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Glasgow
Trams Beyond the Boundary by Ian L Cormack.
Published by Scottish Tramway Museum Society 1967 Price 3/-
This 12 page book contains breif information
on the tram services to the following areas BAILLIESTON (population
6,356 at 1961). BISHOPBRIGGS (population 11,530 at 1961).
CLYDEBANK (population 49,651 at 1961). DALMUIR (population6,399
at 1961). CAMBUSLANG (population 18,868 at 1961). GIFFNOCK/ROUKEN
GLEN (population 9,631 at 1961) THORNLIEBANK (population
4,566 at 1961). UDDINGSTON (population 5,317 at 1961). CLARKSTON
(population Saturday, December 31, 2005 8,900 at 1961). BEARSDEN
(population 17,022 at 1961). AUCHENSHUGGLE (population 17,123
at 1961). CARMYLE (population 3,215 at 1961. DUNTOCHER (population
3,054 at 1961). There is also an A3 Tramways System Diagram
Showing Fare Station Numbers |
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More
Glasgow by Tram by Ian Stewart
Published by Scottish Tramway Museum Society 1978.
(This Edition is the Third impression April 1979) Price 95p
On the same theme as its predecessor Glasgow by Tram, More Glasgow
by Tram contains 48 pages and 83 B/W photographs. page 4 contains
a map of the Tramway systems in Glasgow and Neighbourhood. |
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Round Glasgow by Tram
by Ian Stewart
Published by Scottish Tramway Museum Society 1979. Price £1.10
The last of this series (I think) again
48 pages full of B/W photographs of trams and Glasgow street
scenes. |
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Official Street and
Transport Plan City of Glasgow Corporation Transport New
Revised Edition
Published by M. Martin Frame, 2 Woodlands Trerace, Glasgow, C3
Price 2/-
Index to Streets, Transport plan of the
citys motorbus, trolleybus and underground services. |
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A Nostalgic Look at
Glasgow Trams Since 1950 by G H E Twidale and
R F Mack
First Published April 1988, Reprinted July 1988, reprinted May
1989 Price £4.95
This book contains 64 pages and 126 photographs, 4 that are in
colour. On September 2 1962, Glasgow's last schedled trams ran
on service 9, between Dalmuir West and Auchenshuggle, leaving
only a handful of special duties which culminated in the Grand
procession of September 4, when after 64 years of service, the
city's electric trams departed into history. This book provides
a look at Glasgow tramways since 1950, depicting not only the
city centre routes, but also outlying services, such as those
to Airdrie, Paisley, Rutherglen and Milngavie. The majority of
the pictures are published for the first time to illustrate not
just the trams, but also the city itself in the years before
tower blocks and pedestrianisation. |
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Memories of Glasgow's
Tramways 1927 - 1962 by John Barrie
Light Railway Transport League (London Branch) First Published
1971
(This Copy is signed by John Barrie) Price 30p
This booklet contans 24 pages and 15 B/W
photographs and give an account of The System in 1927, Rolling
Stock, Routes, Operation, The 1930's, New Trams and the Empire
Exhibition, Route Numbering, The war Years, Early Post War
Years, The Declining Years, The Final Years, Final and Concusion.
Excellent account of personal experiences and memories.
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Glasgow Corporation Transport Underground
Section RULES AND REGULATIONS revised Edition 1961
This Book contains 172 pages and 6 photographs.and the regulations
for every employee that was employed on the Underground System.
Under the headings of General Rules, Accidents, Rules for Station
Masters, general Rules for Drivers and Conductors, Rules for
Ticket Collectors, Rule for Booking Clerks, Rules for the Engineering
Department and P W Squads, Signals and Telephones and Air Brake
Equipment.
Rule 47. Retention of female staff after marriage. At least 14
days before the date of marriage, Female Staff, getting married
and wishing to be retained in the service of the department after
marriage, must make written application to be retained, address
to the Personnel Department. Not later than 14 days after marriage,
Female Staff so retained must call at the Personnel Department
with their marriage certificate. |
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Glasgow Tramscapes
by Ian Stewart
published by Dianswell Publications 1984 Price £2.25
This book contains 48 pages, 86 B/W and
1 colour photographs. Trams and the city through the years |
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Glasgow Tramway and Railway Rolling Stock
by John A N Emslie
Published by Scottish Tramway Museum Society 1958 Price 2/6d
This booklet contains 28 pages and 32 B/W photographs and is
packed with information on Horse Cars, Tram Cars and the Underground
stock. |
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British Tramways in
Picture 2. GLASGOW by R J S Wiseman BA
Published by The Advertiser Press Limited First Edition 1965
Price ?
