The Golden Age of Trams
Page 52
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TN the first chapter of his book "The 'Golden Age of Tramways" (published today by Routledge and Kegan Paul, Ltd., Broadway House, 68-74 Carter Lane, London, E.C.4, price 4th.) Mr. Charles Klapper says: "The chapters that follow are intended for the ordinary person, to tell something of how the golden age of the tram dawned and show how and why it passed." However, to this "ordinary person" the subsequent 321 pages are as unappetizing as a ride in a tram. To the enthusiastic student of the origins of public transport systems the book is no doubt of interest, its contents including copious references to innumerable Government Acts and Orders, route mileages and track gauges. Constructional details of the many varied, and, no doubt, interesting trams mentioned arc skimpy. Nevertheless, considering the complexity and antiquity of such a subject as tramways, the author has provided a comprehensive work of reference which includes fairly extensive histories of some of the more important British tramway
undertakings. The book contains 47 photographs and 14 drawings and maps, whilst the appendices include the abandonment dates of the major tramways, a list of those trams preserved by various museums. and the L.C.C.'s 1919-20 schemes. J. F. M.