Crowds around electric tram at Pilrig

Item no

51076

Title

Description

Large crowd gathers around a tram on Leith Walk at junction with Pilrig Street in front of Pilrig St Paul's Church, possibly to witness the first through tram travelling from Leith into Edinburgh.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1922

Size

15.2 x 10.2 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh City Archives

This site had become known as the 'Pilrig Muddle' in reference to the problem of commuters travelling between Leith and Edinburgh having to stop and shift between the two different tram systems. Leith had moved from a horse-drawn service to adopt electrification from 1904 whilst Edinburgh had introduced the cable-car system.

One of the results of the Edinburgh Boundaries Extension & Tramways Act of 1920 and the amalgamation of Leith and Edinburgh was a unification and expansion of the tram network to the outlying districts newly brought into the city.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

People > Adults > Crowds

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith

Places > Edinburgh areas > Leith Walk

Religion > Religious facilities > Churches

Transport > Infrastructure > Streets

Transport > Land > Trams