Glasgow Subway train goes on museum display with buyers wanted for old fleet

A Subway carriage that has carried millions of passengers since coming into service in 1980 has officially been moved to its new home at Glasgow’s transport museum.

With the introduction of 17 new trains to the Glasgow Subway system under way, the 43-year-old legacy fleet is moving out of passenger schedule.

The Riverside Museum was the first to answer the call in 2016 for new homes for the iconic orange carriages with Car 128 now on display at the venue.

The rest of the carriages are available for purchase with potential buyers responsible for uplift and costs of collection.

SPT chair Stephen Dornan said: “We are in no doubt as to the importance of these carriages to the transport history of Glasgow, so it is only right and fitting that one should go to Riverside where it can go on display for visitors from the city, and much further afield, to enjoy.

“The legacy fleet has seen many long years of service and some carriages were well beyond their last legs. But as we have been working with the museum for some time to discuss the handover, safe transportation, and future preservation of Car 128, we’ve been able to ensure the best train available is being donated to the museum where, hopefully, it will be seen for many more years to come.”

John Messner, curator, transport and technology at Riverside Museum – part of Glasgow Life Museums – added: “For 44 years Car 128 has been a vital part of the city’s transport infrastructure. The new trains became local icons from the moment they were introduced in 1980.

“The ‘Clockwork Orange’ trains – as they quickly were nicknamed – hold fond memories for many Glaswegians as well as visitors to the city, and Glasgow Life Museums are proud to have been able to preserve one of these beloved carriages with the help of the team at SPT, Strathclyde Partnership for Transport.”

Car 128 will be the fourth Glasgow Subway carriage in Glasgow Life Museums collections, joining three others from the original fleet, which was in service from 1896 to 1977.

In addition to the Subway carriages, Glasgow Life Museums collections also include material from the old Merkland Street station, as well as tickets, staff uniform and archives related to Glasgow Subway.

Stadler, who is responsible for the disposal of the old carriages, is encouraging any interested parties to get in touch.

A spokesperson said: “Any organisation or individual who wishes to register an interest in procuring an old Glasgow Subway train should contact Stadler.

“We will gladly have a conversation about what’s involved in acquiring a legacy vehicle, including the logistical arrangements .

A spokesperson for SPT added: “SPT put a call out a while ago via some of the Rail Industry magazines asking for any interested parties in taking on an old carriage to get in touch. At that point a number of museums made it clear they were unable to take an old Subway Carriage, due in part to space available and being unable to make room for anything new in their current sites.

“The decommissioning of the trains is a contractual responsibility of ANSTA, the modernisation consortium. Where we have received correspondence enquiring about the legacy fleet, we have advised them of who to make contact within the consortium.

“Anyone who was interested in acquiring a legacy carriage would have to be responsible for the lift and collection costs of the carriage from the Subway depot by a recognised contractor who specialises in this type of work.”