Trams
Ride in a Tramcar
Although my father had a car my parents often took me on public transport. It was 1956 and I was 6 years of age when my father took me for a ride in a tramcar before the Dundee trams were withdrawn from service. Read more......
Tram Tricks
Missed the train to Blairgowrie by minutes?
Nae bother ... up the High Street for the Downfield tram and then wait until the train circled round by Liff, Lochee West etc, and get on it at Downfield at your leisure! Read more......
Tram Times
My first recollection of the trams in Dundee was when we live in Lochee and I would watch them from our window. During the General Strike in 1926 my mother took me downtown in a tram. She said it was driven by blackleg drivers (all the transport workers were on strike). I went to the front of the tram to see these 'blacklegs'. However the driver was in a civilian suit with a policeman sitting beside him. Read more......
Tramways Treat to the Bairns
To qualify for the Tramway Treat to the bairns at Christmas time, children were picked from local schools. I remember ripping my jumper and being chosen. The Treat was in the Breakfast Hall in Constitution Road where every one got some food and we played games. I think I would have been about 7 or 8 years old.
Another Runaway Tram
On the Maryfield line, just before the Arbroath Road on Albert Street a fellow had parked his horse and cart. The tram driver decided that there was not enough room to pass, he decided to go into nearby shops to look for the carter but the tram's air brake leaked and the tram, full of passengers ran right down Princes Street and King Street to the Gaumont Cinema. Mr Charles Broadley, Superintendent, took charge of the situation, fortunately no one was hurt.
Runaway Tram
Six trams went up in convoy to Den's Park with the football fans on board. Unloading and parking on Provost Road. Tram drivers got into the match for free and this day the driver of the last tram in the convoy, in a special hurry to get into the match, omitted to put on the tram brake. The tram, sitting on a brae, started to run down Provost Road. A policeman spotted the runaway tram and stopped all the traffic coming down Moncur Crescent, to let the tram run past, it came to a stop at Isla Street because of the gradient there. No one was hurt.
Tram Driver
I started off as a tram Conductor for two years, most of us always started here and then learned tram driving. An Inspector trained me. I began as a spare driver and was then given a steady line on the Blackie to Downfield line. I started in 1947, after leaving the army and worked until 1956 when the trams were taken out of service, any driver under the age of 50 could train as a bus driver.
My Favourite Route
My favourite route has to be Downfield. I travelled for many years to work and for pleasure on the Downfield tram. When we came back to Dundee, Downfield was almost a village before it extended as it is to-day. Monday morning many of us would get on the tram at School Road and for seating for us all, it would be the semi-circular seat at the back upstairs. There was much hilarity as the Saturday night at the Palais was recalled. The Conductors knew you and took an interest in the current boyfriends. You were greeted by most people who you met regularly. Read more......
Poor Wee Soul
When I was 10 years old my family moved to a new house in Kirkton. One morning when the snow fell heavily my Dad took me with him get a bag of coke to boost our coal supply, from a coal merchant at Clepington Road. Read more......
Delightful Trams
My memories of the trams were, they were transport of delight - should never have been disposed of. I was 12 the day after the trams went off for good, it broke my heart. Read more......
