IS IT EASY TO GROW A BEARD?

Having enjoyed a few beers at Lochwinnoch, it's time to move on towards Paisley, with our first stop being Kilbarchan. The station here closed in 1956.

We're right on the edge of the Greater Glasgow conurbation and the outer limits of what was once an extensive tram network, terminating outside the Trust Inn in Kilbarchan.

The Trust Inn is still open today, with a range of real ales. It's at the centre of a conservation area.

Kilbarchan's other pub is the Glenleven Hotel. It was here that I was asked the question that forms the title. The answer was simple, "Dead easy, just cease shaving.".

Next we come to Johnstone, once home to a pub called Coanes. It's since been remamed Callum's and seems to be long term closed.

Clydeside 2000 had a depot in Johnstone, where we see a 'Y' type in the yard.

Onwards now to the outskirts of Paisley, an area known as Hawkhead, where Grahams Bus Service Ltd had its depot. 

An interesting selection of vehicles. Sadly, the company ceased trading in 1990.

As we enter the town (Scotland's largest), we happen across Paisley Canal station. When photographed in 1983, it had been closed.

A new Paisley Canal station later opened, becoming a terminus. Here's a DMU in 1993.

We'll end this post at a nearby boozer, Finlay's Bar.

In the next post we'll take a good look around the other delights of Paisley.

THE GARNOCK VALLEY PLUS A VICIOUS DOG AND MAN

Our next stop is the large village of Dalry. It was quite an important place on the Glasgow & South Western Railway. Here's one of the signal boxes, No. 3, around 1971. All gone now.

 Dalry staton, February 1979. 

Some of the traffic passing through on that occasion.

A bus company called Paterson's Coaches had a depot close to Dalry station. Here's an ex Wallace Arnold coach in 1976.

Some more vehicles in the Paterson's fleet.

Another visit, in Spring 1981, found a former Ribble Leland Leopard in Paterson's Dalry depot.

In 1993 the Valley Bus Company was running a local service in Dalry.

We temporarily leave the valley of the River Garnock to find the settlement of Beith. The station here was at the end of a branch from Lugton. (Ben Brooksbank).

Jackson's of Beith was the local bus company, with only contract services. The owner hated bus enthusiasts and would, let's be diplomatic, deter them from visiting or even taking photos from the public road. I did once find this vehicle in a Beith estate.

The other Beith bus ioerator was Marbill Coaches. The entrance to the yard was through a closed gate with signs indication that one should "Beware of The Dog". However, the dog turned out to very friendly and relaxed.

Here's an ex Southdown Leyland Leopard in the yard, 1981.

Back to the Garnock Valley now, to Kilbirnie, with its station on the G&SWR.

Paterson's had a depot in Kilbirnie, taken over from Garnock Valley Motors.

Paterson's ran a local service in Kilbirnie and it was operated by this Leyland National 2 in 1983. It had been bought new.

Further along the valley is Lochwinnoch, were another local bus company, Waddell's had a depot.

It's been a long time since we've been to a pub, but the Brown Bull in Lochwinnoch will make up for that. It's a great pub! More info on Whatpub.

That's it for now. The next post will find us heading for Paisley.

IRVINE AND KILWINNING

Irvine has a small harbour, still busy today.

We're still in A1 and AA territory. A former member of the AA Group (Tumulty) had a depot in Irvine. (Les Flint)

AA (Dodd's) continued to serve the town of Irvine.

By 1998, Stagecoach had taken over, but only a few obvious signs in this photo.

Now for two photos taken at one of the A1 depots in Irvine.

Like AA, Stagecoach took over A1 Services and the stripes had appeared by 1995.

Now it's 1998 and the A1 blue livery had reappeared (though it's gone since).

Stagecoach Western SMT also served Irvine.

About three miles to the north is Kilwinning. Here's the remains of the abbey (Creative Commons License).

Kilwinnng Cross (Creative Commons License).

The Eglington Ironworks was once at Kilwinning. All gone now. This Scottish built Barclay loco served here.

Kilwinning is a junction on the Glasgow to Ayr and Stranraer line, with the Ardrossan/Largs line branching off. This is looking towards Glasgow from the Ardrossan branch platforms. Semaphore signals still controlled things then.

In 1982 an Ayr bound DMU calls.

37253 comes in the opposite direction.

By 1987, the semaphores had gone and both lines had been electrified.

A1 Services passed Kilwinnng on a frequent timetable.

 

Now it's 1996 and Stagecoach is in charge.

Clyde Coast was running an infrequent service through Kilwinning in 1993.

A short-lived stage carriage operator, Bennett's, had a depot here.

Another local company, Shuttle Bus, based in Kilwinning, ran a few services.

All this transport interest is making me thirsty. Time for a pint of Maclays in the Victoria Bar.

We move ever northwards in the next post. Follow the trail here.