Glasgow’s new Riverside Museum is now open

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Glasgow’s exciting new Riverside Museum opened its doors to the public on 21st June offering a broad prospective of transport-related items linked to the city, ranging from small models to a 74ft long steam locomotive! Pictured right is the largest object in the museum, the North British-built South African Railways locomotive No 3007, weighing more than 150 tonnes. The smallest vehicle in the museum is a Vanguard model car, weighing less than 85 grams.

Situated by the River Clyde, the contemporary structure, designed by Zaha Hadid, houses more than 3,000 items, twice as many exhibits as the city’s previous transport museum at Kelvin Hall. Outside the building is anchored the Tall Ship Glenlee, one of only five Glasgow-built sailing vessels afloat in the world and the only one in the UK. Inside there are 159 model ships including models of famous examples built on the Clyde such as the Queen Mary.

Road vehicles include the first Hillman Imp and the Subaru Impreza Colin McRae drove to victory in the 1995 World Rally Championship. Also on display are bicycles, skateboards, motor bikes, buses, trams and subway vehicles. There are also three street displays.

Four classic Scottish steam locos are housed in the museum including Caledonian Railway Single 4-2-2 No 123. The massive Class 15F 4-8-2 No 3007 was built by the North British Locomotive Company and spent its working life with South African Railways from 1946 until withdrawn in 1987.

PICTURED: Clockwise from top left - this Sentinel lorry represents steam power on the road; Main Street takes you back to the late 19th and 20th centuries and includes shops, a pub and an entrance to a Subway station; included in a 1960s garage setting is a Triumph Herald and a VW 1300 Beetle; all kinds of horse power are represented in the displays; the first Hillman Imp car to roll off the production line; among the emergency service vehicles displayed is this Strathclyde Police car; part of the impressive wall of cars.

This news story was first published in the August issue of Collectors Gazette. To see which issues of Collectors Gazette are available to buy online, click here.