1955 Timetable

Developments since 1923

North British Routes

With the Hamilton and Slamannan Services gone, only the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Bathgate service remained, and this would soon cease beyond Airdrie.  Already, compared with 1923, fewer trains were venturing further than Airdrie, and the midweek Edinburgh service had dropped from 5 to 2 trains each way, although the 1923 service was maintained on Saturdays.  The journey time had however improved, particularly for the stopping trains, mainly due to the closure of stations at Gogar, Ratho, Drumshoreland, Livingstone, Forrestfield and Plains.  This then reduced the time for a stopper from 1 hour 35 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, the fast trains improved by 6 minutes to 55 minutes.  Only one train to/from Bathgate and one to/from Caldercruix now augmented the Edinburghs, although again there were more on Saturdays.
Into Glasgow there were slightly more trains and the service was marginally faster thanks to the additional power of the V1/V3 tanks, particularly coming out from Glasgow.  Some services were now operating through to Helesburgh but overall there was little improvement from 1923

Caledonian Routes

With the Airdrie Service gone prior to the 2nd World War, all former Caledonian Services were concentrated on Coatbridge, now Central station.  The routes were unchanged from 1923 but the overall number of trains was massively reduced to around 30% of 1923 levels.  The table shows the full details but the major cuts were as follows

  • The Holytown “service” was down to a nominal one train per day. (Despite the fact that this service would not be withdrawn for another seven years).  There was an additional service that ran through to Shotts, but on Wednesdays only – Can anyone think why this would be a particular requirement?
  • Trains from Coatbridge to Glenboig down from 10 to 2 midweek and 11 to 3 Saturdays, (the remainder of the service  would be withdrawn the following year)
  • Buchanan St. service reduced from 11 trains to 4 trains each way, although additional trains originated or terminated at Garnkirk or Gartcosh.
    • This pattern of running the service down to a nominal level prior to withdrawal seemed to be the way things were done even then – shades of the “ghost services” of the present day.  One such service was run to Whifflet Upper, and lasted for many years.  I can only think that this service was retained to keep Whifflet Upper station open, as it was the only means of access to Whifflet Lower station, but why keep this train running until 1964 when the Hamilton service was withdrawn in 1962?
    One throwback to the 1923 Bradshaws was the similar layout of the Buchanan Street to Hamilton timetable (table 12A), and the continued inaccurate way in which services seemed to be shown as through services when they were nothing of the kind.  An example is the 15:48 from Motherwell to Coatbridge, which looks as if it runs as a through service from Hamilton (SX), arriving at Motherwell at 15:33, but inspection of table 32 shows that the 15:48 departure from Motherwell is an express from Crewe to Perth!
     
    One positive aspect of the 1955 timetable was that some services from Glasgow now originated at Possil station. The station had been built in 1918 but full passenger services did not commence until 1934.  This photograph of a poster in the Museum of Transport in Glasgow dates from September 1937, and shows services to Coatbridge and Airdrie in the two columns to the right.  Despite the appearance of having between 14 and 15 departures for Monklands Destinations the usual forest of conditions apply, and the total number of through trains to Coatbridge was 7 (SX) & 6 (SO), and to Airdrie (where the service would only last nine years) was 6 (SX) & 5 (SO).  Curiously neither Coatbridge nor Airdrie are mentioned in the list of stations for which Cheap Third Class Day Returns were available.
    To save your eyes here is the full service to Coatbridge and Airdrie.
     
    Trains to Coatbridge
    Trains to Airdrie
    07:26 weekdays 15:15 SX 08:13 weekdays 16:00 weekdays
    07:46 weekdays 15:20 SO 09:26 weekdays 16:48 Change 
    Central LL
    08:45 Change Central LL 16:48 weekdays 12:26 SX 18:05 SX
    12:18 SX 17:38 SX 13:00 SO Change Central LL 18:10 SO
    12:37 SX 18:10 SO Change Central LL 13:07 SX 18:50 SX Change Langloan
    13:00 SO 18:50 SX Change Central LL 13:52 SO Change Central LL 21:20 weekdays
    13:52 SO (SX change Maryhill) 20:20 SX 14:31 SX
    -
    -

    Traction Observations

    These notes were provided by Mike Black, an enthusiast who lived in Coatbridge from 1948 until 1968, before moving to Canada in 1974.

