Edinburgh Corporation Tramways

These lines complemented and partly replaced the pre-existing horse-drawn carriage from Edinburgh to Leith, the only essential difference being the addition of guide rails.

This had its depot and drive-mechanism on Henderson Row, a building partially preserved in the Royal London (formerly Scottish Life Assurance) offices there.

[1] The system remained under the overall control of R. S. Pilcher, who had joined the company in 1918 having previously run Aberdeen Corporation Tramways.

The cable was housed in a shallow trough between the tram rails; breakages could reduce the entire system to a standstill.

An underground chamber at the main turn into the garages here was permanently staffed during operating hours to try to reduce cable-snagging.

[3] This confused exchange of passengers was known locally as "the Pilrig muddle", and lasted until the electrification of the Edinburgh system.

Edinburgh's last tram operated on 16 November 1956, terminating at the Shrubhill Depot on Leith Walk (archive film footage exists of the event).

In reality, the policy was largely due to a change of local political power in the city in 1950 and to the appointment of William Morrison Little as General Manager in 1950.

The increased popularity of the motor car in post-war Britain created an environment in which trams were seen generally as archaic and as an obstruction to other traffic.

This led to some anomalies which still existed in 2010[update], such as the absence of buses on the Pleasance—a major city artery—which was too steep at its northern end for trams.

The first Edinburgh Corporation Tram Manager was R. Stuart Pilcher who was appointed at the early age of 24 in 1919 having previously worked in Aberdeen.

[9] In 1921 he was responsible for establishing a trade organisation which eventually became part of the Scottish Council of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).

At the luncheon held on 15 January 1929 to mark his departure from Edinburgh and in response to Lord Provost Sir Alexander Stevenson's remarks, he said that "they deliberately planned the changeover so as not to affect public opinion.

Between 1922 and 1934, 240 Edinburgh Standard cars were built by the Corporation's Shrubhill Works and four private builders (McHardy & Elliot, Leeds Forge, English Electric and Pickering).

These were of five-bay composite construction, being a development of the Red Biddy but with flat corner glass, domed roofs and various other refinements.

Although relatively modern cars dating from 1930 to 1932, they were in very poor condition when they arrived in Edinburgh and required extensive refurbishment before entering service.

A new light rail tramline from Edinburgh Airport to York Place (in the city centre) opened on Saturday 31 May 2014.