Subway car no.4
Glasgow subway car No. 4, 1896 T.1985.15.a
"Close on 400 people jammed like herring in a box."
Complaint letter to Glasgow District Subway Company, 1906, from Circles under the Clyde.
Comment by Jack Withers
Ur ye sure we’re oan the right line? In which direction ur we moving? Dead straight, though bent. Like light. Curved, eventually circular.
Darling round and round we go, round and round we go…
Always the same it is, nothing chynges. Fed up wi’it ah hum.
From: J. Withers,"Somewhere between St George’s Cross & Hillhead on the Underground"
Comment by Rosemary Watt
It was April 1980 and I had a real sense of anticipation about my first journey on the modernised Subway. I wasn’t too keen on the orange, cream and brown colour scheme as I’d always loved the wood and period decoration of the old carriages but I was curious to see what changes there were to our journey. We soon found out! Travelling from Hillhead to Cowcaddens, as we approached the first station – Kelvinbridge - everyone in the carriage leant instinctively towards the direction of travel – bracing ourselves for the lurch and shooglie judder as the train stopped. Nothing…the stop was smooth and totally lurch free…we all pretended not to notice as we sat up straight again, as if leaning to the side in unison were the most natural thing to do.
From: Rosemary Watt
Comment by J Teal
1st trip on the clockwork orange in 1990 on a visit to the Botanics. So much to take in: a big dark hole waiting to spot the train lights, students with weird hairdos, scratchy seats - great experience! Love the clips from the "olden days"
From: J Teal
Comment by L Kenney
Moving from a small town to Glasgow, taking the underground remained a novelty for a long time and always reinforced the sense that we were now real city dwellers!
From: L Kenney
Question by Glasgow Museums
Do you remember your first journey on the modernised subway? Maybe you think it needs modernised again? Has the subway ever inspired you to write poetry?
Eyewitness by Alistair Kyle
My first journey on the "new" Subway was from Bridge St to StEnoch via Govan, the day it opened. First thing was the entrance at Bridge St was at the other end of the patform. There was the usual roar and rush of air then this shiny orange train appeared whistling as it entered the station.It was packed with workers form the town. The journey was so much smoother and noticably quicker than the old system. Anyone who experienced the old system will tell you it's still a lot better, but after 30 years it could do with serious money being spent again so it doesn't end up it the state it was pre modernisation.
Eyewitness from: The Bailie, November 1900
It was a melancholy wait. No one spoke. An irritable old gent paced up and down impatiently. But in a few minutes the welcome lights came gliding up the lane and the guard stepped off. We scrambled in, jostling each other in our haste …There was plenty of room inside and a choice of seats. But as the tobacco fumes from the carriage behind were wafting through at every stoppage, I went up to the far end, near the door, preferring the draught to the nicotine.
From: The Bailie, November 1900
Eye Witness by Alistair Kyle
I used the Subway when I started work in 1975, not long before it was modernised. By then it was in a pretty run down state. Stations were filthy as they hadn't been painted for years. The trains were still clean but were clapped out. They creaked shook as they ran along (they were wooden) and the lights flickered on and off. The motor cars were frequently closed off for repairs. The carriages could only be taken off the rails by a crane & service had to be stopped for a few minutes, so they tried to keep them running. But it did have character. The staff got to know you and after a couple of days knew the regulars with Transcards and never checked your tickets again. The man in the newspaper stall at St Enoch kept the latest edition of the "Times" under the counter for his regulars. Eventually there were too many problems and it became unreliable, frequently operating shuttles and people drifted away. It closed early when the roof at Govan cracked, so we never got a chance to say cheerio to it properly.
From: Alistair Kyle
Eye Witness by Alistair Kyle
Another thing I used the Subway for was football. Copland Rd station had a small island platform, like Bridge St still has, and after a match it was mobbed, no crowd control. How no one ever fell off was amazing. Every inch of the train was packed. The crew shoved passengers through the doors, like you see in Japan. It was a squeeze for the guard to get on and close the doors. Some bams even tried to run their hands along the tunnel walls through the trellis gates. I've even seen the drivers cab full. It's not as bad now, crowd control, 3 carriages and 2 platforms at Ibrox. Wish the same could be said for Rangers.
From: Alistair Kyle
Eyewitness by Iain
I remember the old subway well.The smell was the lingering memory.That musty slightly stale aroma.I thought i could bottle it and sell it to Americans. I remember saying to my mum not to rush for a train that was already in.I was always scared of the doors shutting on me.Two other thoughts. Getting oil on your clothes from the gate on the rear carriage.And the stairs at Buchanan Street.I don't think i could manage them now!
From: Iain
