C R Smith were the company who started it all with advertising on Edinburgh Trams and at one time had no fewer than 20 trams carrying their adverts. In recent years their numbers had dwindled until earlier this year they were down to two trams (265 and 266) which was thought to mark the end of their connection to the tramway. But worry not as they are coming back with 252 and 259 receiving new vinyls to bring the firm back up to four trams!
Both 252 and 259 had previous adverts for C R Smith with 252 losing its version (Banockburn to Dundee) in March 2026 and 259 (Carrbridge to The Forth) in May 2026. Since then 252 has had three different ads (Omni Centre, Scotland Football, Edinburgh International Festival) whilst 259 just had a design for Graham’s Family Dairy – but they were obviously missing C R Smith as new vinyls are now on the trams!
The two adverts of the similar type to the previous C R Smith adverts with just sections three and five including full height vinyls and the rest of the tram just featuring above the window ads.
The adverts also mark a return to the “from… to…” campaign with 252 being from Glasgow to Peterhead (and featuring the famous statue of the Duke of Wellington complete with traffic cone on his head as well as a lighthouse in Peterhead) on one side and from Inverness to Edinburgh on the other (the Flying Scotsman and an Edinburgh tram). For 259 its from Lochmaben to Dunfermline (including the statue of King Robert the Bruce and Dunfermline Abbey and Palace) on one side with the other not currently confirmed.
265 and 266 also currently retain their C R Smith adverts (applied Juen 2018 and August 2017 respectively).
252 on Princes Street with its full new advert.
Looking along the tram and see we the full height advert featuring the Flying Scotsman and an Edinburgh tram. (Photographs x2 by Roy Calderwood. 29th August 2026)
A close view of the from Glasgow to Peterhead vinyl on 252.
Moving on to take a look at 259 as the tram is on Leith Walk following an overhead incident.
A view of some of the detail on the advert with “from Lochmaben to Dunfermline” featuring on this side. (Photographs x3 by Roy Calderwood, 3rd September 2026)