The Modern Tramway Journal in the mid-20th century ...

[rogerfarnworth]

‘The Modern Tramway‘ was the title of the journal of the Light Railway Transport League.

I picked up a small batch of copies of The Modern Tramway Journal which included volumes from the 1950s, 1960s and 1980s and have begun reading through them. The first Journal that I have is dated 15th July 1953. At the time of writing it is almost 70 years old.

Volume 16 No. 187 of July 1953 starts with an item entitled, “Tramways and the Press.” Starting with a specific instance of dubious reporting by the national dailies about tram parts being sent to Egypt, the article bemoans the way that tramways were increasingly being seen by the public, led by the press, as an outmoded form of transport.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/06/07/th ... ay-part-1/

[rogerfarnworth]

A second extract from The Modern Tramway Journal in 1953. .......

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/06/08/th ... ay-part-2/

[glencairn]

An interesting thread, rogerfarnworth.
Amazing how life turns a full circle. Trams classed as outmoded transport and some ending up in museums. Now they are coming back.

Glencairn

[rogerfarnworth]

Yes Glencairn, I am enjoying delving into these old journals. ...

This next note is about The Modern Tramway Journal from August 1953. ...

The editorial focussed on public attitudes to the final replacement of London's trams. ....

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/06/11/th ... ay-part-3/

[glencairn]

As London preferred buses a number of their Feltham trams were sold to Leeds.
I was a 4 to 6 year old living with my grandparents in Gipton (outskirts of Leeds). The trams we travelled on were 'Felthams'. To me they appeared far superior to the trams I travelled on to Meanwood.

Glencairn

[rogerfarnworth]

Thank you Gelcairn

This is another note about an article in The Modern Tramway. ...

Still in 1953. ... August of that year.

It is about a visit to Ireland by members of the Light Railway Transport League in June 1953.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/06/13/th ... june-1953/

[glencairn]

Interesting indeed, Roger. Thanks for posting.

A (good) few years back I was part of a team in restoring trams at N.E.E.T.T. in Sunderland. A number of trams came from Blackpool and two from Germany.

Now trams are returning.

A tram outside Amsterdam Central Railway Station 30th May 2023

Glencairn

[Jaz]

Love trams, and have got them for my layout, at present only one is in working order, and the Blackpool area they need is not initiated ,the others are able to sit in place and whistle innocently lol

[rogerfarnworth]

The Modern Tramway again - April 1954. ...

Professional thinking in London in the early 1950s was that tramway modernisation would reduce road accidents. Accordingly, The Light Railway Transport League was invited to exhibit at a number of post-war Road Safety Exhibitions.

However, on 1st January 1954, a London Transport Executive press release carried the title 'Tram Scrapping has reduced London accidents'. This claim was based on a study "undertaken ... by the Road Research Laboratory of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and summarised in a Report issued towards the end of [1953]."

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/06/15/th ... accidents/

[glencairn]

Thank you again for posting. Very interesting.

IMO A case of any excuse to do away with trams. Apart from not improving the network number 5 is a classic for closure.
Do not maintain the trams. 'Run them to death'. Therefore accidents will happen. Not safe! The end.

Glencairn

[rogerfarnworth]

Yes, Glencairn.

The Modern Tramway again. .....

Articulated trams are relatively normal in today's world. There was a time when this was not the case. Much of Europe, save for the Italians, preferred to create tram trains from individual units and trailers. This was seen as being a more flexible policy.

Stuttgart decided to to try out articulated vehicles in the 1950s.

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/06/15/th ... stuttgart/

[rogerfarnworth]

The Modern Tramway again. .....

In January 1957 the Journal reported on the decision by the Manx Government to take over the Manx Electric Tramway. ......

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/06/19/th ... c-railway/

[rogerfarnworth]

'The Modern Tramway’ – Leeds City Tramways, 1956. …

The Modern Tramway Journal in February 1957 carried an article about the tramways of Leeds. The data for the article was collated by A.K. Terry and the article was written by J.H. Price.

The Suez crisis brought a temporary halt to a number of things within the UK economy. One of these was the planned scrapping of the tram routes and tramcars in Leeds. That pause provided the opportunity for the Light Railway Transport League to compile a map, fleet list and list of services for the city. ...

http://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/06/22/th ... ways-1956/

[glencairn]

Leeds City Tramways.

That took me back. Being on the tram from Gipton to the City Centre. A tram then to Meanwood. The must have been as uncomfortable as hell, but as a young lad of three or four such thoughts did not arise. I never saw Swinegate Tram Depot in use.

We moved to Seacroft before the trams stopped running to Gipton. Family at Meanwood moved to Earlsheaton near Dewsbury. Therefore journies were made by bus. The bus to Dewsbury was from Sovereign Street, next door to the old tram depot. Unfortunately, (although I could see in) the trams had gone.

rogerfarnworth - Thanks for posting.

Glencairn

[rogerfarnworth]

You are welcome, Glencairn.