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	The Class 303 units are just two years old when this photograph was taken in 1962 at Carntyne. The unit is on an Airdrie to Helensburgh service via Singer calling all stops except Kilpatrick and Bowling. Although the trains have been electrified the same can not be said for the station lighting. The gas lights remained for some years.
	This is Milngavie Station in 1962 and the unit will soon depart for Springburn. On these trains a quick sprint up to the front coach is very worthwhile. See why in the next photograph.
	The best seats in the house! The introduction of the "Blue Trains" offered a panoramic view of the line ahead, until now something only ever seen by drivers. In the 1980's, when the units were refurbished, this view was replaced by a boring blank wall. Is this progress? See next photo.
	As mentioned above, this is the replacement view ahead. Retrograde progress indeed! After refurbishment some seating capacity was lost due to the 2 + 2 across arrangement. Fortunately this refurbishment was completed before the interior designers lost the ability to align seats with windows.
	As originally built the accommodation for passengers was bright and modern with very comfortable if somewhat bouncy seating. This is again Milngavie in 1962.
	Anyway, now to January 1968. The British Rail corporate blue colour takes over. Normally the yellow stopped ahead of the cab door but on this occasion the yellow continued to behind the cab. This is Motherwell.
	It's August 1968 and a unit with the more common small yellow warning panel approaches Carntyne Station on a Helensburgh Central to Airdrie service.
	Nearing the end of its journey from Airdrie to Helensburgh Central, a Blue Train approaches the junction at Craigendoran. At this time the double track main line was adjacent to the sea wall. August 1968.
	A unit wearing the corporate British Rail blue is shown here at Springburn. Note that some of the world famous former locomotive construction complexes still exist in the background. The original panoramic curved windows still exist on the driving cabs. April 1969.
	Back on the Airdrie line and this unit is on a Helensburgh Central to Airdrie service and is passing the site of the Beardmore Engineering Works. Photo taken in September 1975 from an abandoned railway overbridge.
	Panning around and the unit is crossing Duke Street and is about to pass the site of where Parkhead North Station once existed. Some of the Beardmore Forge complex can be seen on the right. Part of the Beardmore site is now occupied by a shopping centre named "The Forge".
	Rutherglen Station as it was located before the reopening of the Central Low Level line between Rutherglen and Partick. This unit is on a Glasgow Central to Motherwell service. October 1975.
	Craigendoran and this unit now displays the GG logo, that is the Greater Glasgow Passenger Transport Executive (GGPTE). The driving cabs have now been rebuilt with flat reinforced glass to give greater protection to drivers. That this is necessary is a sad reflection on our society! January 1978.
	Craigendoran, the pier is abandoned and boat trains no longer terminate here. This was before single tracking of the line to Helensburgh Central and the excuse of "points failure at Craigendoran due to high tide and high wind" was used as a failure of service to Helensburgh. Again this is January 1978
	January 1978 at Helensburgh Central. The former goods yard area in the background will soon be occupied by a two level car park and a supermarket, firstly Fine Fare, then Somerfield but now the Co-op. The unit is in the standard BR corporate blue livery with modified cab windows.
	Not all Blue Trains had a long and happy life. This July 1978 scene depicts one such unit that has been withdrawn after accident damage. In the background is Shields Road depot.
	The North Bank electric lines are still much as installed in 1960 with the exceptions of Balloch Central to Balloch Pier and High Street to Bridgeton Central. One unit has now been repainted in the standard British Rail blue grey livery. Bridgeton Central, May 1979.
	Glasgow Central in June 1981. This unit carries the Greater Glasgow Trans Clyde markings and is returning from working a Cathcart Circle service.
	It's March 1982 and we are back at Springburn. The unit is now in the blue grey livery with the Greater Glasgow Trans Clyde markings. The background has changed significantly in that the factories have been demolished.
	The original servicing depot for the Blue Trains was constructed on the site of Hyndland terminus station. It is May 1982 and here a Class 314 unit supplements the original Blue Trains. With the opening of the new maintenance depot at Yoker, this site was abandoned and is now occupied by flats.
