TRANSPORTATION
The earliest mode of transportation was horse-drawn, and this included the wooden track railways of the late 18th and early 19th century. Several of these existed locally, including one from the Barrowfield coal workings to a depot in Broad St. Conventional railways developed from this time and by the end of the century were seen as a cheap means of public transport. Workers from the east end could be carried to the new industries being established in the west of the city. Many companies in suburban locations had their own railway sidings.
1896 saw the construction of stations by the Glasgow Central Railway at Dalmarnock, Glasgow Green and Bridgeton Cross. The North British Railway Co. built their Bridgeton Cross terminal in 1892, which was later to become Bridgeton Central. This station is now closed and derelict. GCR's Bridgeton Cross Station closed in 1964 but has recently been re-opened, along with Dalmarnock station, as part of the new Argyle Line.
118) The last tram procession through Bridgeton Cross on 4th September, 1962. Many people created their own souvenirs of the occasion by placing pennies on the lines for the trams to run over.
119) Bridgeton Central Station in London Rd.
120) Tram in Springfield Rd which has "jumped" the rails, 1958.
121) The last tram procession moving west along London Rd.
The suburban railways encountered a rival in the tramway system which was soon to displace them as an economic option for the transportation of people.
A horse drawn omnibus service had operated between Barrowfield Toll and Anderston as early as 1845, but it was not until after the Tramways Act of 1870 that the trams became a significant feature in transport. From 1871-94 the Glasgow Tramway and Omnibus Company Ltd developed the system under lease from the Corporation. The local authorities had always regretted this arrangement and after that period the city itself took over the operation. In doing so it had to duplicate the provisions of the Company which had refused to sell its assets to the Corporation.
Electrification of the lines was gradually introduced from 1898 until the last horse drawn car was withdrawn in 1902. The trams thrived and became immensely popular, but by the 1950s they were increasingly replaced by buses and were eventually withdrawn from service in September, 1962. This event was commemorated by a procession of trams through the city.
122) Dalmarnock Depot in Ruby St which was badly damaged by fire in 1961.
123) Bridgeton Garage opened in 1965 to replace the Tram Depot.