A second image from the last year of Glasgow Corporation Tramways features in this week’s “Picture in Time”.
The trams still seem to be popular if this image taken on Argyle Street in the centre of Glasgow is to be believed. There’s a queue of people waiting to board 1389 with the lady at the back of the line seemingly intrigued by the fact that someone is taking a photo of what is probably to her just an everyday occurrence.
1389 was one of 100 Cunarder trams built in their own workshops between 1948 and 1952. It survived until the final year but would not be lucky enough to enter preservation and in fact only two of the class would do. They were 1297 (Crich) and 1392 (Riverside).
As well as the tram this is another image which gives so much social history. From the cars of the period lining the side of the streets to the fashions of the day as well as businesses, many of which are now but distant memories.
Photograph by Tony Stevenson, 1962
This image was taken in St. Vincent Street, not Argyle Street. The tram is about to turn south into Renfield Street, then into Union Street, cross Argyle Street and head for Coplawhill Car Works which as far south as the wires by then went.
Enlarging the image reveals a Crossly bodied BUT 9613T trolleybus beyond the tram about to turn right out of St Vincent Street into West Nile Street on the 105 or 107 routes. It can be seen that there are no tram wires crossing the trolleybus wires at that point.
The absence of tram wires further along St Vincent Street dates the image as after 6.11.1960 and before closure in September 1962. The blinds are blank and by the look of the intending passengers it looks like a STMS, LRTL or private tour of what was left of the system.
Thank you, Hugh. It’s amazing, how much information a knowledgable local can extract from one small monochrome photo!