This book contains 36 pages and 58 B/W photographs. There are
pages containing historical note, routes operated and rolling
stock summary. Only tram numbers and in some instances dates
accompany photographs. |
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British Tramways in
Picture 2. GLASGOW by R J S Wiseman BA
Published by The Advertiser Press Limited 1977 Enlarged Third
Edition Price ?
This enlarge third edition contains 48 pages
and 60 B/W photographs. This edition goes into much more
detail both in the written form and the captions under the
photographs. |
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Glasgow Subway Scenes
by Alistair Stirling & Stanley Leech
Published by A. Stirling 1977 Price 80p
This book contains 32 pages and 66 B/W photographs. The underground
in Glasgow opened on 14 December 1896 and was hauled around the
system by cable. In 1935 it was electrified by which time it
was being run by Glasgow Corporation Transport. This book tries
to capture the atmosphere of the system through the photographs
taken in early 1977.
There is one photograph in
this book that is special to Alice and myself that is on
page 20 of Isa Clark, we both worked with Isa in the mid
60's when we were all conductors in Newlands Garage. Alice
worked on the other side of the shift to me making it difficult
for us to see each other, Isa was on the same shift pattern
as me and she changed shifts with Alice. |
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Glasgow Trams The Twilight Years by Paul
Anderson & W A C Smith
Published by Irwell Press 1998 price £7.95
This book contains 52 pages and 87 B/W photoghraphs, has 9 chapters,
Recollections, The Glasgow Caurs, City Centre, West End, East
End, North Side, South Side, Outer Reaches and Finale. Very informative
with superb photographs |
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City of Glasgow Corporation
Transport OFFICIAL TIME-TABLE
New Edition June 1966
This 93 page gem held the key to a easy
day in the life of a bus conductor if understood by his or
her driver, because this little publication has the time
table for every bus that ran in the city. So read the book
and get behind the one that was supposed to be in front.
It also includes an all route fare stage section. Times of
Buses, Trolley Buses and the Subway. |
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A Century of Glasgow
Tramways by Ian L Cormack MA (To commemorate the Inauguration
of Tramways in Glasgow, 19th August 1872) Published 1972
The Scottish Tramway Museum Society. Price 25p
This Book has 25 pages and starts off with
a brief 5 page 100 year history there are 39 B/W photographs.
A list of the 9 Tramway/Transport Manager 1872 - 1972 .The
book ends with a list of "Corporation Tramways Services Post
1945" |
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The Last Tram by
Charles A Oakley Written for Glasgow Corporation at the closing
of the Tramways System 4th September 1962. Price 10s6d
One Hundred and twenty four pages twenty five chapters detailing
the transport system in Glasgow fron the early 1800's through
the begins of the the Corporation to the last days of the Tramcars.
Well over 60 B/W photographs, drawings and plans. If you are
interested in The Tramway System in Glasgow you
must read this. |
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The Shooglies by George
Lane.1990 Price £4.95
This booklet contains 56 pages of B/W photographs
of old picture postcards of the early 1900’s. A very
good cross-section of views of Glasgow's main streets and
roads that drivers and buses use to this day. |
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Tramways of the Monklands
By Ian L Cormack. 1964 Price7s 6d
The introduction tells us that the first title deed of the Monklands
was the charter by which King Malcolm IV of Scotland gifted the
Monks of Newbattle at Edinburgh Castle in 1160, the extensive
territory now comprising the whole of the present-day parishes
of Old and New Monklands (of which Coatbridge and Ardrie form
part) the designation Monkland presering the name of the original
owners.Seventy six pages and thirty one B/W photographs, five
chapters: Proposed Tramways and the Struggle for Control, The
Airdrie and Coatbridge Tramways Company, The Airdrie and Coatbridge
Tramway Trust, Glasgow Corporation Tramways, The Aftermath.
