Lost Lines of Wales Series – Brecon to Newport

Lost Tramways: Cardiff

This new strand in the popular Lost Lines of Wales series documents a second area of Wales’ transport heritage, its now lost tramways.

Horse trams were in use in Cardiff from 1872 and were a vital part of the city’s transport, carrying 23 million passengers in 1904. These services evolved over the course of the century, and the development of the tram and its services follows the growth of the city towards becoming the nation’s capital. This rigorously researched account, photo-illustrated throughout, details the history of Cardiff’s tramway and the city at the time when these services were in regular use, guiding you through its story station by station.

Peter Waller is the author of numerous works on British transport history, including several regional studies of its tramways.

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Lost Tramways: Swansea and Mumbles

This new strand in the popular Lost Lines of Wales series documents a second area of Wales’ transport heritage, its now lost tramways.

Public transport has particular significance in Swansea, as it was home to the world’s first passenger railway service, carrying fare-paying customers from 1807; trams succeeded steam locomotives until the line eventually closed in 1960. This title recollects a lost aspect of Welsh heritage and the communities the tramway connected during its heyday. Rigorously researched and photo-illustrated throughout, the book details the history of Swansea’s tramway and the city at the time when these services were in regular use, guiding you through its story station by station.

Peter Waller is the author of numerous works on British transport history, including several regional studies of its tramways.

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Lost Tramways: North Wales

This new strand in the popular Lost Lines of Wales series documents a second area of Wales’ transport heritage, its now lost tramways.

An electric tramway service was in operation between Llandudno and Rhos-on-Sea from 1907, and extended to Colwyn Bay in 1908. The line was finally closed in 1956. This rigorously researched account, photo-illustrated throughout, details the history of the area’s tramway and the character of these popular seaside resorts at the time when trams were in regular use, guiding you through its story station by station.

Peter Waller is the author of numerous works on British transport history, including several regional studies of its tramways.

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Lost Tramways: South Wales and Valleys

This new strand in the popular Lost Lines of Wales series documents a second area of Wales’ transport heritage, its now lost tramways.

Trams were once an everyday sight on the streets of south Wales, with their predecessors, horse-drawn buses, servicing the area since at least 1845. This exploration of a long retired mode of transport gives insight into the daily lives of those in the communities it served, the centres of industry and subsequently of modern Welsh identity throughout this time. The book taps into aspects of life in Wales which have now vanished, and highlights the rich heritage which remains. Rigorously researched and photo-illustrated, the book guides the reader through the story of tram services in south Wales station by station.

Peter Waller is the author of numerous works on British transport history, including several regional studies of its tramways.

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Lost Tramways: Bristol

The city of Bristol once possessed an extensive electric tramway network with routes radiating out from the centre to places like Westbury-on-Trym, Brislington, Hanham and Bedminster Downs. With a history that stretched almost to the dawn of the tramway age and with one of the earliest electric tramways in the country, Bristol was at the forefront of the development of this type of transport. However, when the final trams operated in 1941, the tramway was largely unmodernised, a victim of the very legislation that had permitted its development in the first place. Now, little remains to remind people of this once important form of transport other than historic photographs.

The Lost Tramways of England series documents the tram networks which were at the heart of many of Britain’s growing towns and cities from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Transport expert Peter Waller, author of numerous works on the regional tram systems of the UK, guides you along the route of the network and discusses its key features stop by stop.

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Lost Tramways: Coventry

The city of Coventry was to suffer devastating damage during World War II, with much of its historic centre – including its medieval cathedral – largely destroyed. Amongst the casualties was the city’s small tramway network; never extensive and already under threat before the war started, hostilities had resulted in the tramway initially been given a stay of execution – indeed services were restored to one route – but the attacks by the Luftwaffe, culminating in the disastrous raid of 14 November 1940, saw the final trams operate. Now, however, little remains to remind people of this once important form of transport other than historic photographs.

The Lost Tramways of England series documents the tram networks which were at the heart of many of Britain’s growing towns and cities from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Transport expert Peter Waller, author of numerous works on the regional tram systems of the UK, guides you along the route of the network and discusses its key features stop by stop.

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Lost Tramways: Southampton

During the late 19th century the port and city of Southampton expanded rapidly and, to cater for the growing population, a network of trams – horse initially but latterly electric – grew up. Expanding through until the late 1920s, the next decade saw the system begin to decline but, given a reprieve by the onset of World War II, the remaining trams – many of which were open-top – soldiered on into the years of post-war austerity. It was only in December 1949 that the city finally bade farewell to its last trams but, through the preservation of No 45, Southampton was to play a pivotal role in the development of the tramcar preservation movement. Now, little remains to remind people of this once important form of transport other than historic photographs.

The Lost Tramways of England series documents the tram networks which were at the heart of many of Britain’s growing towns and cities from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century. Transport expert Peter Waller, author of numerous works on the regional tram systems of the UK, guides you along the route of the network and discusses its key features stop by stop.

Additional information