    Bathgate to Glasgow Line

    In the mid-fifties, the Airdrie line was mostly worked by V1/V3 tanks, but the 3.30 p.m.(15:36 in 1955?) ex-Glasgow was more often than not worked by a Kipps J35, usually 64460. I do not recall ever seeing an N2, a J36, or a J37 on passenger work on the Airdrie line, although N2s and J37s from 65C and 65A used to run to other destinations via Queen St. LL.
    The highlight of the timetable for a short while was the 13:55 non-stop S.O. run from Blairhill to Queen St in 13 minutes. This train was formed of 4 suburban coaches hauled by a B1 from 64B or 64A as it originated from Edinburgh.
    Before the demise of the through Edinburgh service the 8.14 from Blairhill, which originated at Bathgate, was always hauled by a 4-4-0, either 62439 "Father Ambrose" or a "Glen"*. This train also had a 10T van stuck on the rear for reasons I know not. I never saw any other similar vans or 4-4-0s on the Airdrie line, on any other train.
    In the last few years before electrification, the 7.55 a.m. ex-Blairhill had a B1 75% of the time and a BR standard 76xxx most of the rest. Occasionally, it had a 43xxx. The 43xxx may have been a 65E locomotive, but the others must have originated from 65A or 65C, since Kipps had no locomotives from these classes allocated.
    There was an interesting Summer S.O. working on the Airdrie line. About 4.00p.m. an excursion train would leave Blairhill (originating at Airdrie) and go to the coast via the City Union line. Destination varied weekly. The train was 8 suburban coaches but the loco was interesting, as it was usually ex- works from Cowlairs - often a J39 from the NER.

    * The cover of "The Last Trains (2) Glasgow and Central Scotland" confirms this with a photograph of 62470 "Glen Roy" on this service on the last day.