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British Bus Fleets 20 by Ian Allan
1963 Price 3s 0d
This seventy two page booklet is a complete
guide to the Corporation bus fleet from its beginings till
1963 along with nunerous B/W photographs. It contains the
following chapters. Municiple Transport in Glasgow, Fleet
Numbering System, Body Type and Seating Capasities, Moter
Bus Fleet List 1924 - 1946, Bus and Trolleybus Fleet List
1947 - 1963, Block Registration Numbers for G.C.T. Vehicles,
Summary of Current Fleet, Bus and Trolleybus Garages and
Works, Bus and Trolleybus Services, Night Bus Services, Tramway
Conversion Programme, Tramcar Fleet List, Glasgow Tramcars
Preserved, Underground Stations, Underground Railway Rolling
Stock Fleet List and Abbreviations. |
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Glasgow Trolleybuses
by Brian T Deans 1967 Price 6s 0d
This booklet contains fifty six pages and twenty six B/W photographs.Cover
the period from 1937 till the end of the system in 1967. An excellent
short histor of the Trolleybus in Glasgow. This booklet is not
the complete story, see Glasgow Trolleybuses Supplement see
below. |
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Glasgow Trolleybuses Supplement by Brian
T Deans 1967 Price 3s 0d
This Suppliment starts at page fifty seven and completes the
Trolleybus story which started in Glasgow Trolleybuses see
above.
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Glasgow's Trolleybuses by Brian T Deans 1972
30 page booklet, compliments the two Trolleybus publications
above. Information on expansion and contraction of the trolleybuse
services.
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A Handbook of Glasgow
Tramways by D L Thomson 1962 Price 7s 6d
This one hundred and eight page booklet is a conprehensive guide
to the Tramways System, there is a photographic section in the
centre. Information includes: General Information (Tram Stock),Underground
Rolling Stock, Summarised Rolling Stock List Tramways (with car
colour), List of Tramway Services as at 1924, List of Tramway
Services in Numerical Order (second system numbering), List of
Miscellaneous Service Alterations, Destination Screens,Fare Stages,
List of Tramcar Depots and a page on the Underground.
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City of Glasgow Corporation Transport
Official Time - Table April 1973
This was probably the Last time-table printed for Glasgow
Corporation Transport |
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The Borderlands of Glasgow by T C F
Brotchie
This is an interesting read, journeys by tram discribed in great
detail from the centre of the city to the Borderlands.
"Our City Trams confer no greater service
on the community than that of being within easy reach the
picturesque "Borderlands of Glasgow." There is
much of interest in the Boarderlands, spots historical and
beautiful and one may find pleasure and profit in seeking
them out. Moreover, it is an inexpensive pleasure. A modest
Twopence is the maximum fare to any terminus." |
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The
Glasgow Tramcar by Ian G McM Stewart 1994 Price £16.95p
This one hundred and eighty four page book has probably everything
you ever wanted to know about the Tramway System in Glasgow.
Numerous B/W and colour photographs, diagrams and lists, in all
twenty chapter of some of the best material I have come across.
This publication has been discribed as the bible of the Glasgow
Tramcar, read it and you can see why. |
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Glasgow's Trams The
Glasgow Museum of Transport 1964 Price ?
This is a forty two page booklet full of facts figures and photographs
throughout the Tram age. |
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Glasgow in the Tramway Age by Ronald
W Brash 1975 Price ?
This book is from the series "Then and There" and
is an account of Glasgow in the early 1900's. There are six
chapters headed: Glasgow in 1914, Town Transport During the
Ninteeth Century, The Men in George Square, A Sail Down the
Clydeand The Festive Season. |
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Modern Tramway Vol
28
This booklet has an in depth account of the Glasgow Motor School,
which includes seven B/W Photographs. |
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Transport Development in Glasgow Price
1s 0d
A publication produced by the Light Railway
Transport League in the late 40's or early 50's to try and
persuade the City of Glasgow to transform the Tramways system
into a fast Rapid Transit System. Plenty of fact and figures
on the cost of the existing Tram and Trolleybus Fleets. |
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The Glasgow Subway by David L Thomson
and David E Sinclair 1964 Price 7s 6d
This book has eighty pages cramed full of
ALL you need to know about the Glasgow Subway and more. Cable
driven till the last trains ran on the 28th March 1935, the
first electric service started on the 31 March 1935. |
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Circles Under The Clyde A history of
the Glasgow Underground
By John Wright and Ian Maclean 1997 Price £15.95
I discribed "The Glasgow Subway" above as "ALL
you need to know" well if you want more this is it. Between
these two publications you will find everything there is
to know about this World famous Glasgow Underground (Subway)
System. |
