Now obviously in 2026 you can\u2019t take the tram to Edinburgh Zoo (Balgreen is the closest stop on the modern tram network and that is around a mile away) but back in the days of the original tram network it was possible with three different routes serving the attraction. Memories of those days have recently come to the fore with a series of signs across the city telling the story of the Zoo (which opened in 1913) \u2013 including a set showing promotional tram posters at St Andrew Square.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In the days of the original Edinburgh Corporation Tramway system you could take service 1 (Corstorphine to Liberton, closed 1954), 12 (Corstorphine to Kings Road, closed 1954) and 25 (Drum Brae South to Kings Road, closed 1954) to the Zoo and it dropped you right off by the gate to see the many different animals on show.<\/p>\n
Back then you could see Sealions (the last sealion left the Zoo in 2012 with over a \u00a31 million needed to upgrade the enclosure) and elephants (its even longer since you could see an elephant with 1980 seeing Sally leaving, more recent plans to return them have been met with opposition).<\/p>\n
In 2026 if you want to go to the Zoo by public transport it\u2019s a bus with route 26 providing connections from the city centre (and many of the buses have Zoo adverts to promote it as a way to get there).<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.britishtramsonline.co.uk\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/zoo-rc.jpg\")
<\/a>The poster promoting how you could take the tram to the Zoo. These posters date from the 1930s. (Photograph by Roy Calderwood, 4th September 2026)<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Now obviously in 2026 you can\u2019t take the tram to Edinburgh Zoo (Balgreen is the closest stop on the modern tram network and that is around a mile away) but back in the days of the original tram network it … Continue reading