COATBRIDGE & AIRDRIE

We're now into an area once known for heavy industry and it is appropriate that our first visit is to the Summerlee Museum. Pride of place in the tram collection is given to this beautifully restored Lanarkshire tram.

Some other trams were imported from Europe.

There are several railway locos displayed, including a Gibb & Hogg 0-4-0ST and a Sentinel 4wVBT.

Road vehicles are not forgotten, including the ERF spud lorry from a local farmer.

Now for a look at Coatbridge itself. Here's the town centre and fountain (Creative Commons License).

The Municipal Building (Creative Commons License).

Cliftonhill, the home of Albion Rovers in Coatbridge (Creative Commons License).

314214 arrives at Coatbridge Central station.

Buses from Eastern Scottish and the associated Baxter's of Airdrie could be found in Coatbridge.

Coatbridge has a Wetherspoons, the Vulcan.

Sadly, the Covid outbreak put paid to real ale in the St Andrews Bar.

So we move on to Airdrie, with the first stop being at Baxter's depot.

Eastern Scottish used the same premises.

The buses of Central SMT and, later, Kelvin Central also served Airdrie.

A local independent, Golden Eagle (Irvines of Salsburgh) ran regular buses into Airdrie, with a variety of vehicles.

Another independent was Galloways of Harthill.

Class 320 EMUs were the mainstay of services through Airdrie. 320318 arrives in 1991.

We take the short journey aboard 320318 to Drumgelloch, a terminus in 1991, though the line now runs through towards Bathgate and Edinburgh.

That's where this post ends. We'll explore the area a bit more in the next one. Here's the map.