Trams

My grandparents lived at Dunmore Lodge Ninewells on the Perth Road. As a child when my parents would take the journey from Birmingham to Dundee I would look forward to the walks down to the River Tay and the tram journey into the city. As I got older I was trusted to go on the tram each morning to fetch the hot morning rolls for breakfast. My grandfather worked as a gardener for the Dundee Council and set out the gardens at Magdalene Green and near to the Tay Rail Bridge. He died aged 100 at "The Rowans" nursing home. Read more......

I was on the last tram (I was 11). We were able to get mementos at the end of the journey, like the driver's seat etc. If I remember correctly the tram was pretty much stripped. My father worked for Dundee Corporation at that time as a bus driver.

I was employed with D.C.T Department as a tram driver and drove on the Downfield to Blackness, the Maryfield to Ninewells, Lochee to the Auld Steeple routes and the football trams to the Dens Park games. I enjoyed working on all these routes. Read more......

I remember as a child going on a tram from Ninewells to Sinderins on the way to the family doctor up Blackness Avenue for our vaccinations, we had a drink from one of the water fountains. It had a chain with a bell shaped cup on the end. My mother used to get the coach built pram on one end of the tram and the driver used to fix it on. Of course she had to take the baby out. Read more......

(Sung to the traditional tune of 'A pair o' Nicky Tams')

'Twas the end-o-the-line for the Dundee trams - October '56
The bairn o' the Lochee route'll be up tae nae mair o' her tricks
At twenty-past the midnicht 'oor she rumbl'ed thro' Dundee
A' the wey frae Maryfield tae her journey's end - Lochee Read more......

I can remember the very last Lochee tram to run as it stopped outside our building at 78 Lochee Road. At that time I was with my father who got the sign 'WAIT TILL TRAM STOPS' from a chap who had taken it down from its position at the rear of the tram. Read more......

I was age 7 and had just been to the dentist to have teeth taken out, and had had gas. My father and I got on the tram in the High Street, the tram was crowded and Dad let me sit as I didn't feel too well. We spotted my grandparents at the front of the tram but couldn't get near them. As the tram moved off I felt very sick and told my father who brought out his hanky, but it was too late. I was sick all over my Dad's coat, the tram seat and the floor. The conductor told my Dad he would need to pay, I think it was sixpence to have the tram cleaned and luckily my Granny paid it as my Dad didn't have sixpence. Read more......

I remember at the start of the Second World War, when every civilian in the country received a gas mask. This Lochee tram was travelling up Lochee Road, in the afternoon. The driver suddenly opened the passengers door and shouted "they are dropping gas bombs, get you gas masks on". Well panic broke out. After about ten minutes it cleared up. They discovered it was only a house chimney on fire. Read more......