The Hidden Glasgow Forums

I was taking a look at various aeriel photos on the SCRAN site and there was one that i found particulalry intriguing. I know I can't post it here so I'll describe it (folk who have access to the site will be able to find the photo). It's a shot of the north end of Buchanan St overlooking the station in the mid 60s and the most imposing feature is a massive funnel to the immediate north east. There is a faily large factory building next to it as well and tenement buildings directly in front of it. It must have been removed for the M8 construction and looks like its in the Port Dundas area. It doesn't appear East enough to be the St Rollox chemical works at Sighthill, but I'm not certain. Can't locate it on old maps so could anyone shed light on what this was and when it came down?

It's the type of concrete tapered funnel you would see at remote power stations - I didn't expect to see one in a city.

There's a picture of this from St Georges Cross somewhere on the 'Past and Present' thread (if you can find it ). Was quite surprised to see it myself.

Its called a cooling tower. It was the tower for Pinkston Power Station, no idea when it came down though it would be quite interesting if it was still there.

They could even do a mural on it, like they did here, at one of the Rhone nuclear plants...

Yep, that's the fella. How would this compare in size to, say, the UGC cinema building or Red Road flats?

Most would be a bit taller than the Red Road flats Id say, depends how big it was though. The ones in Gardanne (Provence) near where I used to live are about 100m each, Red Road is about 90-ish...

Yeah it should have stayed

It would probably be really cheap to build a new one, and face it, it would be better then 'Elphinstone Place'

glasgowken wrote:

Yeah it should have stayed

Is that the Buchanan St tunnel portal on the right?

vinny wrote:

glasgowken wrote:

Yeah it should have stayed

Is that the Buchanan St tunnel portal on the right?

Yes it is

Vladimir wrote:It would probably be really cheap to build a new one, and face it, it would be better then 'Elphinstone Place' ::):

And we could do a remake of 'Brazil', too .

Is it not the Queen Street tunnel mouth ?
The path is on the old OS maps.

GlasgowKen wrote:Is it not the Queen Street tunnel mouth ?

Yes it is, that is Pinkston Road bridge crossing the line just to the north of the tunnel.
The precise position of the centre of the Tower is 55deg 52min 19.4 sec North, 4deg 14min 48.9sec West on Livelocal, the ground is currently vacant but the bend in the canal is still clearly visible. The low building immediately behind the tower can still be seen.

Great Photo BTW

JBH

I have some pics of the Braehead Power Station Chimney Demolition from 1999, I will dig them out & scan them, I know it`s not Glasgow but I couldn`t find anywhere else to post them.

Looking forward to seeing them it's a building I didn't bother photographing.
Did you get any interior shots of the power station?

This is only pic I have of it with the Renfrew Rose and tug Elkhound c.1989






Interestingly HG had wee a play about on the blue crane amongst a few others in that yard

Was that on an HG trip ?