Tramcars 1954

Category

Library Item

Item no

29086

Title

Tramcars 1954

Description

The Bus overtakes the tram about to enter Shandwick Place. Taken from East end of Atholl Crescent on the last Friday of the Corstorphine Trams 1954.

Artist / maker

Dewar, T. M.

Date

1954

Size

15.0 x 20.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

By the 1950's Edinburgh was served by 28 tram routes, all of which ran along or touched Princes Street, and 4 depots, and the system worked well until new housing areas appeared beyond the tram routes in1950, when bus services began for those areas. In the same year, it was proposed that 25% of the system be scrapped in favour of buses and there began a gradual withdrawal of routes.

The last trams ran on 16th November 1956, with a procession making the final journey south to the depot at Shrubhill. They carried local dignitaries and members of the public, many of whom were tram enthusiasts. Presentations were made at the Mound by the Lord Provost to the last crews. Local people lined the routes to see the passing of the last trams and there was a large number of police present at the Shrubhill Depot to maintain order. As the final tramcar passed through, the gates were closed after them, thus ending the era of Edinburgh's trams.
Discover the history of Edinburgh's trams in Our Town Stories .

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Places > Edinburgh areas > West End

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Transport > Infrastructure > Cobbled streets

Transport > Infrastructure > Street lights

Transport > Infrastructure > Tramlines

Transport > Land > Buses

Transport > Land > Trams