DMU Operations: Scottish Region
Glasgow - Wemyss Bay / Gourock
The Inverclyde lines ran from Glasgow Central along the southern bank of the River Clyde, dividing after Port Glasgow to Gourock and Wemyss Bay.
DMUs were introduced to some Sunday services to Gourock from 1 October 1961, using set allocated to Hamilton depot.
In February 1966, in a push to eliminate steam, a number of DMUs were received from the NER — they joined the sets already working the Gourock line, and the DMUs began on Wemyss Bay services from February 28th.
The routes were electrified in June 1967, the DMUs being replaced by AM11 (Class 311) EMUs.
Sample Timetables
11th September 1961 to 17th June 1962
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was Table 11 (1.2 mb pdf).
18th June to 9th September 1962
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was in Table 11 (1.0 mb pdf).
10th September 1962 to 16th June 1963
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was Table 11 (1.1 mb pdf).
17th June to 8th September 1963
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was Table 11 (0.9 mb pdf).
9th September 1963 to 14th June 1964
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was Table 11 (1.2 mb pdf).
15th June to 6th September 1964
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was Table 11 (1.0 mb pdf).
7th September 1964 to 13th June 1965
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was Table 11 (1.3 mb pdf).
14 June 1965 to 17 April 1966
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was Table 12 (1.6 mb pdf).
18 April 1966 to 5 March 1967
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was Table 10 (1.5 mb pdf).
6 March 1967 until further notice
In the Passenger Services Scotland timetable it was Table 10 (1.2 mb pdf).
Images
13th May 1965
A Scottish Region publicity image, negative 18727, showing a three-car Met-Camm DMU departing from Wemyss Bay on 13 May 1965. Image courtesy of the AA McLean Collection. British Railways.
15th September 1965
Two Class 107 dmus approaching Wemyss Bay from Glasgow Central on 15-09-1965. Credited to David M. Lindsay, this is a scan of a commercial postcard. Gordon Thomson Collection.
1966
A GRC&W twin set at Bogston station with a Glasgow Central - Gourock service in 1966. Stuart Mackay Collection.
1966
A Derby and a Met-Camm triple depart Glasgow Central with a service for Gourock sometime in 1966. Sc52004 is closest, the lining on the Derby set looks like it could be white. The Met-Camm appears to have two DMBSs, two of the cars are in DMU green with original lining, the third in the darker shade and revised lining. Stuart Mackay Collection.
12th March 1966
DMUs in Gourock station on March 12, 1966, the last day of semaphore signals. The formation is a three-car Class 107 (right) and a two-car Class 108 (left), the 108 DTC visible seems to be Sc56202 which had been transferred from the NER the previous month and would remain on the ScR for another two years. Corriebob.
12th March 1966
A two-car Class 108 and three-car Class 107 arrive into Gourock with a service from Glasgow on March 12, 1966, the last day of semaphore signals. The DTC on the 108 seems to be 56202, which means the power car closest is almost certainly 50611. They had been transferred from the NER the previous month, the power car has a distinct darker patch under the Sc where the previous prefix had been painted over. Corriebob.
23rd April 1966
Derby and Met-Camm triple DMUs approaching Gourock on 23 April 1966. A few electrification masts have been erected, EMUs would take over the service in June 1967. Stuart Mackay Collection.
circa 1967
A Class 101 arrives into Greenock Central station with a Glasgow bound service. Probably taken in 1967, just prior to the electrics taking over. Stuart Rankin.
28th January 1967
A Derby triple set forms the 14:23 Glasgow Central - Wemyss Bay service seen departing from Upper Greenock on 28 January 1967. Stuart Mackay Collection.
28th January 1967
Two Derby triple sets form the 14:33 Glasgow Central - Wemyss Bay service seen in Upper Greenock station on 28 January 1967. Stuart Mackay Collection.
24th April 1967
A Derby triple set forms the 14:06 Glasgow Central - Wemyss Bay service seen in Port Glasgow station on 24 April 1967. Stuart Mackay Collection.
June 1967
A 100, 101 and 107 in Gourock station in early June 1967, taken on what was probably the last weekend of DMUs before the electrics took over on June 5th. Corriebob.
June 1967
Gourock station is full of DMUs during the last week of diesels in June 1967, including GRCW, Met-Camm and Derby types. corriebob.