway, i would probably break something , like my leg,seems a recurrent theme.
😂
Thank you for this video very interesting for me.. I've travalled with the particular Glasgow's subway there is twenty years ago ... A friend of Scotland from France
You’re very welcome Thierry; thank you 😊🇫🇷
Class video
Cheers J; much appreciated.
Don't remember this, but i do remember cattle getting off the trains snd being driven acrosd from Croydon station to the Monday market.. mid 60's, it would have been. Great video! Just found ypur channel
This comment was made in response to a different video which finished in hhe middle of my typing.. sincere apologies. . Love your videos.. enjoyed the subway in 2016!
Ha ha! No worries! :-D And thank you.
@@Robslondon you are so kind.. Inhere in Melbourne we only got our first four station underground rail loop in the late 1970's.. rail has been so slow.. only now is a major extension being undertaken.. just on 50 years later. Cheers
@@rofromoz1361 No worries ;-) I'd like to see Melbourne one day... Stay well and cheers
Rode the red cars in '72. Platform was dark (by today's standards), and had a distinct "dungeoney" odor.
Nice 😉
I was taken, aged 6 on the underground trains in 1977 just before the system was closed for modernisation. My stepdad wanted me to see the old underground before it shut down. I had never been on an underground train before. The ornateness of the interior of the carriage was something quite unique as was the smell of the underground. The only other underground trains that has the same sort of ornateness inside was the 1939 London underground stock. You knew the train was coming because the cable would move as the train approached. I remember inspecting the "new" rolling stock put on display in George Sq in 1978; which, although quant, had none of the personality of the old cars. The inside of the underground had an almost musty sour smell and it was getting very old.
Great memories Andrew, thank you so much for sharing. I can just about remember the 1930s London tube stock when they were still in use; they had such character. I'd love to have seen the Glasgow Subway pre-modernisation! Thanks for the lovely comment and stay well.
Glasgow was the first subway I ever travelled on in the 60/70’s and I loved the old red carriages, they were unique. When they updated the whole system it was a travesty to sell off the St Enoch station building. Thank god they kept some of carriages to display in the transport museum.
Nice comment, thanks- and yes, I couldn’t agree more with you. Cheers and stay well
I found your channel by the 1st video of this trilogy. This series has been very interesting. I noticed you didn't mention the Underground Song i guess you might have found out about that whilst doing your research for these videos.
Thanks so much Chris. I do indeed know about the Underground song and wanted to include a section of it in part 3, but I wasn’t sure where I stood on copyright! Thanks again and stay well.
@@Robslondon The "I found your channel by the 1st video of this trilogy" in my previous comment is incorrect because i think i found your channel via your London's 20 Quirkiest Railways: Part Two video. Plus i had watched the Waterloo Secret Arches before part 1 of this trilogy was uploaded
@@ChrisMcB1967 Ha ha! It's great to have you here Chris, however you found the channel ;-) Stay well.
I`m on the subway several times a day, everyday and love it. Apart from getting around the city quickly i do miss the pong that was only found on the old system. As a youngster our parents would tell us to stand around the entrances if we had bad colds and breathe in the pong as it was good for our chests, whther it was is debatable now plus, if the roads had crews laying down tarmac, is another thing i miss. I loved the pong of both.
The only pong no-one liked was the stench that used to come from the River Clyde and the Brewery in the East End. You could smell the Clyde long before you saw the water.
A fantastic comment Andy, thanks so much for taking the time to share 😊
A fantastic comment Andy, thanks so much for taking the time to share 😊
Nice videos. The fishmongers is at Shields Road Station and is still there today.
Thanks Ian 🙂
Another excellent and informative video!
The 'Online video' series has a very fine presentation on the Glasgow Subway directed and narrated by Martin Jenkins (I see someone has pirated this and put it on CZcams). In that video we see the old cars being transported to their final destination and dumped in a big enclosure awaiting being broken up. What an ignominious end for these cars that had won the affection of generations of Glaswegians and had given service for the best part of a century!
I do wonder if some imagination and marketing enterprise might have been brought to bear that allowed these old cars to have a new lease of life in a different setting. Surely Glasgow Corporation could have devised some novel practical incarnation for them? It seems such a wanton discarding of the City's heritage. Possibly few realized that at the time: but they should have done.
Thank you so much for the kind words! Yes, it's heartbreaking to see that old footage of the cars being sent for scrap. I'm sure all sorts of uses could've been found for them.
It's tragic that there isn't even a preserved, working heritage set... imagine having the chance to ride around on that once or twice a year. Oh well.
Thanks so much again and stay well.
I'm moving away from Glasgow soon so I might have to have one last hurl on the Metro Cammell cars before I move
You know it has to be done! ;-)
@@Robslondon Yes I know by the way you ever seen the 1974 film of the old Subway on video125 which also showed the breakdown procedures at the time?
