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).
