Glasgow Works 1 cable laying tram

Photo: Paul Abell

Glasgow Corporation Tramways Mains no. 1 is a good example of the type of vehicle that was developed in order to assist in the construction and maintenance of the early electric tramways around the country. It was built by the Corporation’s own workshops at Coplawhill in 1905, and incorporated parts from the Room and Kitchen single-deckers which were being scrapped at the time. An imposing vehicle, No.1 is essentially a large electrically powered van that was designed to house and transport the very large electrical cable drums that were needed in order to lay, and subsequently maintain, the extensive networks of underground electric cable that enabled the system to operate. It was officially described as a Cable Laying and Withdrawing Car.

Glasgow works 1 in operation. Photo courtesy of Crich TMS photo archive.

As one of the largest tramway operators in Europe, with over one thousand tramcars and an eventual spread of over one hundred route miles (by 1922), Glasgow Corporation Tramways had already, by 1911, laid down just under 470 miles of cable of various dimensions. These carried the electrical current from the Pinkston power station (opened in 1901) to the five sub-stations that were located at Coplawhill, Dalhousie, Kinning Park, Partick and Whitevale.

Glasgow works car 1 and trailer. Struan J T Robertson.

Glasgow Mains no. 1 formed part of a large fleet of works cars and was originally provided with its own small four-wheeled trailer, which accompanied it into preservation. In common with the rest of the works fleet, it would initially have been turned out in the regular works livery of either crimson lake or dark brown with lining out in yellow edged with red and fine inner white lining. Lettering was in yellow. This only lasted until the 1930s, however, after which the lining and, ultimately, the lettering also, were discontinued.

Glasgow works 1 on cable-laying duties. Photo courtesy of Crich TMS photo archive

The vehicle continued to perform the task for which it was designed and built throughout its working life and even gained a new lease of life in 1949 when it helped to install the new electrical equipment that was required for the city’s trolleybus fleet that gradually took over some of its tram services as and when these were discontinued. After this it spent some time in storage until the abandonment of the tramway in 1962, whereupon it was taken into preservation.

Glasgow works 1 at Crich. Paul Abell, 6/11/1965.

It was initially taken to a site near Aberdeen, where some restoration was undertaken, before moving to Crich in 1965. The trailer has proved useful at times, but shortage of space meant that No.1 spent most of the next two decades languishing at the back of the depots before being placed in storage off-site in 1982, in order to make room in the depot for other tramcars. Its motors were fitted to Leicester 76 during the restoration of that tram.

Specification

Type of tram: Works car – Mains Dept Cable Layer and Withdrawer
Livery: Brown. Originally crimson lake or dark brown, fully lined out in yellow edged with red with fine inner white lining and yellow lettering. [The lining was omitted after the 1930s and ultimately the lettering was omitted also].
Seating capacity: N/A
Date built: 1905
Manufacturer of body: Glasgow Corporation Tramways
Manufacturer of truck: Originally Brill 21E (the tramcar arrived at Crich on a specially made temporary accommodation truck).
Gauge: Original: 4’ 7¾” Current: 4’ 8½”
Motor: Originally fitted with 2x Westinghouse 49B at 30hp each but no longer has these.
Controller: BTH B18
Current collector: Fischer bow collector
Modification: Retained its original number during renumbering of the works fleet following the acquisition of the Airdrie and Paisley systems in the early 1920s.
The illuminated ‘CABLE CAR’ destination box is a later addition.
Withdrawn from service: 1962 after a period spent in storage
Subsequent history: Sold by GCT, October 1962
Restoration history: Partially restored while in Aberdeen; some damage to a canopy was sustained while in transit to Crich
Current status: Partly-restored; non-operational.
Date started operating at Crich: N/A
Total mileage covered at Crich: N/A
Current location: Off-site storage facility

Timeline

1905 – 1949Operational on original tramway
1949 – 1962In storage for part of this period
1962 – 1965In storage at a site near Aberdeen
1965 – 1982Mostly in storage at the main museum site in Crich
1982 – In long-term storage

Glasgow Works 1 cable laying tram

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