@@dminalba I have seen that yes! It's glorious; pure Glasgow! ;-D
fasinating stuff
Thanks Peter 😊
Just thought I might also add you should look up some photos of the old transport museum they made a complete replica of one of the stations really cool also I know it sound mental but I think you should of gone into some of the ghost stories not in detail just a light mention and if you haven’t you should read some of them I personally believe in ghost I don’t know about anyone else but for anyone they are fascinating anywho love the trilogy love the channel and I wish everyone good health
Edit : good attempt at shooglin 🤣
Ah, didn’t know about the ghost stories! 👻 I remember the old transport museum but sadly never had the chance to visit it. Thanks again for the kind words 😉🏴
Interesting.
Thanks Laurence
Jings, that was braw!
That means a lot to me; thank you! ;-)
I lived in merkland street and my family had to sell out for the new building of the partick station. Now I’ve been working in the subway for 29 years and have so much memorabilia what’s fascinating to me about the date you specified about electrification started on 26th of march well that’s my birthday weird ah! And yes I remember the smell so well and if you walk up the fire escape in partick there’s a hatch you can see the old platform and get a wiff of home it’s amazing.
Brilliant comment donnawatson, thanks so much for taking the time to share- really enjoyed reading that 😊
@@Robslondon thanks I have many stories through my lifetime in the subway . It’s been most of my life which I hope to put into print when I retire . Don’t think it’ll go down too well for me to publish now.
@@donnawatson67 😀
6:42 Do you know the reason why they remodelled the stations and also why they put a fence down the middle of this one?
Not entirely sure Graham, although my guess would be that the Island platform here was considered too dangerous when crowded (similar to the reason why Angel station on the London Underground's Northern Line was remodelled)
As for the fence... I have no idea, but would love to know if someone has the answer!
Thanks for watching and stay well.
@@Robslondon Cheers Rob. Thank you for the response. I really enjoyed the videos.
@@WhatALoadOfTosca It's a pleasure Graham; thanks again for watching, I really appreciate it.
Excellent and informative. Can anyone shed any light as to why the subway never branched Eastwards back in the day? Was it ever mooted? Naturally in more recent years there's call for it to be extended, but im curious if it was ever proposed...
Re Cessnock Station, I recall reading that the iron station sign at the steps was originally erected in the early 80s, for the Glasgow Garden Festival, as this would have been the main station to alight at. A few years ago SPT removed the sign, citing it as being ' of no cultural importance' or words to that effect. However; locals signed a petition and after some pressure the sign was re instated! I do recall the auld shooglies well. Tis indeed a shame that some of the old art deco esque frontage of the stations had to go. As another comment mentioned- an old car or two could be brought back into service once yearly and ride the rails once more- akin to the yearly vintage bus hurls from the old bus depot in Fordneuk St at Bridgeton. C'mon get aff....😑
Quin
Brilliant comment, thanks so much for taking the time to write- I enjoyed reading it very much.
No idea why the line never extended… money I guess? A real shame as it would be of great benefit.
Thanks again anyway and stay well 😉
They did away with the train lift after a train came off it & smashed onto the tracks - not sure if it hit another 1 passing underneath though - just going on what I heard & thought I'd mention it.
Cheers DJ Sonic, I wasn't aware of that... must've made quite a crash! Thanks and stay well ;-)
I think I heard something like that to but from what I know the car wasn’t dropped from that high and only minimal damage was ever done
Cheers brother!
Hare Krishna
Thank you! ☺️
Miss the smell from the underground ....you dont get that since modernisation
😁
I wasn’t around pre modernisation but that smell was stonger when I was a kid not to long ago but sadly over the years seems to get weaker mind you when I train comes into the platform you’ll know it the sent goes rushing through and out the station
Nice comment, thanks 😉
Who knows.. maybe it'll be the last standing subway from this time in the future
Good point 😉
No Glaswegian has ever called it the Clockwork Orange! The name is only used by the media, and originates with that clip in your video.
Thanks JDH… I do mention elsewhere in the series that Glaswegians don’t call it that (I know as my other half is Glaswegian). Stay well
The new transport museum I don’t like I’ve been in it and it is completely different to how it used to be. U could go up to the cars and look into them and go onthe trams and the trains and the old Glasgow underground carriages but now u can’t which is a real shame.totally took the magic away and the cars r up the wall now which is a joke
I agree Rory, can’t understand why they put them so out the way
Rob, a great series of videos, but there is no R in Glasgow, its pronounced Glas Go.
Thanks Brian! Unfortunately my other half- who is Glaswegian- wouldn’t let me do the accent on this series 😂
🙄
kinda curious why this system had american style doors and used american terms like "subway" and "car"
Yes, great point 😉
There are no doors like that in US subways now.