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British Syatem Bus,
Tram and Trolleybus Number 10 Glasgow Buses by Stuart Little
1990 Price £9.50
This is the book that will tell you most if not all you need
to know about Glasgow Corporation Buses. Numerous B/W but mostly
Colour photographs from the Commer No2 reg GB6901 through to
the last of the Leyland Atlanteans. |
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The Twilight Years
of the Glasgow Tram 1998
Featuring over 250 coloured views of slides mostly taken by Douglas
McMillan, selected, prefaced and captioned by Alasdair Turnbull,
with an introduction by Adam Gordon. Price £25.00
An expencive book you might say, but if you want to see excellent
colour photographs of Glasgow Tramcars this has it. Most if not
all of the 250 colour plates were taken by Douglas McMillan (the
collection is now owned by Travel Lens Photographic Mr A Wilson
see my Tramcar Pages) in the 1950's and 60's. |
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Streets of Glasgow by Alan Miller 2004 price £14.99
A superb colletion of tram, tolley and motorbus
colour photographs in this 80 page hard back book. The descriptions
of each photograph is highly detailed for instance "Glasgow
Bridge on 9 November 1963, eight days before it become a
southbound only thourghfare" goes on to discribe the two
GCT buses in detail and concludes "It is also where Michael
Jardine, lead charactor in television's Taggart for several
years, met his end". One of the favouites in my collection,
magic scenes of the city of Glasgow. |
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Glasgow Corporation Transport Motor
Buses An Historical Survey 1969
From the beginings in 1924 with the introdution of the Commer
40 HP single decker with it's solid wheels to the L.A.'s
of 1958 and back to the single decker with the "one-man operated" Leyland
Panthers. Excellent collection of photographs in this publication. |
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Handbook of Glasgow Corporation Motorbuses
1924 - 1972 by Stuart Little 1972 price 65p
The public transport scene in Glasgow in
the early 1900's was dominated by a highly successful and
expanding tramway system operated by the Corporation and
fast becoming world-renowned. Already, however, there were
signs that the new technology in passanger transport in the
shape of the motor omnibus, was about to intrude on the tramcar's
domain. This booklet traces the development of Glasgow Corporation's
motorbus service from its humble beginings in 9th of December
1924, when the first service was inaugurated between Monteith
Row and Maryhill L.M.S. Station, to the comprehensive bus
system which served the city in 1971. |
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Almost 50 Years...But Not Quite by
Stuart Little 1974
This booklet is intended to place on record
the Glasgow Corporation Transport motorbus fleet at the time
of take over by the Greater Glasgow Passanger Transport Executive,
and also to complete the history of the bus services and
vehicles detailed in the pulication "A Handbook of Glasgow
Corporation Transport Motorbuses" published in 1972. |
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Glasgow
Bus Scene by Robert Grieves 1978 Price £1.80
This booklet take a nostagic look at the buses in and around
Glasgow from the 1880's drawn by horse through to 1980 and the
Leyland Atlanteans. It includes not only those buses operated
by Glasgow Corporation Transport but also some of the many operators
which linked the surrounding towns and villages with the city.
64 pages full of interesting B/W photographs and gives readers
an impression of the development of the bus in the city. |
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Glasgow Subway Album
Photographs by George Watson Published by Adam Gordon 2000
Price £10.00
A pictorial look at the Underground (Subway) taken before and
during closier for modernisation. 63 pages full of colour photographs,
clearly showing the delapidated state that the system had been
allowed to fall into.
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Green Goddesses Go East by Ian L Cormack
1st Reprint March 1965
Price 3s 6d
A brief history of the ex-Liverpool Trams
in Glasgow 1953 to 1960. Twenty four pages with seventeen
B/W photographs and a large pull out plan of the Liverpool
Car. |
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Green Goddesses Go East by Ian L Cormack
2nd Reprint August 1976
Price 35p
Similar to the previous reprint though it has different
B/W photographs |
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Official Street and Transport
Plan City fo Glasgow Corporation Transport
Published by M. Martin Frame, 8 India St, Glasgow, C2 Price 1/6d
Gives information on Moterbus, Trollebus and Tram Terminals.
The plan is specially folded so that it may be referred
to without fully unfolding. The Index of Street Name can
be referred to to find Transport Routes and exact location
of any street
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Memories of a Motorman by Ernest Acheson 1991 Price £3.50
The autobigraphy of an Irish transport worker in Glasgow,
Newcastle and New York in 1900. Ernest Acheson moved to Glasgow
in the 1890's from his home in Ireland and worked for Glasgow
Corporation as a "strapper" in Copelawhill Stables cleaning
horses, harnesses etc. There were 80 horse to each of 13 stables.