    Summary of 1955 Timetable
     
    From Days Caldercruix Clarkston Airdrie (a) Airdrie (d) Coatdyke Coatbridge  Blairhill To
    - w'days - - - 06:02 06:05 06:09 06:12 Partick Hill
    - w'days - - - 06:28 06:31 06:35 06:38 Dalmiur Park
    - w'days - - - 07:03 07:06 07:10 07:13 Clydebank East
    - w'days - - - - - 07:44 07:47 Hyndland
    - w'days - - - 07:52 07:55 07:58 08:01 Hyndland
    Bathgate w'days 08:01 - - 08:09 - 08:14 08:17 Partick Hill
    - w'days - - - 08:15 08:18 08:21 08:24 Partick Hill
    Caldercruix w'days 08:16 08:22 08:25 08:26 08:29 08:33 08:36 Hyndland
    - w'days - - - 08:56 08:59 09:02 09:05 Hyndland (SO)
    Jordanhill (SX)
    - w'days 09:05 - 09:12 09:13 09:16 09:19 09:22 Hyndland
    - w'days - - - 10:05 10:08 10:11 10:14 Helens burgh
    - w'days - - - 10:30 10:33 10:36 10:39 Helens burgh
    Bathgate (SO) w'days - - 12:09 12:10 12:13 12:16 12:19 Hyndland
    - w'days - - - 13:05 13:08 13:11 13:14 Clydebank East
    - (SX) - - - 13:19 13:21 13:25 13:28 Clydebank East
    Edinburgh (SO) - - 13:46 13:47 - 13:52 13:55 Helensburgh
    - (SO) - - - 14:08 14:11 14:14 14:17 Clydebank East
    - w'days - - - 14:26 14:29 14:32 14:35 Hyndland
    - w'days - - - 16:00 16:03 16:06 16:09 Milngavie
    Bathgate (SO) w'days - - 17:14 17:15 17:18 17:21 17:24 Milngavie
    Edinburgh w'days 17:48 17:57 18:00 18:01 18:04 18:07 18:10 Hyndland
    - (SX) - - - 18:33 18:36 18:39 18:42 Hyndland
    - w'days - - - 19:00 19:03 19:07 19:10 Milngavie
    Edinburgh (SO) - - 19:52 19:53 19:56 19:59 20:02 Hyndland
    - w'days - - - 20:30 23:33 20:36 20:39 Hyndland
    - w'days - - - 21:15 21:18 21:21 21:24 Hyndland
    Edinburgh (SO) - - 22:14 22:15 - 22:20 - Milngavie
    From Days Blairhill Coatbridge  Coatdyke Airdrie (a) Airdrie (d) Clarkston Caldercruix To
    Hyndland w'days 05:57 06:00 - 06:06 - - - -
    Milngavie w'days 06:58 07:03 07:07 07:10 07:14 07:19 07:26 Edinburgh
    Hyndland w'days 08:14 08:17 08:21 08:24 08:26 08:31 - Edinburgh
    Helens burgh w'days 08:40 08:43 08:47 08:50 - - - -
    Helens burgh w'days - 09:34 - 09:40 - - - -
    Hyndland w'days - 09:50 - 09:55 09:56 - - Bathgate (SO)
    Hyndland (SO) 12:25 12:28 12:32 12:35 12:37 12:42 - Edinburgh (SO)
    Hyndland (SX) 12:31 12:34 12:38 12:41 - - - -
    Hyndland (SO) 12:40 12:43 12:47 12:50 - - - -
    Drumry (SX) 12:51 12:54 12:58 13:01 - - - -
    Jordanhill (SO) 12:53 12:56 13:00 13:03 - - - -
    Hyndland (SO) 13:26 13:29 13:33 13:36 - - - -
    Hyndland (SO) 13:41 13:44 13:48 13:51 - - - -
    Hyndland (SX) 13:43 13:46 13:50 13:53 - - - -
    Hyndland (SO) 13:48 13:51 13:55 13:58 13:59 14:04 - Bathgate (SO)
    Hyndland (SO) 13:56 13:59 14:03 14:06 - - - -
    Hyndland w'days 14:13 14:16 14:20 14:23 - - - -
    Hyndland (SO) 15:11 15:14 15:18 15:21 15:22 - - Edinburgh (SO)
    Hyndland (SX) 15:56 15:59 16:02 16:06 - - - -
    Balloch (SO)
    Hyndland (SX)    		 w'days 16:44 16:47 16:51 16:54 - - - -
    Hyndland w'days 17:18 17:21 17:25 17:28 17:29 - 17:39 Bathgate (SX)
    Hyndland (SX) 17:32 17:35 17:39 17:42 - - - -
    Clydebank East w'days 17:38 17:44 17:48 17:51 17:58 18:05 18:14 Edinburgh
    Hyndland (SX) 17:56 17:59 18:03 18:06 18:07 18:12 18:18 Caldercruix (SX)
    Charing Cross (SX) 18:04 18:07 18:11 18:14 - - - -
    Milngavie (SO) 18:14 18:17 18:21 18:24 - - - -
    Milngavie (SX) 18:23 18:26 18:30 18:33 - - - -
    Milngavie w'days 18:58 19:01 19:05 19:08 - - - -
    Milngavie w'days 19:34 19:37 19:41 19:44 - - - -
    Hyndland (SX) 19:57 20:00 20:04 20:07 20:08 - - Edinburgh (SX)
    Milngavie (SO) 20:40 20:43 20:47 20:50 - - - -
    Milngavie (SX) 21:06 21:09 21:13 21:16 - - - -
    Milngavie w'days 22:00 22:03 22:07 22:10 - - - -
    Hyndland w'days 22:39 22:42 22:46 22:49 22:50 - 22:29 Caldercruix (SO)
    Hyndland w'days 23:22 23:25 23:29 23:32 23:33 - - Bathgate (SO)

    Coatbridge Central.

