FOR the best part of 90 years they were a Glasgow institution, a leveller among social classes as refined little old ladies, shipyard workers in their grubby overalls, and city gents in bowler hats sat shoulder-to-shoulder aboard the city's famous trams.

At their peak there were 1200 trams in Glasgow, one passing along Renfield Street every 14 seconds, before the network was decommissioned in 1962 in favour of diesel-powered buses.

Next week marks the 50th anniversary of the last tram procession through the city's streets, which took place on September 4. Lifelong tram enthusiast and author Allan Morrison will be among those paying tribute.

Mr Morrison, 69, from Gourock, Inverclyde, regularly travelled from Glasgow Central to Calton on the No.9 to Auchenshuggle between 1959 and 1961.

Inspiration for his own books, Cummoangetaff and Last Tram Tae Auchenshuggle, came from these experiences as well as a chance encounter he had while working as a volunteer driver for a local hospice.

One day his passenger was a lady who told him about her colourful time as a conductress on the Glasgow buses. Her stories formed the basis for the heroine of his novels, Big Aggie MacDonald, who dishes out no-nonsense patter to fare dodgers, drunks and cheeky weans alike. "It's the human aspect and trademark humour of life on the trams that interests me," he said. "They were the lifeblood of Glasgow. They clanged, shoogled, groaned, swayed, shuddered, lurched and screeched throughout the city. It is reckoned that 10% of marriages in Glasgow at that time came about as a result of meetings on the trams. The cars were so chockablock that chances were you could find yourself standing against a very nice young lady."

The final fare-paying tram left Anderston Cross for Auchenshuggle at 5pm on September 4, 1962. An estimated quarter-of-a-million Glaswegians turned out to see the last tram procession pass by later that evening.

"It shows the affection with which trams were held in the city," said Mr Morrison.

Only 18 of the trams survive: seven at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, the remainder exhibited around the UK, Paris and America. As part of the celebrations, a tram that took part in the last procession will be installed at the Riverside Museum this week, and be open to the public from September 4.

Sadly, the last tram to Auchenshuggle was burned alongside the majority of the fleet, its metal sold for scrap.

"The route of the No.9 tram is now served by a 64 bus from Buchanan Street," Mr Morrison confirmed.