The first volume of a new book series that will cover the history of tramway operations in the British Isles has just been released. This first book concentrates on Yorkshire and North East England and is written by established author Peter Waller with the publishers being Pen & Sword Books.
The book provides an overview of the history of tramways in the region from the 1860s through to the closures of the last traditional tramways in 1960 (Sheffield). Concentrating on the systems that survived into 1945 the book provides a comprehensive narrative, detailing the history of these operations from 1945 with full fleet lists, maps and details of route openings and closures. There are some 200 illustrations many of which have never previously been published. Unlike many other tram books which end with the closure of the last traditional tramways this book also looks at the two second generation lines in the area – the Tyne and Wear Metro and Sheffield Supertram. And to round it off you can find out just where you can view surviving first generation trams in preservation.
The book costs £25 and should be available from all good transport book retailers.
If you go on to the publishers website you get £5 off the price, plus you can pre-order the next one of the series, which is about Scottish systems.