Scottish Tramway and Transport Society facts for kids
The Scottish Tramway and Transport Society is a group that loves trams and other public transport. It was started on June 27, 1951. This group was the first in the United Kingdom to focus on keeping old trams safe. Before 1983, it was called the Scottish Tramway Museum Society. The society began with people who really liked trams, especially in Glasgow. Their first big goal was to save an old Glasgow tramcar, No. 672, from 1898. This tram is now kept in the Riverside Museum in Glasgow. The society also tried to save an Aberdeen tram, No. 73. This tram was Aberdeen's last double-deck tram with an open top. It was stored for two years, but the society did not have enough money or space to keep it. So, it was sadly scrapped in 1956.
Saving Old Trams
Scotland's last tramway closed in Glasgow in 1962. This made the society work even harder to save many tramcars. Some of these trams can still run today. They are kept at the National Tramway Museum in Crich, near Matlock in Derbyshire. The society has helped a lot to keep these historic Scottish trams safe.
The Society's Magazine
In 1963, the society started its own magazine called "Scottish Tramlines." Later, it changed its name to "Scottish Transport." This magazine talks about all kinds of public transport in Scotland, both old and new. It also shares stories about saving old trams. The society has also published many other books. These books are for people who are interested in transport. The money made from these books often goes to the National Tramway Museum. This helps to look after their collection of old Scottish trams. The "Scottish Transport" magazine has been published for over fifty years. You can find the latest issue and older ones on the society's website.
Bringing Trams Back
In the 1980s, the society started to campaign. They wanted modern tram systems to come back to Scotland. Since 2008, work began on building a new tram line in Edinburgh. There were some delays and disagreements, but the line finally opened on May 31, 2014. This was a very important moment for the society. It meant one of their biggest dreams had come true.
See also
- Aberdeen Corporation Tramways (closed in 1958)
- Dundee Corporation Tramways (closed in 1956)
- Edinburgh Corporation Tramways (closed in 1956)
- Glasgow Corporation Tramways (closed in 1962)
- Glasgow Museum of Transport (now Riverside Museum)
- Summerlee Heritage Park
- The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
- National Tramway Museum
- Glasgow Subway
- Light Rail Transit Association
- List of Tramways in Scotland
- Proposals for new tram lines in Edinburgh
- Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
- Trams
- Trams in Europe
- Transport Scotland
- Trolleybuses in Glasgow (1949–1967)
