Tramway

Can you hear the echoes of hooves and the clang of trolley bells? Right here, at Tramway, those sounds once filled the air. This wasn’t always a home for the arts. Tramway, in its previous life, was a bustling hub of Glasgow Corporation Tramways. It was Coplawhill Works, the birthplace and repair shop of Glasgow’s iconic trams. Tramway itself stands as a testament to Glasgow’s rich transport history. The original Glasgow Corporation Tramways, formed in 1894, inherited a horse-drawn system carrying 54 million passengers a year. Imagine the sheer volume of horses needed to power such an operation! The city embraced progress and electrified the system, with the first experimental electric route starting in 1898. The “Room and Kitchen” cars, single-deck trams with a central entrance, were the first foray into electric travel, later replaced by the beloved Standard cars. Over a thousand of these sturdy trams were built between 1898 and 1924, their design evolving from open-top to fully enclosed. Here at Tramway, formerly Coplawhill Works, these trams were meticulously maintained and repaired, ensuring Glasgow’s citizens could rely on their service. During World War I, this very site saw women stepping up to become tram drivers and conductors. This was a radical move for the time and continued even after the war ended. Glasgow was one of the few places in Britain where women continued to drive trams, a testament to the city’s progressive approach. Tramway’s history also touches upon the bittersweet end of an era. The last Glasgow tram ran its route on September 4, 1962. A procession of twenty trams, restored to their former glory, marked the final journey between Dalmarnock and Coplawhill. A quarter of a million people lined the streets to bid farewell to their beloved trams, a poignant reminder of the vital role Tramway played in the city’s life. Now, Tramway has transformed into a vibrant arts venue, yet the spirit of innovation and the echoes of Glasgow’s transport legacy still resonate within these walls.