    The most interesting period was from about 1.30 to 7.0.pm.
    After the London passed through about 1.35 - often a short train hauled by an L.M. class 5,  55239 from 66B shuttled back and forth between Coatbridge/Glenboig and Motherwell/Hamilton. At 4.00 the Crewe Perth went through often with a 66A “Coronation”.  At about this time an Edinburgh train left with a 66B 2-6-4 LM tank and 3 coaches. There was a train also for Central LL with a 65D Stanier 2-6-2 also with 3 coaches. Once these passenger trains had emptied the station there was an interesting coal train working south on the loop line. It produced a Stirling 63B engine usually a Caley 2F Jumbo or sometimes an LM Class 5.
    Occasionally there was another coal train to Glasgow headed by a single D57xx diesel- filling in between Condor workings.
    Over on the NB line at about 4.30 p.m. a 64A K3 would go through to Gunnie yard with a mixed freight.  At about 6.15 the Postal would pass always with a 63A 7300X engine. It would pick up mail at Ross St just south of the station.
    The evening trains would arrive from Central LL usually hauled by a 65D 2-6-2 tanks, but occasionally by 66A or 65D 2F jumbo 0-6-0's. These veterans struggled to keep time and the last commuter train usually got in the way of the 6.45 express to Perth, frequently hauled by a Clan from 68A.
    In the early 60's there was a coal train usually hauled by a J37. It came down through Sunnyside , through Gunnie to Garnqueen. It reversed here and went back through Central and on into Glasgow via Langloan.
    The 8.15 from Coatbridge Central to Buchanan St  was a set of 3 suburban coaches hauled by a 65B loco - most often a 76xxx but sometimes a LM class 5 or an LM 2-6-4 tank. The local started from the bay platform and was routed on the relief line all the way to Gartsherrie. The overnight sleeper was due away from Coatbridge at about 8.00 a.m. Occasionally it was late, and I remember easily overtaking it on the 4 track section out of the station.
    Returning from Glasgow there was a train out of Buchanan St. at 4.10 p.m. This was usually hauled by a 66B LM tank and formed of a set of 3 Stanier corridor coaches.  There was another train (not shown on the timetable for 1955) at 4.35 p.m. but with only 2 suburban coaches, also hauled by a 66B tank. About 1960 these trains were diesel hauled. Firstly by the N.B. class D61xx which was a disaster and lasted for only a few months. I remember being hauled by one of these on the 4.35. We passed behind 65B shed on the freight loop. This because the previous 4.25 to Inverness was stopped on the mainline opposite the shed while a class 5 was replacing a failed D61xx. On the gradient up to Robroyston , we virtually came to a standstiil with only 2 coaches , but finally made it.
    A few months later the BRCW D53xx (Class 27's) newly arrived at 65A were put on these trains and what a difference. The 4.35 with one stop at Stepps was into Coatbridge between 4.50 and 4.55

    Summary of 1955 Timetable

    Local Services
     
    From
    Days 
    Drumpark
    Langloan
    Whifflet (HL)
    Whifflet (LL)
    Coatbridge Cen. (a)
    Coatbridge Cen (d)
    Glenboig (a)
    Gartcosh
    To
     
