Last 3 years of the city's trams

[wagginfinger]

worked on some bits of trams as an apprentice---but as I started work at Queens Rd in 1959 it was chocker with trams and parts --with only a few buses in the top shop---

well remember as it was a no smoking workshop--some of the men used to go upstairs on the front of trams and lie down to have a drag--

also as with a lot of firms in the past most of the work was carried out "in house"

[little malc]

Westmoors mentions the stopping power of the old trams. They actually had three braking systems, conventional wheel brake that had wooden blocks which pressed against the wheel rim, the track brake, which wound down pressed on the track and could lift the tram some inches, and the reverse current which acted as an electronic brake.

[Minimo]

Thank you for sharing those memories westmoors.

[PeterR]

Hi everyone,

 

I have a question which perhaps one of you tram buffs could kindly answer?

I'm refering to the thread 'Anyone worked at Firth Brown's?' page 16.

We are discussing a photo which is on Picture Sheffield of a tram on Carlisle Street East. I'm wondering why there is apparently a track crossover on the photo.

Sorry I'm not able to give you a direct link, but to see the pic type in u00152 after clicking this....http://www.picturesheffield.co.uk

 

 

Regards, Peter.

Edited February 8, 2015 by PeterR

[sharrovian]

Don't forget you can still ride a tram at Crich tramway museum.

[hillsbro]

...We are discussing a photo which is on Picture Sheffield of a tram on Carlisle Street East. I'm wondering why there is apparently a track crossover on the photo. Sorry I'm not able to give you a direct link, but to see the pic type in u00152 after clicking this....www.picturesheffield.co.uk

Hi Peter - the title of the photo u00152 is "Tram No. 536, Savile Street" (as far as I know, Carlisle Street didn't have trams). It looks like the junction of Savile Street East and Carwood Road, where there was a crossover - here's a map. Apart from their use at a terminus, crossovers were sometimes positioned so that if a tram ended its journey early it could return to the city centre. I remember there was a crossover in Middlewood Road adjacent to the park, which could be used by trams on the Middlewood route that didn't need to go further than Leppings Lane. Edited February 8, 2015 by hillsbro

[PeterR]

Hi Peter - the title of the photo u00152 is "Tram No. 536, Savile Street" (as far as I know, Carlisle Street didn't have trams). It looks like the junction of Savile Street East and Carwood Road, where there was a crossover - here's a map. Apart from their use at a terminus, crossovers were sometimes positioned so that if a tram ended its journey early it could return to the city centre. I remember a similar crossover in Middlewood Road adjacent to the park, which could be used by trams on the Middlewood route that didn't need to go further than Leppings Lane.

 

Hi hillsbro,

 

Temporary malfunction So sorry if I sent you on a wild goose chase

I know it's at the junction of Savile Street East and Carwood Road as I worked at Firth Brown's 1959/65. I would have boarded a tram for Firth Park, up to the closure in 1960, at a few yards left of pic. u00152 .

 

Thankyou for the map showing the layout of the tram tracks at that point.

Your comments about finishing a route early makes complete sence to me in the case in question, as I envisage thousands of workers at Firth Brown's would have only needed to get from the city to as far as that crossover.

 

Regards, Peter.

Edited February 8, 2015 by PeterR

[pippadee]

I believe that Sheffield used single bogey trams because they were perceived to give better traction on our steep hills.

[westmoors]

Hi Peter - the title of the photo u00152 is "Tram No. 536, Savile Street" (as far as I know, Carlisle Street didn't have trams). It looks like the junction of Savile Street East and Carwood Road, where there was a crossover - here's a map. Apart from their use at a terminus, crossovers were sometimes positioned so that if a tram ended its journey early it could return to the city centre. I remember there was a crossover in Middlewood Road adjacent to the park, which could be used by trams on the Middlewood route that didn't need to go further than Leppings Lane.

 

After all these years I don't know just where it is but it looks strange. have a close look at the tracks, it seems as though the tram is coming off a siding instead of one of the proper tracks. There is a cross over there but not enough photo to confirm it fully , but have you noticed that although there seem to be passengers inside there is no overhead trolley in evidence , perhaps they thought it more neat to stow it for the photo !

[hillsbro]

... it seems as though the tram is coming off a siding instead of one of the proper tracks...

That's exactly what I thought, westmoors, but it seems that the rail furthest from the camera cannot be seen very well in the photo. So I downloaded the image and worked on the brightness/contrast with Photoshop. The rail is there, albeit faint, and I've indicated it with arrows on this part of the photo.

.. have you noticed that although there seem to be passengers inside there is no overhead trolley in evidence , perhaps they thought it more neat to stow it for the photo !

Yes - an interesting point! My guess is that this was a special run during "Last Tram Week" in 1960. Trams stopped running to Brightside in 1958 though the tracks might still have been there. No 536 (the last Sheffield tram to be scrapped at T.W. Ward's) looks very clean, and the notices in the windows might have something to do with the "last tram" commemoration. Edited February 8, 2015 by hillsbro