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Events General News

100 years of Glasgow Corporation Motorbuses

We’re celebrating the centenary of the introduction of motorbuses by Glasgow Corporation Transport in 1924 with a special parade through the streets of Glasgow.

Buses were initially introduced to provide feeder services to the city’s massive tram network.  The first route ran from Greendyke Street to Maryhill, starting on Monday 8th December 1924.  In its first week over 46,000 passengers were carried. It had originally been planned to run the first service from Bridgeton Cross to Partick. The first buses were based at Parkhead tram depot in the east end.

Here’s the plan…

The main event will be a cavalcade of Glasgow buses through the years, from earliest days to present day, parading through Glasgow, starting at Glasgow Green (Greendyke Street), through the city centre and west end before finishing at Riverside Museum where the vehicles will go on display on the museum forecourt.

The route is proposed to go from Greendyke St, then right Saltmarket, through Glasgow Cross, left Ingram St, right South Frederick St, left George Sq south, St Vincent Pl, St Vincent St, Argyle St, Dumbarton Rd, through Partick, left Beith St, over the Expressway, left onto Castlebank St, right into Riverside Museum. 

The parade will feature as many former Glasgow buses as we can muster.  It will feature 111, the oldest surviving Glasgow bus from 1928, leading the parade with other vehicles then following in date order.  We are hoping that representatives of today’s First Glasgow’s fleet will bring up the rear.

The date for the parade has been set as Saturday 3rd August. We hope you can find a favourite vantage point en-route to vitness this spectacle!

The approximate timings for the event are as follows:

•1030 – assemble at Glasgow Green near the People’s Palace
•1100 – ‘Le grand depart’ of the parade from Glasgow Green.
•Glasgow Cross
•George Square
•St Vincent Street
•Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum
•Riverside Museum
•1145 – arrival at Riverside (assuming no delays or interruptions).

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Events General News Open Days

Darth Vader to open Family Day

The Force is sure to be with you at a top event that’s out of this world.

Darth Vader will open Family and Community Day at Bridgeton Bus Garage on Sunday, July 30, writes Ed Bonner.

Supported by troopers from Star Wars Imperial Scottish Garrison, the Dark Lord will cut the ribbon with his lightsaber before the Michael Brawley Big Band raise the roof with the first of two swinging sets, featuring singer Sonja Smith.

Hosted by Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust, other attractions include 130 classic buses, lorries and fire appliances, military and emergency services displays, Unwanted Scooter Club, veteran cycles, Paint-a-Bus, Clippies Café, face painting and model buses.

Free vintage bus services will run from the garage to the city centre and Kelvingrove Museum, where the Trust has an exhibition.

GVVT trustee Ed Bonner said: “Family Day is an opportunity to see our vehicles and restoration work, and have fun.

“It had a record attendance of 1500 last year, and with Star Wars headlining and the band playing two extended one-hour sets, we hope to welcome even more visitors this time.”

Family Day: 11am-4.30pm. Admission: £5 adults, £3 concessions, £12 families. Pre-book online at the GVVT website or pay at the door (cards accepted). Enter by Broad Street.

Pictures: Gavin Macqueen Photography

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Events Open Days

Family Day: Strike up the band!

Come on down to Bridgeton Bus Garage on Sunday, July 30 for a BIG day with BIG sound.

The Michael Brawley Big Band return by huge popular demand for their third Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust Family & Community Day, this time extending to two one-hour sets and featuring singer Sonja Smith, writes Ed Bonner.

Performing solely to raise money for well-meaning and worthy causes, the band has donated more than £50,000 to charity.

Trumpet player Gary Mitchell, said: “The big band sound is spectacular. You can’t beat live music.

“Our set will feature funk and soul hits as well as big band classics. There will be plenty to dance to. We’re looking forward to raising the roof.”

Musical buses … band members Olivia Calder and Gary Mitchell at Bridgeton Garage
Musical buses … band members Olivia Calder and Gary Mitchell at Bridgeton Garage

Family Day is from 11am to 4.30pm, with the band performing 12 noon-1pm and 2pm-3pm.Other attractions include 

Star Wars Imperial Scottish Garrison, Paint-a-Bus, military and emergency services displays, Unwanted Scooter Club, veteran cycles, face painting and model buses.

Free bus service to city centre and Kelvingrove Museum, where GVVT has an exhibition.

Admission: adult £5, senior £3, family £12. Book online or pay at the door (cards accepted).

More details on our website – we hope you can join us for a great day!

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Events General News Open Days

Never too young!

You’re never too young to enjoy Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust and Amelia Harwood is proof.

The 14-month-old with a smile as large as a double-decker has taken her first bus ride…on a vehicle 61 years her senior, writes Ed Bonner.

Little Amelia rode the Big L, 1961 Leyland Titan L446, at the recent Shawlands Pop-Up, which featured six vehicles from Bridgeton Bus Garage on display and operating free services.

With uncle and GVVT member Jonathan Harwood at the wheel of the Corpy, it was a family day out for Amelia.

And she’s welcome to have another on July 30 when GVVT hosts Family & Community Day with Star Wars characters, the Michael Brawley Big Band, military and emergency services displays, scooters, paint-a-bus, free bus rides and a host of other attractions. Doors open 11am-4.30pm. More details and to book in advance online at gvvt.org/open-sundays

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Events General News Open Days

Event dates for 2023

We’re delighted to release the dates for our events in 2023, including our popular Open Sundays, Guided Tours, West End Bus Fest and Annual Open Weekend. Please see our Events Page for more details.

2022 has been one of our most successful years ever, with more visitors to Bridgeton Bus Garage and riding on our buses than ever before! We’ve also visited and supported more local carnivals, festivals and community events with vehicles from our collection! Let’s make 2023 even better!

If you’re having a local community event that you think we could be involved with, please drop us an email with more details.

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Events General News

New Family Friendly Guided Tour Option

Due to the phenomenal success of our guided tours we are now offering a family friendly version our regular tour commencing 28th December, ideal for something unusual to do during the Christmas and New Year break! The Family friendly version will feature slightly indepth information from our tour guides to keep the younger visitors interested, we’ll also feature some more hand-on parts including the chance to sit in the bus drivers seat, try on old transport uniform and issue tickets from vintage ticket machines. Our regular tours are still suitable for visitors of all ages covering our collection of around 140 buses, coaches, fire engines and commercial vehicles!

For more details, dates and to book see our Guided Tour webpage.

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Events General News

Centre Circle Day

Saturday 24th October 2020 between 11am and 4pm.

We’re delighted to confirm that we will be holding an event on 24th October 2020 between 11am and 4pm where we will be getting many buses out on the road to run on a circular route around Glasgow city centre. This will be a spectator event where you can come and see the buses in motion and out on the street. A great opportunity for photographers! Unfortunately, we are not able to allow passengers on the vehicles due to the current COVID-19 restrictions. But nonetheless, it will be a great chance to add some colour to the streets and to see the vehicles running.

Here’s a map showing the route. Vehicles will be running from around 11am through to 4pm.