This book gives a graphic account of life in the working areas
of Glasgow at the time of electrification of the Tramways system.
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Report of the General Manager 1951
Full report on the Transport Department at 1951. General
Manager E R L Fitzpayne wrote this in his introduction in his
report to the Transport Committee in August 1951. |
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Report of the General Manager 1955
Full report on the Transport Department at 1955. General
Manager E R L Fitzpayne wrote this in his introduction
in his report to the Transport Committee in 1954 |
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Glasgow Corporation Tramways map of Glasgow 1922
Map of Glasgow and Neighbourhood showing The Glasgow Corporation
Tramway System of 1922.
The map shows in detail
Glasgow Corporation Tramways in Operation
Glasgow Corporation Tramways Autherised
Glasgow Corporation Tramways (Subways Section)
The extended City boundary is shown by a Purple Line.
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100 Years of Glasgow Transport by Brian
M Longworth 1994 Price £1
100 years of Glasgow Transport from 1894
though to 1994, 14 B/W photographs a brief history through
the years and a fleet list of Strathclyde Buses Ltd June
1994. |
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The Future of Glasgow's Tramways (A
Fresh Approach to an Old Problem) by Light Railway Transport
League 1958
This booklet has 29 page and a number of
B/W photographs. It deals with the General Managers (GCT)
Report of the 26th April 1957. On the report it states "We
had always looked on Glasgow as one of the British tramway
strongholds, but recent events have proved us wrong. We thought
of the Transport Committee as supporters of the railed vehicle
but we read such statements as "the main conclusion is
that the 564 obsolete trams should be replaced by motor buses
or trolleybuses as quickly as possible"...,..."one hesitated
to recommend a complete conversion to diesel-fuelled buses"...and
last but not least..."from a administration point of view
the motor bus makes the managements task easier".. There
follows a stratagy for using Articulated Tramcars using many
continental systems as examples.
Was this statement the first nail in the trolleybuses
coffin? ed |
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Paisley Trams & Buses by A W Brotchie & R
L Grieves 1986
Price £4.50
Paisley Tramway was taken over by GCT on
the 1st August 1923, this pulication details the history
of the Paisley trams and buses from the 1880's through to
the 1920's. There are is a large number of B/W photographs
and a pull-out map showing Paisley Tramways Co Ltd (Horse
Tramway 1885 - 1903) and Paisley District Tramways Company
(Electric Tramway 1904 - 1923). |
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The City of Glasgow Pictorial History
of the Tramcars
9 tiny black and white photos, nothin else......................... |
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Report of the General Manager 1956
Full report on the Transport Department at 1956.
More to Follow |
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Report of the General Manager 1957
Full report on the Transport Department at 1957.
More to Follow |
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Report of the General Manager 1958
Full report on the Transport Department at 1958.
More to Follow |
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Report of the General Manager 1959
Full report on the Transport Department at 1959.
More to Follow |
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Tickets of the Glasgow Underground
by Brian Pask for The Transport Ticket Society 1971
This report has 31 pages with a number of
photcopies of the various tickets used on the Glasgow Underground
from the begining till 1970. A very useful reference manual. |
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The Wearing of the Green by William
M Tollan 2000
Price £12
96 pages, GCT tramways through the eyes
of the "GreenStaff" also includes a large number of colour
and B/W photographs. Appendix 2 Extracts from GCT Traffic
Circulars all worth a read.. |
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Glasgow Corporation Transport Rules and
Regulation for Depot and Garage Clerks Issued April 1933 |
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Glasgow Corporation Transport Rules and
Regulation for Trolleybus Section Revised Edition 1957 |
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Glasgow Corporation Transport Road Vehicles
StatutaryRules and Orders |
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Glasgow Corporation Transport Map of
Bus Routes May 1938
Contains map of Bus, Tram and Underground routes along with
time tables see below
1938
Glasgow Corporation Transport Bus Time Table
1938
Glasgow Corporation Transport Tram Time Table
1938
Glasgow Corporation Transport Underground Time Table |
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More Glasgow by Tram by Ian Stewart May
1977 Price 85p
48 pages full of B/W photographs of Glasgow street and Trams.
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Glasgow Corporation Transport The Ominibus Society
May 1986
84 pages that include 16 B/W photographs, comprehensive coverage
of Glasgow Corporations Motorbus, Trolleybus and Service fleets. |
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Report of the General Manager 1949
Full report on the Transport Department at 1949.
