AUTHOR Colin Barker has been interested in trolleybuses since he was a child.

But he admits he has always been particularly fascinated by Glasgow’s fleet, which were popular on the city’s streets in the 50s and 60s.

“Trolleybuses – really, electric buses which were powered by overhead cables but ran on the roads rather than on tracks – were around in many UK cities, but Glasgow’s system was a bit of an enigma,” explains Colin, who grew up in Derby.

“It was the only system to be opened post Second World War – it was the last in the UK, in fact.”

He adds: “Although the trolleybuses replaced tram services, there was still a large number of the latter running at the same time.

“The trams caused some operational difficulties for the trolleybuses, especially in narrow streets but Glasgow was the last place in the UK you could see trams and trolleybuses on the roads at the same time.”

Colin, who is 79 and now living in Ipswich, has written several books about trolleybuses and his latest is a fascinating pictorial and social history of the system in Glasgow.

Glasgow Trolleybuses, published by Middleton Press, includes more than 100 images of the buses in action on city streets, with well known local landmarks and long-forgotten shops and office blocks in the background.

“I hope people in Glasgow will like this glimpse into the past,” smiles Colin.

“It was fascinating to write. I’m indebted to Brian Deans, who is an acknowledged expert on Glasgow trolleybuses and is currently writing his own book about the system.

“Without him, I would never have managed to bring this book out, he was a great help.”

The Glasgow trolleybuses first appeared in 1949, with the arrival of service number 102 from Polmadie to Riddrie, but not everyone was delighted about it.

Colin explains: “People liked the trams and felt nostalgic about keeping them – Glasgow had one of the largest tramway systems in Europe, covering 227km – 141 miles – within the city and beyond.

“After the Second World War, however, it was in a poor state of repair, due to lack of materials and lack of maintenance. New housing estates were being built on the outskirts of the city, and the cost of laying tracks for new tram routes was just too prohibitive.

“The tramway system was gradually phased out between 1949 and 1962 and it was decided to experiment with trolleybuses.”

The photographs show the changes in Glasgow’s streets over the past 50 years, from the pre-fab properties in Maxwelton Road, built to ease housing shortages after the Second World War, to the old shops and famous landmark buildings, like the Empire Theatre, dotted throughout.

In the early days, the trolleybuses had cream roofs and carried advertisements for local firms such as well-known bakery Beattie’s Bread and brands as diverse as Dulux, Ovaltine and Kodak.

Some pictures show the difficulties facing linesmen who had to carry out repairs on the complicated overhead wiring system, particularly where it crosses with the tram services. Others will appeal to vintage car fans as they show the changing face of motor vehicles on our streets, from the Hillman Minx to the Ford Consul.

Colin says: “Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to travel on a Glasgow trolleybus as I grew up in Derby, but it has been extremely interesting learning about them.

“The whole system was very short-lived – after just 18 years, it was abandoned, as the price of electricity rose and more and more people bought motor cars.

“Unbelievably, the trolleybuses were all sold for scrap – even some which were just eight or nine years old. I’m not sure what the Glasgow ratepayers of the time had to say about that.”

He adds: “This book is not meant to be a detailed history of the system, but more a pictorial journey along the routes the trolleybuses served.

“I hope Evening Times readers enjoy it, and recognise some of the city in their own memories of Glasgow.”