fbb has a plan to explore some of the ramifications of First Glasgow's "ComplexCITY" service 38. It involves catching at bus from Hope Street ...
... a 60 or a 60A to Easterhouse via Fort Glasgow. A spot of lunch, then a further variety of 38 back to the city, also via Glasgow Fort. This carefully calculated contrivance will ensure that at least some of the 38 variants will have been ridden or observed en route by fbb. But that leaves just under 30 minutes for observation; with apologies for the inherent difficulties in photographing electronic bus destination displays.
There is a 38C to Chryston ...
... a 38 to Easterhouse (although you would never know it from fbb's picture) ...
... and fbb's chosen 1131 38B pictured at its Barlanark terminus.
Also espied is a 38E to Baillieston.
So we have four different routes north east from the city but offering a common 5 minutes frequency to Alexandra Parade (if you are First Scotrail) ...
... or, next door, Alexandra Park (if you are First Bus Glasgow).
It's the same place! Consistency and interchange, no chance.
Alexandra Parade Station, tatty in the 80s
and denuded today!
... or, next door, Alexandra Park (if you are First Bus Glasgow).
The main timetable booklet reveals the core 5 minute service in full; showing buses to Easterhouse running every 10 minutes and the other three routes as fizzling out as they divert from the main drag. There is no difference between a 38 and a 38A on this side of the city centre. fbb's crude cut-and-paste shows every 10 minutes from Eastwood toll; an every 20 minutes extension starts from Newton Mearns.
38 to Easterhouse extract
Then there are three separate leaflets for each of the 38B, 38C and 38E services. All three have a fully 38 "network" map plus the city centre stops street plan; excellent in every way. Chryston is on the Cumbernauld Road and 38Cs run every 30 minutes.
Baillieston is also served every 30 minutes, effectively straight along the Edinburgh Road.
Which leaves fbb's chosen 83B which wriggles via Riddrie every half hour before joining to 60 and 60A as they run via Shettleston and Barlanark, but continue from the 38B terminus to Easterhouse.
Together these three 38s complete the 5 minute frequency on the core of the route.
South of the river Clyde its much simpler. 38B, C and E run every ten minutes via Woodfarm to Spiersbridge , shown as Rouken Glen on the blinds and in the timetable. 38 (and 38A) every 10 minutes to Eastwood Toll (which isn't on the maps!!) extended every 20 minutes to Crookfur shown as Newton Mearns on the blinds and in the timetable. 38A is for occasional journeys via Woodfarm to Eastwood Toll or Newton Mearns OR for trips from Easterhouse to Rouken Glen.
Confusing isn't it?
So where is 38D?
Before we reveal the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we will join fbb on his real live trip and perhaps share with him some of the problems that this clever bit of timetabling presents to the unwary. In the meantime, a pic of a preserved Glasgow Corporation bus showing 38A.
... Gentleman's Relish.
It is also known as Patum Peperium.
It was created in 1828 by an Englishman called John Osborn. It has a strong, very salty and slightly fishy taste, and contains anchovies (minimum 60%), butter, herbs and spices. Today, the secret recipe is withheld from all but one employee at Elsenham Quality Foods in Elsenham, England, the licensed manufacturer.
Gentleman's Relish is traditionally eaten thinly spread on slices of buttered white-bread toast, either on its own, or with cucumber, or "mustard and cress" sprouts. It can also be added to minced meat for a different-tasting cottage pie or to the mixture for fish cakes, potato cakes, and croquettes. Alternatively it can be melted into scrambled eggs or be used as a topping for jacket potatoes.
It looks like something dredged up from the River Axe ...
... and tastes, erm, salty.
But if you like Marmite you might like this!
It cost Mrs fbb £1.59 for a titchy tub and has, so far, "done" six slices of toast in three sittings. But, boy, does it wake you up in the morning!
South of the river Clyde its much simpler. 38B, C and E run every ten minutes via Woodfarm to Spiersbridge , shown as Rouken Glen on the blinds and in the timetable. 38 (and 38A) every 10 minutes to Eastwood Toll (which isn't on the maps!!) extended every 20 minutes to Crookfur shown as Newton Mearns on the blinds and in the timetable. 38A is for occasional journeys via Woodfarm to Eastwood Toll or Newton Mearns OR for trips from Easterhouse to Rouken Glen.
So where is 38D?
Before we reveal the whole truth and nothing but the truth, we will join fbb on his real live trip and perhaps share with him some of the problems that this clever bit of timetabling presents to the unwary. In the meantime, a pic of a preserved Glasgow Corporation bus showing 38A.
L163 entered service with Glasgow Corporation in 1958 from Parkhead Garage. It (she?) transferred with the rest of the fleet from Glasgow Corporation to GGPTE in 1973, and moved to Larkfield in 1975. Although withdrawn from service in 1976, L163 spent a further 4 years in use as a depot shunter at Langside Garage and was sold into preservation in November 1980.
It unexpectedly returned to service on the Glasgow City Tour run by Glasgow Corporation Transport Limited between 2003-4. Sold with the Tour business to First Glasgow in March 2004, this bus was numbered PD3, or 39997 in the First national numbering scheme, and once again ran from Larkfield Depot.
Finally, it was sold to Glasgow City Council for a return to preservation in 2006.
It unexpectedly returned to service on the Glasgow City Tour run by Glasgow Corporation Transport Limited between 2003-4. Sold with the Tour business to First Glasgow in March 2004, this bus was numbered PD3, or 39997 in the First national numbering scheme, and once again ran from Larkfield Depot.
Finally, it was sold to Glasgow City Council for a return to preservation in 2006.
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À propos of nothing at all and ever anxious to explore this nation's culinary delights, fbb has been given a small tub of ...It is also known as Patum Peperium.
It was created in 1828 by an Englishman called John Osborn. It has a strong, very salty and slightly fishy taste, and contains anchovies (minimum 60%), butter, herbs and spices. Today, the secret recipe is withheld from all but one employee at Elsenham Quality Foods in Elsenham, England, the licensed manufacturer.
Gentleman's Relish is traditionally eaten thinly spread on slices of buttered white-bread toast, either on its own, or with cucumber, or "mustard and cress" sprouts. It can also be added to minced meat for a different-tasting cottage pie or to the mixture for fish cakes, potato cakes, and croquettes. Alternatively it can be melted into scrambled eggs or be used as a topping for jacket potatoes.
It looks like something dredged up from the River Axe ...
But if you like Marmite you might like this!
It cost Mrs fbb £1.59 for a titchy tub and has, so far, "done" six slices of toast in three sittings. But, boy, does it wake you up in the morning!
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Keith Beeden
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Keith Beeden
Transport Historian and Enthusiast Keith Beeden has died. Keith is particularly remembered for his transport videos and his encyclopaedic knowledge of the Sheffield scene. fbb did not know Keith personally, but has respected his work over the years. He will be sorely missed.
Next tram blog : Saturday 31st May
ABCDEFG continues on Monday
Now you're trying to confuse us too, fbb, with your 83Bs in amongst your timetable extracts. The story was elaborate enough, without you throwing in bonus helpings from Confusious !
ReplyDelete83B is now corrected to 38B in the text. Glad to see that you are good at spotting my deliberate mistakes. (Oh yeah?)
ReplyDelete