    Connection
    M'well w'days - - - 05:37 05:39 05:41 - 05:48 Garnkirk - -
    - w'days - - - - - 06:08 06:12 - Glenboig 06:20 Perth
    Possil w'days 07:32 07:36 - - 07:41 - -   - - -
    Possil w'days 08:04 08:08 - - 08:11 08:15 (SX) 08:20 (SX) - Glenboig (SX) 08:30 Stirling
    Possil (SX) 08:34 08:38 -   08:41 - - - - - -
    Hamilton Central (SX) - - - 08:53 08:55 - - - - - -
    Yoker Ferry (SO) 12:49 12:53 - - 12:56 12:58 13:02 - Glenboig 13:18 Stirling
    Maryhill Central (SX) 13:03 13:07 - - 13:10 - - - - - -
    Maryhill Central (SO) 13:10 13:14 - - 13:17 - - - - - -
    M'end (SX) - - - 13:36 13:38 13:40 - 13:44 Gartcosh - -
    Possil (SO) 13:45 13:49 -   13:52 13:53 13:57 - Glenboig 14:18 Stirling
    Hamilton Central (SX) - - - 14:26 14:28 14:31 - 14:36 Buch. Street - -
    Holytown (SO) - - - 14:53 14:55 - - - - - -
    M'well  w'days - - - - - 15:58 - - - - -
    Ham (SX) M'well (SO) (SO) - - - - 16:20 - - - - - -
    Hamilton Central (SX) - - - 16:26 16:26 - - - - - -
    - (SX) - - - - - 16:27 - 16:32 Buch. Street - -
    Holytown (SX) - - - 17:11 17:13 17:14 - 17:40 Buch. Street - -
    Maryhill Central (SO) 17:10 17:14 - - 17:17 - - - - - -
    Holytown (SO) - - - 17:25 17:27 -   -  -  -  - 
    Possil  (SX) 18:01 18:05 - - 18:08 - - - - - -
    Glasgow Cen.(LL) (SX) 18:17 18:21 18:23 - - - - - - - -
    Balloch Central  (SO) 18:27 18:31 18:33 - - - - - - - -
    Balloch Central  (SX) 18:39 18:43 - - 18:46 - -   - - -
    M'well (SX) - - - - 18:54 - - -  -  - -
    M'well  (SO) - - - - 19:11 -  - -  -  -  - 
    Hamilton Central w'days - - - 21:33 21:35 21:39 - 21:44 Buch. Street - -
    M'well w'days - - - - 22:58 -  - -  -  - -
    From
    Days
    Gartcosh
    Glenboig
    Coatbridge Cen. (a)
    Coatridge Cen (d)
    Whifflet (LL)
    Whifflet (HL)
    Langloan
    Drumpark
    To
    Garnkirk w'days 06:04 - 06:09 06:10 06:13 - - - M'end
    - w'days - - - 06:20 - - - - Balloch (Central)
    C'nauld w'days - 06:58 07:02 07:03 - - 07:08 07:11 Glasgow Cen.(L.L)
    - w'days - - - 07:55 - - 07:58 08:01 Dalmuir Riverside
    - w'days - - - - - 08:13 08:16 08:19 Maryhill Central
    Buch. Street w'days 08:06 - 08:11 08:26 08:29 - - - Hamilton Central
    Glenboig w'days - 08:44 (SX) 08:48 (SX) 08:49 - - 08:52 08:58 Maryhill Central
    - w'days - - - 10:55 - - - - M'well
    Garnkirk (SO) 11:29 - 11:35 11:36 11:39 - - - M'well
    - (WO) - -   12:15 12:18 - - - Shotts
    Glenboig w'days - 12:15 12:20 - - - - - -
    - (SO) - - - 13:11 13:14 - - - Holytown
    - (SO) - - - 13:30 - - 13:33 13:36 Maryhill Central
    - (SX) - - - 13:30 - - 13:33 13:36 Possil
    - w'days - - - 13:41   - - - M'well
    Glenboig (SO) - 13:47 13:51 13:54   - 13:57 14:00 Maryhill Central
    Garnkirk (SX) 14:10 - 14:15 14:17   14:20 - - M'well
    Glenboig (SO) - - 14:18 14:22   14:24 14:27 14:30 Maryhill Central
    - (SX) - - - 16:00   16:03 - - Holytown
    Glenboig (SX) - 16:00 16:04 16:06     16:09 16:12 Balloch Central
    - (SX) - - - 16:10   16:13 - - Hamilton Central
    Buch. Street (SX) 16:30 - 16:35 16:39   16:42 - - Hamilton Central
    Glenboig w'days - 17:05 17:09 -   - - - -
    - (SX) - - - 17:14   17:17 - - Hamilton Central
    Buch. Street w'days 18:06 - 18:11 18:14   18:17 - - Hamilton Central
    Buch. Street (SX) 22:08 - 22:13 22:15   22:18 - - M'well
    Aberdeen/ Inverness (SO) - - - 23:29   11:32 - - Glasgow Cen.(H.L)
    Inverness (SX) - - - 23:54   11:58 - - Glasgow Cen.(H.L)

    Anglo Scottish Services
     
    1955: UP
     
    Time From To
    10:35 Perth London Euston
    13:19 Aberdeen London Euston
    16:59 Perth  London Euston (TC from Aberdeen)
    22:48 Inverness London Euston. (SX)
    23:29 Aberdeen London Euston. 
    		1955: DOWN
     
    Time From To
    07:41 Euston Perth, with through coaches to Aberdeen
    15:38 Euston Perth
    18:41 Euston Dundee
    23.06 Plymouth/Euston Aberdeen