THE GLASGOW UNDERGROUND (Known as 'THE SUBWAY')

This layout depicts the Glasgow Underground as running December 1992 with a
reasonably accurate timetable for a weekday service.

This is a very small BAHN340 Layout which will work well on a small/ low
powered 286 PC or better.

HISTORY

The system was opened in 1896 as the Glasgow District Subway. It was taken
over by Glasgow Corporation Tramways (Owned by the City Council). Originally
cable hauled, 'The Subway' was electrified in 1935. It's now run by
Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive.

The original cars were 4-wheeled when constructed. To move the trains, the
driver engaged a 'gripper' on to the moving cable. I'm told that the
acceleration was alarming if 'the knot' was gripped! All stations were of
island platform type, open lattice gates - some cars later had sliding doors
- were provided on the platform side only. Lighting for the carswas provided
by electricity, supplied by means of two continuous brass strips on the
offside wall, at mid-window level. At the time of electrification, pairs of
the original cars were combined and placed on bogies, then combined into two
car trains. These cars lasted until 1977. Curiously, and uniquely, the
separately powered lighting system was retained, and until modernisation, it
was (probably) the only fifth rail system ever!

Another curiosity of this railway (before modernisation) was that there were
no points (switches) on the two circuits of track. Cars were lifted or
lowered by crane between the tracks and the depot above! So adept were the
staff at handling this process that they could cope with the augmentation and
reduction of trains at the peak hours without disruption. Glasgow is no mean
city! (I confess - I'm a native Keelie)

The system was extensively modernised and re-equipped with new stock in
1977-80, together with a completely new, conventionally connected, depot at
Broomloan Road, Govan. At the time of its reopening, there was an attempt to
impose a new nickname on the line, 'The Clockwork Orange'. (based on the car
livery) This never really caught on. The system was, and always will be 'The
Subway'.

Whilst there have occasionally been suggestions about doing so, the system
has never been extended. The odd gauge, and the very restricted 10ft 6in
tunnel diameter have seen to that.

Of 4ft 0in gauge, 600V DC with outside third rail, the Glasgow Underground is
the only tube railway in the UK outside London. Unlike the London system,
which uses cast-iron segments, most of the tunnel linings are of brick.

Comments and suggestions welcomed. This ZIP archive may be freely distributed
provided all the files supplied are present and that they remain unaltered.

 Iain Logan
 2 Frances St.
 Langholm,
 Dumfriesshire,
 Scotland DG13 0BQ

 +44 13873 81046
 iainlogan@enterprise.net
 <http://homepages.enterprise.net/iainlogan/>

August 1995.

Notes revised, icon and system map added May 1996.
