Does anyone know any interesting Facts about North Clyde Line (Scotrail)?

[Scotrail12]

Hello everyone.
As you may know, Geoff Marshall has done a series of videos about the secrets of the London Underground and I have a question:
Does anyone living along the North Clyde Line have any interesting secret facts about this line.
Thanks and Merry Christmas!

 

[37 418]

The short section containing Dumbarton East and Bowling comes from a different railway (North British) to the sections either side (Caledonian) IIRC.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

The new electric 'Blue Trains' were (temporarily) replaced by steam locos and old coaching stock in December 1960.

At first, the electrified line changed from 25KV to 6.25KV for the Queen Street Low level section which started between the then Partickhill Station and Charing Cross and finished between Belgrove and Carntyne IIRC.
Passengers in the middle coach near the guard's compartment became used to the substantial thump from the circuit breakers as the the power was disconnected at one voltage and then reconnected a few seconds later at the other. See http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=54656 for more details and the link to the accident report.

In later years, the 6.25KV scection became unnecessary.

 

[Railsigns]

The short section containing Dumbarton East and Bowling comes from a different railway (North British) to the sections either side (Caledonian) IIRC.

It's the other way round (a bit of ex-Caledonian in the middle of a mainly ex-NBR system). Also, a short section of the route west of Bowling was opened by BR in 1960.

The milepost mileages on the short ex-CR section happen to be almost exactly 100 miles higher than the NBR portions on either side.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The signal boxes at Hyndland and Dumbarton, opened in 1960, were the first in Scotland to have entrance-exit (NX) control panels.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The line east of Singer station was diverted to make space for the Singer sewing machine factory (which once had six terminal platforms for workers' trains).

 

[me123]

At first, the electrified line changed from 25KV to 6.25KV for the Queen Street Low level section which started between the then Partickhill Station and Charing Cross and finished between Belgrove and Carntyne IIRC.

There's still neutral sections at those locations.

I used to commute regularly over the East End of the line, and there are a few interesting remnants of the line's history that are still visible. For example:
Airdrie station has a sign proudly announcing Yoker resignalling. Which was undertaken in the late 1980s.
There's still evidence of sidings at Airdrie that have now been removed. There used to be four adjacent to Platform 1, now there's just one siding. The other three are now the station's car park.
You can see where the now closed line to Hamilton would have diverged just to the East of Shettleston.
You can also see the diverging line to the old Bridgeton Central station immediately to the East of High Street.

 

[Carntyne]

There's still neutral sections at those locations.

I used to commute regularly over the East End of the line, and there are a few interesting remnants of the line's history that are still visible. For example:
Airdrie station has a sign proudly announcing Yoker resignalling. Which was undertaken in the late 1980s.
There's still evidence of sidings at Airdrie that have now been removed. There used to be four adjacent to Platform 1, now there's just one siding. The other three are now the station's car park.
You can see where the now closed line to Hamilton would have diverged just to the East of Shettleston.
You can also see the diverging line to the old Bridgeton Central station immediately to the East of High Street.

I haven't been past Yoker IECC on the trackside for a wee while, is the Strathclyde Transport sign still there for the opening too?

 

[Agent_c]

The tunnel between Charring Cross and Partick is older than the subway.

 

[Railsigns]

It was the first line in Scotland to be electrified with OLE.

The following signal boxes on the line were destroyed by fire: Ardmore West, Cardross, Garngad and Camlachie.

The eastern part of the line passes the sites of numerous railway scrapyards.

Queen Street Low Level station used to have four platforms.

Bowling features in one of Terence Cuneo's paintings. Signal number BW52, which is prominent in the painting, has since been preserved.

 

[me123]

I haven't been past Yoker IECC on the trackside for a wee while, is the Strathclyde Transport sign still there for the opening too?

I think so. I didn't venture West of Hyndland too frequently I'm afraid, and haven't been out that way for a good few years.

 

[Carntyne]

I think so. I didn't venture West of Hyndland too frequently I'm afraid, and haven't been out that way for a good few years.

I'll see if I can snap a photo when I'm over there soon.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

You can see where the now closed line to Hamilton would have diverged just to the East of Shettleston.

Pic here. The signal box is gone, but that is still the location of the Shettleston loop which is in daily use.

You can also see the diverging line to the old Bridgeton Central station immediately to the East of High Street.

