by Tomm Swords

Created on: February 05, 2010

I love to visit Glasgow. It is has to be one of the most varied and interesting cities in the world. It is a city teeming with life. It's heart stays the same, but its head is always progressing. I have watched this progress over the years. I visit Glasgow, in stints that are years apart, so its progress is noticeable. It would be more fitting though to use the word change rather than progress; progress has connotations of improvement, and to the Glaswegian, a change isn't always for the best.

One aspect of Glasgow, which has changed over the years is its transport system and its contribution to world transport. As well as once boasting an excellent transport system for its residents, Glasgow also supplied the world with steam locomotives and ships. To a lesser extent the Glasgow area has also been responsible for car and heavy vehicle manufacturing. An aspect of transport once beloved by Glaswegians was the 'shooglie' or tram. These 'shooglies' disappeared from Glasgow's streets in 1962. Although these vehicles disappeared from Glasgow's streets almost fifty years ago, they still live on in the psyche of Glaswegians, mainly though the story-telling of Grannies from The Gorbals to The Garngad.

Such was the high regard held by the people of Glasgow for the tram, it was decided to build a museum dedicated to them. In 1964, two years after the last tram journey through the City, the Glasgow Museum of Transport was established at Albert Drive, at an old tram depot in the Southside. I remember being taken to this museum as a child and although I don't recall a great deal about it, I do remember clambering about on various trams, trolleybuses and carriages and generally being fascinated by the site of these vehicles being indoors and seeming so large in a confined space. They seemed so brightly coloured and thoroughly shiny.

That was such a long time ago.

Fast forward to a new decade, in fact a new century for my latest visit, and the Glasgow Museum of Transport is now situated in the North West of the city in a beautiful setting. The artefacts are now kept in the Kelvin Hall, a splendid piece of architecture, which is directly across from the stunning Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, itself located in one of the most beautiful city parks in Europe, Kelvingrove Park.

The Kelvin Hall was built for exhibitions in the 1920s, and has hosted many events over the years, the most memorable for nostalgic Glaswegians being the Christmas fun-fair and circus. Since the opening

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