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The circular route is 10.4 km long, and extends both north and south of the River Clyde. It was opened in 1896, making Glasgow's system the third-oldest underground rail system in the world after London and Budapest. It is one of the few metro systems that have never expanded from its original route. The tracks have the unusual narrow gauge of 4 feet (1.22 m), and the tunnel diameter of 11 feet (3.35 m) is even smaller than on the London Underground. Because of Glasgow's geology, the subway had to be cut with great difficulty through solid rock; this accounts for both the small size of the tunnels and the failure to expand the system.
The subway is not the oldest underground railway in Glasgow itself, however; that distinction belongs to a 3-mile stretch of the North Clyde line of the suburban railway network which runs in a sub-surface tunnel under the city centre between High Street and Charing Cross.
The subway's running lines are entirely underground, but the maintenance depot at Broomloan Road (located between the Govan and Ibrox stations) is above ground, as was the earlier depot, also at Govan.
As built and opened on December 14 1896 by the Glasgow District Subway Company, it was a clutch and cable-powered line. Rather than installing a second cable to allow trains to reach the depot, they were transferred to and from the running lines by crane; this also meant that the two tracks could be completely separate, with no points anywhere. The city took over the company in 1923Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 Events January 1 Grouping of all UK railway companies into four larg, and in 1935Events January January 1 Italian colonies of Tripoli and Kyrenaika are joined together as Libya January 7 World War II: Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French foreign minister Pierre Laval conclude agreement in which each power undertakes not to oppo the existing trains were converted to electric power delivered by a third railA third rail is a method of providing electricity to power a railroad, typically a mass transit system. Well-known examples of rail transit systems utilizing a third rail include the New York City subway system, the Los Angeles and Washington, D. Metro sy. From March to December 1935, clockwise trains were cable-powered while anticlockwise ones were electric. The original rolling stock, thus converted, ran until 1977For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). Events January 1 First woman Episcopal priest ordained January 6 EMI sacks the Sex Pistols January 18 Scientists identify a previously unknown bacterium as the cause of the mysterious " legionnaire's disease" Januar when the system was shut down for a major refurbishment and modernisation. Badly deteriorated tunnels were repaired, stations were enlarged, heavier track was installed, the new Broomloan Road depot was built along with connecting tracks (with points) to replace the crane transfer, and new electrical supply from Westinghouse Electric CorporationWestinghouse logo (designed by Paul Rand) The Westinghouse Electric Company headquartered in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, is an organization founded by George Westinghouse in 1886. George Westinghouse had previously founded the Westinghouse Air Brake Compan was installed. The line reopened in 19801980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. Events January-February January 1- April 1 National steel strike in United Kingdom January 1 Changes to the Swedish Act of Succession creates Victoria of Sweden, Crown Princess over her younger brother January 5 He, using new rolling stock by Metro Cammell with GEC electric motors.
Prior to the modernisation, the stations had a unique earthy smell. The backs of the seats were attached to the sides of the carriages, which moved semi-independently from the floor (to which the seats themselves were attached), leading to passengers being rocked forwards and backwards as the carriage "shoogelt" passengers around.
The system is run by Strathclyde Passenger Transport. __NOTOC__