Around the Edinburgh Tramway System – with Peter Mitchell

Description

The photographs in this book were taken by the late Peter Mitchell on his visits to the Scottish Tramways systems in the early 1950s. He stayed in Edinburgh in June 1951 when the system was almost intact and again in July 1955 when 13 of the original routes were still running. Regrettably he did not visit the city for the final closure on 16th of November 1956.

During his visits Peter took over 240 high quality photographs, all but two of which are included in this book. The location, date and time of every image was recorded, which helps us to trace his movements which were either by tram or on foot. He covered all of the routes and photographed almost every type of car. 

Edinburgh Corporation experimental tram 180 was at the forefront of British modern tramcar development and photographs of it and most of the subsequent experimental cars by various manufacturers are included.

A fold-out map by John Gillham is included to assist those who may not be familiar with the city.

The authors have largely adopted a similar format to the earlier book on Glasgow, namely, on a route-by-route basis but with the addition of a map of each route.

The photographs not only record the trams in various settings but give an insight into the people of the city, their fashions, the shops, vehicles and other features of that time. The soot-stained buildings also convey the mood of those days.

This collection of photographs will be of interest to historians as well as modellers and those with an interest in trams.