1950's

My Dad was manager at Bonar Long, and an expert in make-do-and-mend. When Dundee's trams were withdrawn in 1956, Dad bought some tram track and tram chassis. The track was laid in the new Bonar Long factory at Kingsway West, and the chassis converted into a truck to convey transformer oil tanks into a giant oven for storing their enamel and for vacuum testing. Dad also bought some tram seats for our garden, and I still have one of the red leather bolsters.

I was born in 1953, my best memories are from 1958/59 onwards when we lived at 18 Keswick Terrace in Kirkton. I went to Gilburn Primary School and then onto Kirkton High School. I remember my Gran's birthday party in the big shed, which was where the Copper Beach Pub was before they built the Community Centre. I had many happy days at the Den of Mains.

My favourite trams were the Lochee trams, as I lived in the West End of the city, and travelled on them daily. Where as on the East End of the city when I visited my relatives, I found the Downfield to Maryfield trams very uncomfortable, where the Lochee trams were very comfortable. I always remember our regular Conductor on the Lochee trams was always cracking jokes and was known as "nuts & raisins".

In 1956 I was no longer living in Bonnie Dundee. My father Dave Anderson was a long time employee - first a conductor and then an office worker prior to his retirement. Family lived in Kerrsview Terrace, Dundee. Our daughter Deborah visited Dundee and was presented by her grandfather the Dundee Coat of Arms (plaque/disc) taken from the last tram. We still have this momento from this area. Now framed and on display. My twin sister still lives in Dundee, a retired nurse, Betty Urquhart.

My Grandfather had an allotment at City Road, Dundee. His greenhouse was an old Dundee tram. If memory serves me right, he acquired it from a farmer out in the direction of Auchterhouse who had been using it as a henhouse. He and my father and uncle transported it to City Road using a horse and cart where it was duly installed and produced large crops of tomatoes for many years. Read more......