Getting a bit overgrown these days. Pic here.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Although I am ineligible to enter, not being a resident along the line, I'd offer that Drumry was probably the first new station to open in Scotland under BR, on 6 April 1953.

 

[Scotrail12]

Although I am ineligible to enter, not being a resident along the line, I'd offer that Drumry was probably the first new station to open in Scotland under BR, on 6 April 1953.

No, anyone can share facts, regardless of whether they live along there or not.

Keep the facts coming. These are interesting. I have some other ones between Charing X and Blairhill.

 

[37 418]

It's the other way round (a bit of ex-Caledonian in the middle of a mainly ex-NBR system). Also, a short section of the route west of Bowling was opened by BR in 1960.

The milepost mileages on the short ex-CR section happen to be almost exactly 100 miles higher than the NBR portions on either side.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The signal boxes at Hyndland and Dumbarton, opened in 1960, were the first in Scotland to have entrance-exit (NX) control panels.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
The line east of Singer station was diverted to make space for the Singer sewing machine factory (which once had six terminal platforms for workers' trains).

Ah, I couldn't remember which way round it was

 

[Taunton]

The Singer sewing machine factory had its own private terminus station, on the opposite side of Kilbowie Road from the still open Singer public station, facing towards Glasgow. Its four platforms were electrified for the Blue Trains in 1960 and it was the only electrified private station in Britain.

 

[delt1c]

It was the first line in Scotland to be electrified with OLE.

The following signal boxes on the line were destroyed by fire: Ardmore West, Cardross, Garngad and Camlachie.

The eastern part of the line passes the sites of numerous railway scrapyards.

Queen Street Low Level station used to have four platforms.

Bowling features in one of Terence Cuneo's paintings. Signal number BW52, which is prominent in the painting, has since been preserved.

never knew QS low level had 4 platforms at one time, anyone got diagrams.

 

[Railsigns]

The Singer sewing machine factory had its own private terminus station, on the opposite side of Kilbowie Road from the still open Singer public station, facing towards Glasgow. Its four platforms were electrified for the Blue Trains in 1960 and it was the only electrified private station in Britain.

It had six platforms.

 

[matchmaker]

Electrified services started before the panel box at Dumbarton opened, so for the first few months trains in that area were controlled by Absolute Block and semaphore signalling.

One 303 unit (035) had different doors to the rest - it had Dean doors which opened in the same way as modern plug doors. The other units had Peters doors which were conventional sliding doors.

 

[PaulLothian]

never knew QS low level had 4 platforms at one time, anyone got diagrams.

Easily found in the National Library of Scotland map pages. Start with http://maps.nls.uk/towns/#glasgow

 

[Scotrail12]

I travel between Charing X and Blairhill each day, so here are some of my facts.
Charing X- Deepest station on the Line (56 stairs to platforms, I've counted!).
Charing X- There is also a plaque here of the early history of the line.
Queen St- Plaque commemorating the electrification of the Line.
High St- Only station in the City Centre of Glasgow where you can get in without going thru a ticket barrier.
Bellgrove- Why is it an island platform?- What about the doubled up tunnel.
Carntyne- It has no stairs at all. Just ramps to both platforms.
Shettleston- Couldn't really find anything here.
Garrowhill- Most entrances and exits in different directions. One to the top right with the ticket office and footbridge, one to the left from the EB platform and one to the bottom right at the WB platform.
Garrowhill- The building under the bridge and adjacent to the ticket office looks like an old lift. Could it have been an old lift?
Not much about Easterhouse, except a little train on the WB platform.
Blairhill- Nothing much, but it is undergoing a refurb.
A sneaky bonus too:
Coatdyke- You may see an empty space on the WB platform. This is where the old ticket office used to be which was burned down. I think this happened in the 1990's?

 

[matchmaker]

Bellgrove- Why is it an island platform?- What about the doubled up tunnel

High Street to Bellgrove used to be 4 track. There were extensive goods yards on both sides.

 

[PaulLothian]

Bellgrove- Why is it an island platform?- What about the doubled up tunnel.

I always assumed that it was designed this way to allow easy interchange between services from the east side and those heading up to Springburn, which would otherwise required a lot of running over bridges!

 

[PaxVobiscum]

High Street to Bellgrove used to be 4 track. There were extensive goods yards on both sides.

Where Buffalo Bill and his show arrived in 1891. (I kid you not.)