More to Follow |
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Shooglies 2 by George Lane 1992 Price £5.40
This booklet contains 52 pages of B/W photographs of old picture
postcards of the early 1900’s. As The
Shooglies (see
above) a very good cross-section of views of Glasgow's main
streets and roads that drivers and buses use to this day.
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Jubilee of the Glasgow Tramways 1872 - 1922
110 page contains a few B/W photographs and
various account that were written over the 50 year period. |
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Motorbus Services Fare Tables 12th October 1969
Contains all bus services and the fare stages
that were in operation at the above date. |
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Glasgow Trams 40 Years On by Ian Stewart
(2002)
Price £9.95
Contains 48 pages, packed with information and a wide
variety of tram picture and the landscape of Glasgow.
"The Glasgow tramway system was second in size only to London's
but much more coherent and integrated. It was the last of the
first generation of city systems in Great Britain to survive
and, while it was on its knees at the end, due to reduced or,
even, abandoned maintenance, it still commanded a tremendous
affection from those it served for nine decades."
"This book attemps to show some of the reasonswhy this was so."
Ian Stewart
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The Glasgow Horse Tramways
by Struan Jno.
T. Robertson (2000) Price £8.95
72 pages on the Horse Tram System in Glasgow.
This publication could be discribed as the difinitive work
of the Glasgow Horse Tramways, read it and you can see why.
14 chapters from "The Begining to Motive Power". |
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The Wee Book of Glasgow Trams by Tom Noble
Price
£5.99
96 pages containing 45 B/W pictures.
INTRODUCTION
This book makes no attempt to be a history of the Glasgow tramcar. Instead, it
is a reflection on how the tramcar has become a vehicle for nostalgia - an image
associated with an era that has gone, a lifestyle that is but a memory and a
cityscape that has vanished under concrete and tarmac. The pictures come from
the extensive photographic archives of The Herald, Sunday
Herald and Evening Times, held at their Glasgow offices. They have been selected to capture not
only
the chronology of the Glasgow trams but also the life and times of the people
who worked on the cars and used them on a daily basis.
Tom Noble
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Glasgow in the age of the Tram, 1950-62 by Brian
Patton Price £16.99
More than 170 photographs of Glasgow
and its suburbs during the last decade of tram operation
in the city.
On 1 July 1894 Glasgow Corporation's new horse trams took to the streets of the
city, replacing those of the former private operator, and thus was inaugurated
68 years of excellent service to citizensand visitors alike before the final
abandonment in September 1962. Glaswegians took the trams to their hearts, and
even now have not forgotten them, even though long superseded by the trolleybuses,
municipal motor buses and today's private operators that replaced them. First
published more than 10 years ago as Another Nostalgic Look at Glasgow Trams,
this selection of photographs, most taken by the author, paints an evocative
portrait of the city's streets, shopping areas and suburbs before the influence
of private cars and motorways destroyed much of our urban environment. |
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Report of the General Manager 1950
Full report on the Transport Department at 1950.
More to Follow |
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History of The Glasgow Tramway & Omnibus Company Limited 1894
From its foundation in 1871 till 1894. Issued to the shareholders under the authority of the companys board of directors.
see full text here |
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Bless Up 2010 by C. R. House
Price £5 from http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=68411 or Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com
This book is about the origin of a scientist, born into unpromising conditions in Glasgow. Raised by his divorced mother, the author witnessed her hardship and the appalling effects of multiple sclerosis on three family members. Set against those tragedies were the uplifting examples of generosity and humour of fellow Glaswegians. This account charts the course of the author's education at school and university. At school he underwent a dramatic shift from laziness to diligence, the spur being a drive to offset his mother's suffering from divorce. It was a shift that also shaped his academic future.
Running in parallel with the author's school and university education was a train of lowly jobs starting at the age of twelve. He learned valuable lessons about human nature as a dishwasher, barman and tram conductor. Indeed, the value of those lessons outdid and outlasted the academic benefits of his lectures at Glasgow University.
The theme of this book is that we are often stamped by the others we meet. And those "others" are usually unaware of the unending influence they create in our lives. Sometimes minor events lodge in our memory with their allied emotional tones bringing good or ill. Examples in this book illustrate the paradox that now and again the absence of someone, who should be in your life, has a more profound effect than the presence of most people in your daily life. And those absentees may be totally unaware of their significance.
The title and chapter headings come from the author's life in Grenada in the West Indies. Grenada, however, is not discussed in the book but its benign influence on the author is there between the lines in his writing.
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