The second programme to feature Glasgow’s railway past commences at Gourock. Recorded in 1966, the last year of steam operation before electrification, the film traces the entire route to Glasgow Central station. Still south of the River Clyde, Paisley (Canal) and the branch line to Kilmacolm are viewed on the last day of passenger services.

Moving north of the River Clyde, the lower section of the West Highland line is covered, beginning with a journey in 1959 on the C15-powered ‘push-and-pull’ service from Arrochar to Garelochhead. Continuing south to Craigendorran Jct. the newly-introduced ‘Blue Trains’ appear as the line enters the Glasgow suburbs; its streets still host to trolley buses and trams! In addition, steam shunters could still be found at work; in the form of an ex-NBR Class J88 No. 68335, shunting at Maryhill in 1962.

The River Clyde played an important role in Glasgow’s industrial past, in addition to being a popular recreational attraction. One of the Glasgow shipyards most famous products, the liner ‘Queen Elizabeth I’ is filmed arriving in 1965 and the launching of the ‘QE2’ in 1967, with its final departure a year later, concludes this feature.

The terminus stations of St. Enoch, Queen St. and Buchanan St. are shown, together with Corkerhill, Eastfield and St. Rollox loco depots; displaying a wide variety of steam and diesel classes. At St. Rollox, burning exhausts and engines on North British-built Type 2 diesels were not uncommon. However, Glasgow Fire Brigade’s attendance to deal with a burning steam locomotive makes a unique and fascinating scene to round off this programme.