Chris Thornburn has been passionate about preserving tramway heritage for the best part of 70 years. In his tenth decade, he has written what appears to be a unique and irreplaceable contribution to British tramway literature – his forthcoming book “On Top o’ t’ Job”.
British transport literature is rich in tramway histories, but authentic first-person operational accounts by tram workers are rare. As far as Chris knows, only four books have been written by the platform staff who actually operated Britain’s tramway systems: Stan Collins’ classic London memoir “The Wheels Used to Talk to Us”; “Clippie”, the autobiography of WW2 Sheffield conductress Zelma Katin; “Bare Empty Sheds” by Gil Gilmartin, conductor and driver on London Transport 1947-52 and William Tollan’s student-conductor Glasgow reminiscences of the early’50s, “The Wearing of the Green”.
This scarcity makes the preservation of such experiences not just valuable, but historically critical.
About the Author and Historical Context
During the summer vacation periods of 1955, 1956, and 1957, Chris worked as a student conductor on the Leeds City Transport tram system. What makes this experience historically significant is that he witnessed the inexorable decline and rundown of the Leeds trams during the middle three years of their abandonment, which ended at the final closure, November 7th, 1959, when he bade farewell to several of his former colleagues.
This book is a comprehensive development of his experiences. Its focus is the crew who operated the trams, not merely what they did, but how it was done. Running to 208 pages with a full index, it represents the only detailed first-person account of working as a conductor during the closure period of a British provincial tramway system.
The Unique Historical Value of “On Top o’ t’ Job”
This wasn’t merely holiday employment; it was bearing witness to the end of an era. Chris learned the job from experienced drivers and conductors who had dedicated their working lives to the trams, absorbing not just technical procedures but the culture, traditions, and human drama of a transport system facing extinction. The knowledge and perspective he gained cannot be replicated – the experience no longer exists, no new accounts can be written. There are not many of people like Chris left now who have direct experience of working on first-generation tramways, and they are getting fewer.
Comprehensive Coverage of Tramway Operations
The book extensively details the training, “Patterns of Work”, and covers the various facets of the job on the road, including:
- Vocabulary – The specialised language and terminology of tramway operations
- Inspection – Daily procedures and safety protocols
- Regular rotas – Shift patterns and scheduling systems
- Changeovers – Crew transition procedures at termini
- Money – Fare collection, accounting, and ticket systems
- Weather – Operational challenges in different conditions
- Traffic lights – Navigation and priority systems
- Telephones – Communication networks and procedures
- Points – Track switching and route management
- Unplanned Occurrences – Emergency procedures and problem-solving
Beyond Basic Operations: Historical Analysis
A wider front provides detailed analysis, including:
- Individual tram movements on their Final Day – Documenting the last operational services
- Statistical analysis of ticketing – Comprehensive examination of fare systems and passenger data
- Comparison of 1930s tram designs from the conductor’s viewpoint – Technical assessment from operational experience
- Touches on humour – The lighter side of tramway life and workplace culture
The book links to driving, as the conductor is one of a team, and brings in other tramways in Great Britain and abroad for comparison, providing a broader context for the Leeds experience.
Lavish Photographic Documentation
The book is lavishly illustrated with some 130 of my own photographs, all pertinent to a point in the text and many showing the trams in their context at work. These contemporary images provide visual documentation that cannot be replicated.
Irreplaceable Primary Source Material
The book presents considerable supporting contemporary documentation retained from my service, which exists nowhere else in tramway literature. This scarcity is permanent because the material no longer exists in use.
Far from being “just another picture-book”, this work is very different from others and is essential reading for anyone interested in traditional tramway operation. For heritage societies and transport museums, it belongs in reference collections alongside Jim Soper’s comprehensive Leeds histories and the other memoirs; along with the latter, it provides the missing piece – the human operational perspective that complements corporate and technical accounts. Academic and research libraries should consider it essential for transport history collections; as a primary source document with contemporary materials, it offers research value that secondary sources cannot provide.
Preserving Historical Heritage
This book fills a permanent gap in British transport literature. More importantly, it honours the memory and preserves the expertise of the thousands of men and women who operated Britain’s urban tramways with skill, dedication, and pride during both their golden age and their inevitable decline.
It represents more than a book purchase – it’s supporting the preservation of working-class heritage and transport history that would otherwise be lost forever. Every copy sold helps ensure this unique perspective remains available for researchers, enthusiasts, and future generations interested in how Britain’s tramway systems actually operated.
To Obtain the Book
We’re finalising printing arrangements and need an accurate demand assessment to ensure this historical document reaches appropriate collections whilst maintaining reasonable pricing. The book will retail at £35.00, with your expression of interest – whether as individuals or group orders for your society – directly impacting our ability to preserve this irreplaceable account for future generations.
To express interest in “On Top o’ t’ Job,” please contact us at info@memoriesofmotion.co.uk.
Please indicate:
- Number of copies you’d be interested in securing
- Whether you’re ordering individually or representing a group/society
- Any special requirements (signed copies, institutional invoicing, etc.)
- Your organisation’s name (if applicable)
The opportunity to acquire this unique historical document is limited by our print run determination. We encourage early expressions of interest to ensure availability and optimal pricing.
Chris C Thornburn
Former Leeds Tram Conductor (Badge Numbers 663, 73, 230)
Author, “On Top o’ t’ Job”
That sounds exciting – I’ll definitely order a copy.
Another book written by the platform staff who actually operated Britain’s tramway systems was “The Novice’s Guide to Electric Car Driving” by Edwin W. Elsley, probably dating from the early years of the 20th century, and reprinted in November 1964 (price five shillings!) under the auspices of the Manchester Transport Historical Collection.
I should have added that the reprint was issued under the rather snappier title “How to Drive a Tram”.
I look forward to further announcements and would expect to order a copy for my personal use.