	Despite single tracking of the line between Craigendoran and Helensburgh Central previously carried out, the staffed ticket office and passenger waiting room remained. The unit has just commenced its journey to Airdrie. This is Craigendoran in May 1985.
	Public transport now has a new operator in the Greater Glasgow area, Strathclyde Transport. The Blue Trains have now become Strathclyde Red and Black Trains along with the former Glasgow Corporation buses in matching colours. This newly repainted Blue Train is approaching Helensburgh Central in May 1985.
	Blue Trains in the Pennines! After the premature demise of the 1.5 Kv DC Trans Pennine Woodhead line in 1981, all that remained was the passenger service between Manchester Piccadilly to Glossop and Hadfield. This portion was eventually converted to 25Kv AC and some Blue Trains provided service for a short time. May 1986, Hadfield.
	Before the North Bank resignalling took effect there were a significant number of signal boxes in use. In October 1986 we see a westbound unit in the new Strathclyde Transport colours at High Street East Junction signal box.
	At Bellgrove, resignalling and rationalisation removed the signal box and introduced a single lead junction on the Springburn line, with fatal consequences. October 1986.
	Ayr on a Blue Train. Not something passengers could do very often. On this occasion, an extra influx of passengers for the "Golf Link" service to Turnberry required additional trains. At Ayr, passengers transferred on to Class 156 units for the onward journey to Girvan. This is July 1994.
	This is Craigendoran, where the West Highland line diverges from the line to Helensburgh Central. This unit is still in the Strathclyde Red and Black livery of Strathclyde Transport but is now wearing the logo of the current operator, Strathclyde Passenger Transport. This is April 1998.
	This scene at Bowling was made famous at the inauguration of the Blue Trains by a painting by Terence Cuneo. In the painting a westbound Blue Train passes a steam engine on the left and the Erskine Bridge is still way in the future. This is now 1999 and the unit carries Strathclyde Transport livery but has Strathclyde Passenger Transport decals.
	We now come to the final colour scheme carried by the illustrious Blue Trains, the Carmine and Cream livery of Strathclyde Passenger Transport. This is the 08:00 departure from Helensburgh to Springburn, via Singer, in June 2001.
	Seen here in what is probably the most respectable and dignified colour scheme of all the train operating companies, no graffiti yobs posing as graphic artists let loose here, the Blue Trains have reflected many changes over the years. This is again Helensburgh in June 2001.
	A comparison of units, 30 years apart in construction, providing service on North Bank electric lines. On the right a Class 303 Blue Train in Strathclyde Passenger Transport colours poses beside a Class 320, still in Strathclyde Transport livery, awaiting departure from Helensburgh on morning services to Glasgow and beyond, June 2001.
	Under the canopy at Helensburgh Central, the two units some thirty years apart in birth await service eastbound. The Class 303 is in the latest colours of Strathclyde Passenger Transport but the Class 320 in the background remains in former colours of Strathclyde Transport. This is June 2001.
	About to depart Bowling on a June Sunday in 2001 is a Blue Train resplendent in the latest colours of Strathclyde Passenger Transport. Some 318 units have now appeared on the North Bank lines and are starting to usurp the 303's from their home territory of the last forty two years.
	Despite the threat of extinction by 2000, the Blue Trains have proven to be great survivors. This scene is in June 2002 at Newton. Like Bellgrove, Newton was the scene of a fatal collision following the installation of a single lead junction. Unlike Bellgrove, the track layout at Newton was later modified to eliminate this lethal single track hazard.
	A typical Autumn evening in Helensburgh, damp. The first Blue Train, set 303 001, is leading on the 18:24 Helensburgh to Springburn service on the 26th of September 2002. By the way, the purpose of the cone is to warn of a piece of broken platform edging.
	It's Monday the 30th of December 2002 and the last two surviving Class 303 units arrive at Helensburgh Central on their last public appearance. The end of 42 years of service has finally come. Photo by Calum McMahon.
On Monday the 30th of December 2002 the last Blue Trains were retired from regular service.

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