Scottish Tramway and Transport Society facts for kids
The Scottish Tramway and Transport Society is a group that helps save and celebrate old trams and other public transport in Scotland. It was started on June 27, 1951. This society was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom to focus on keeping and preserving trams. Until 1983, it was called the Scottish Tramway Museum Society.
The Society was formed by people who loved trams, mostly from the Glasgow area. Their main goal was to save a special Glasgow tramcar, No. 672, from 1898. This tram was a "Room and Kitchen" type single-deck tram. Today, you can see it at the city's Riverside Museum. The Society tried to save an Aberdeen tram too, but it was harder. Tram 73 was Aberdeen's last double-deck tram with an open top. It was kept for two years, but because there wasn't enough money or space, it had to be scrapped in 1956.
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Saving Scotland's Trams
Scotland's last tramway in Glasgow closed in 1962. After this, the Society worked hard to save several tramcars. Some of these trams can still run today! They are kept at the National Tramway Museum in Crich, near Matlock, in Derbyshire.
In 1963, the Society started its own magazine called "Scottish Tramlines." Later, it was renamed "Scottish Transport." This magazine covers all kinds of public transport in Scotland, both from the past and the present. It also talks about how trams are being saved. The Society has also published many other books for people who are interested in transport. The money made from these books often goes to the National Tramway Museum. This helps them take care of their collection of historic Scottish trams.
Bringing Trams Back to Scotland
In the 1980s, the Society began to campaign for new, modern tram systems in Scotland. They wanted to see trams return to Scottish cities. One of their biggest goals was to have a new tram line in Edinburgh.
Work on the new tram line in Edinburgh started in 2008. After some big delays and disagreements, the tram line finally opened on May 31, 2014. The completion of this project was a huge success for the Society. It showed that one of their main dreams had come true.
Scottish Transport Magazine
The Society's magazine, Scottish Transport, has been published for over fifty years. You can find the newest issue and older issues on the Society's website. This website is a great place to learn more about their work. the societies' website
See also
Former major municipal tramways in Scotland:
- Aberdeen Corporation Tramways (closed in 1958)
- Dundee Corporation Tramways (closed in 1956)
- Edinburgh Corporation Tramways (closed in 1956)
- Glasgow Corporation Tramways (closed in 1962)
Museums:
- Glasgow Museum of Transport (now Riverside Museum)
- Summerlee Heritage Park
- The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
- National Tramway Museum
Other links:
- 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)
