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On the Buses

The following text composed by R. Lynn McIntyre is gratefully acknowledged. It has been abridged from an article on the MHG website: https://www.mearnshistory.org.uk/inde... Western SMT began life on 7th June 1932, more or less as a direct result of the 1930 Road Traffic Act. Work started almost immediately on the Depot in Barrhead Road, occupying the site now taken over by the car park at the Asda side of the Avenue Shopping Mall. It was in full operation before the end of 1932. “The Mearns”, as it was always popularly known, was totally responsible for the services from Glasgow to:- Eaglesham via Clarkston; Mearnskirk via Clarkston; Newton Mearns/Mearnskirk via Giffnock; Neilston via Barrhead and, from 1948, Spiersbridge via Orchard Park. The original and pioneering Glasgow to Blackpool coach service was also operated and this was later expanded to take in other Lancashire destinations jointly with Ribble Motor Services of Preston. Special services were operated for workers at Netherplace Works and Weir’s of Cathcart, and for school girls at Hutchesons’ Girls’ Grammar School at Kingarth Street. Newton Mearns also provided drivers for the overnight service to London when duplication was required, but the buses were usually kept at Kilmarnock. The Depot was a major source of employment for the area, and from the mid ‘40s to the early ‘60s serviced just under 100 buses. (Over 100 would have resulted in enhanced salary scales for some key employees!). Johnny Bell was the much respected (sometimes even feared) manager who had come up through the ranks from the position of boy conductor. Consequently he knew all the tricks and dodges, and his staff recognised they would get away with no infringements of the rules. His standards of maintenance and cleanliness for the fleet and staff in his control were legendary. A bus would never be allowed to leave the depot with an un-repaired dent or scratch, nor would a driver or conductor who had forgotten his/her tie or hat! He was also concerned with the interests of the passengers. On the occasions of a ‘flu epidemic or similar, and there was a consequent shortage of conductors - drivers were not so prone to such illnesses by virtue of their isolation in the cab - he would round up every available member of staff to simply stand on the platform and ring the bell. A properly licensed conductor was required to collect the fares, so the passengers on those occasions would get to work or school on time, and travel free! Newton Mearns residents enjoyed a remarkably good level of service to ‘town’. The basic service for most of the period we are concerned with was every 7/8 minutes, including evenings and Sundays. The Ayr buses left Waterloo Street on the hour and every 15 minutes thereafter, and the Mearns “local” buses likewise from 7 minutes past the hour. In addition, there was considerable duplication at “rush hours”, which in those days included lunch time, and most of the buses operating on the routes from Clyde Street also carried Mearns passengers on their way to commence or finish their duties. No wonder sales of timetables were minimal! One would just go to the nearest bus stop, and a bus would turn up! Regrettably, by the ‘60s the depot was showing its age. Buses were getting larger, and the new facilities required for servicing them just could not be accommodated in the existing premises. Extension was not practicable, as the local authority wanted the ground for a major development of the Mearns Cross area, and in 1968 the whole operation moved to a new purpose-built location at Thornliebank. That wasn’t to last for so long however, and the said local authority now occupies those premises itself.