GLASGOW'S DISUSED RAILWAYS - High street to Bridgeton Central, driver's cab view return journey 1983
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 พ.ย. 2020
- By Douglas Thomson
An ultra-rare silent 8mm movie I shot in 1983 of the entire route, in both directions, of the now-long-dismantled High Street to Bridgeton Central terminus one-mile branch line, which had already closed to passengers in 1979 when a new Bridgeton Station was finished on the re-opened Argyle Line.
This footage was shot from the driver's cab of an original EMU class 303 Blue Train. First up is a few scenes at Hyndland Station, then some cab footage entering Queen Street (low level) Station, before the unedited footage at High Street Station begins to and from Bridgeton Central.
Look out, in both directions, for the even rarer Gallowgate Central Station platforms which had closed way back in 1917 and, on the return journey, twin tunnels of the disused connecting branch that once joined the still-existing "cross-rail" line over the Clyde to connect up the city's south-side rail network.
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I remember taking this one not realising it would soon be gone. It was well used. Surely they could have kept it open giving Argyle line passengers a route to Queen Street. But now it's built over. I'd forgotten how many platforms there were at Bridgeton, almost a mini-depot.
My father, Allan Stewart, was stationmaster at Bridgeton Central over the period of electrification from about 1958 to 1962. It was still steam operation when we moved there (from Armadale, West Lothian) mostly ex-LNER 2-6-4 tanks if I remember correctly. The Station House was a huge flat over the station entrance looking over London Road (still with trams running) at the front and the station tracks at the rear. Electrification was an exciting time. I loved watching the 'Blue Trains' going through the washing plant which you catch a glimpse of in the film on the left as the train enters the station. I feel it was a mistake to close Bridgeton Central completely though it was excessive once the Bridgeton Cross station re-opened on the sub-surface line from Glasgow Central. Simplification of the layout to a single platform unmanned station with 2 tracks would have been a sensible and worthwhile part of the network.
From Bridgeton we moved to Motherwell as Dad's next station - very different as a major stop on the West Coast mainline then followed by Area Manager at Carstairs.
An excellent quality 8mm film and a first class transfer to video. Thank you for this one.
Great footage. 6:45 this area has been cleared of shrubs recently and today when passing out of High Street station you can clearly see the huge retaining wall and tunnel entrance.
Thank you...fabulous
What a fascinating series of videos you have produced. I salute your foresight. Glasgow had an extremely interesting network, perhaps only exceeded by London. When l finally had money to travel my mate Steve and l travelled to Glasgow to sample the Blue Trains. We rode around and made it High Street-if only we had know! Bridgeton Central cries out to be modelled! Thanks again, Tom
Just how I remembered the 303. I loved them. My first time on one was 1976 when I was taken for a day at the beach in Helensburgh by my mom and stepdad (I was living in Cranhill, Glasgow) , and then my God mother, Mrs Leckie from Carntyne. I moved to just outside Cardross in 1979 and lived right next to the railway line (between Cardross and Dumbarton (Dalreoch) in a little place called Ardoch. They would pass the house, going back and forth like clockwork (every 20 mins or so) . The 303 would make engine noises when they stood still and the doors opened. The blue train (303) first started service when steam trains were still on the go and ran right up until 2002 (but were mostly phased out by then).
Some excellent inspiration and research stuff for a small suburban model railway layout set in/around late 60s and early 70s Glasgow I'm planning but equally (more?) fascinating to see all that old infrastructure.
Looks very unloved even back then. So sad. Thanx for sharing.
From 1949-55 I was a wee boy living on the top floor at 583, London Road: I had an orange box on which I could stand and look down on to the station, and all its comings and goings. By the 1970s I worked in Glasgow Railway Control and often had responsibility for the North EMU desk which looked after the network.
We had quite a transport system back in day.........
I love this, I have always wanted to find footage or photographs of these tunnels when they were active.
I was recently exploring Glasgow's old railways and managed to get access to this old route. Extremely fascinating, completely bare, only a few remnants of the past. Parts of the open air where the bridges are now full of fly-tipped rubbish piling up and also some parts of the old platforms nearer the Gallowgate is completely over-grown. The tunnel on the left before coming under the High Street Line has been caved in as the Morrisons car park is now built on top of it at Barrack Street. How-ever the other tunnel is still open to explore further up to the High Street live line but has been bricked off just before it curves round to connect to the High Street Station. I believe this is to strengthen the already existing line.
Please be caution of live tracks and services and please treat the railway with respect when near it and don't play with trains unless OO gauge ;)
Brilliant . Thanks for sharing that .
My old playground. Didn't realise that the line to Bridgeton Central was still active in 1983.
Only for storing stock in 1983, as the station had closed to passengers in 1979 when the new one re-opened on the Argyle Street line
Brilliant thanks for sharing this!
I started at Helensburgh in 1979. Worked into Brig'ton often. I might be a guard on one of these trains. Check out RETB Corrour. That's me. Went to Queen St. In 85.
Wow. Astonishing footage.
I used to pass through High Street on the way out to Easterhouse (mid 1990's) and I often wonder what was down there.
excellent archive footage👍 of what it use to be is there any chance you can make a video of what it is like now 🤔
Almost nothing to see remains today, Barry - the ramp at High Street is completely filled in, and Bridgeton station site is fully built over. A small scan of the route on Google Maps will reveal a couple of overgrown trackbed evidences between the blocked off tunnels, but that's all I'm afraid. Even a short video would be pointless to make..
The only remaining part of Bridgeton Central station is the frontage on London Road. The station entrance and offices are now Bridgeton Express newsagents. There are 2 big flats above the entrance arches, one of which (the right hand one, 601 London Road) was the Station House where I lived from 1958-62 when my father was Station Master there. I notice there's a For Sale sign above the street door when the street view image was taken. That was the period of changeover from steam to electric operation and the final years of the trams outside. It shows up pretty well on Google maps Streetview. Other than that there is little to see now, I'm afraid.
I was wondering if I could use part of this video (or share the link) in a description section of a geocaching page?
Yes that's fine you can use it.
At 2.53 there seems to be a tunnel on the left. Do you know what line that might have been?
There was a line went round the corner to join the City Union route near St.Enoch.
known as the St John's Tunnel went under Morrisons carpark & Hunter St then joined the City Union line
Le RER de Glasgow.
So much infrastructure, just wasted.