I was delighted to view the tram with Douglas Scoular and Brian Melrose at the 2011 Lathalmond rally who gave me a tour of the work in progress.

The horse drawn tramcar came to notice in Newtown St. Boswell's in 2005, when its owners decided to try and find out the origins of a small 'carriage' they had in their garden.

The SRPS was contacted and the query passed to Alan Brotchie and Neil Mackenzie who were able to deduce that it was, infact an early horse drawn tramcar.

The historical significance of the vehicle was immediately apparent and the Edinburgh Horse Tram Trust was created with the intention of restoring and exhibiting the old tramcar. The owners of the tram, Gill and Roger French from Newtown, very kindly donated it to the Trust and the car was moved to Edinburgh early in 2006. Work began at Longstone Garage and since May 2011 has been continued at Lathalmond's SVBM.

Archaeological investigations proved that it was number 23, built in the workshops of the Edinburgh Street Tram Company LTD, at Shrubhill, circa 1884. It was finished in a deep blue livery at a time when different tram routes in the city were distinguished by different liveries. Edinburgh then had a dozen different route 'branded' liveries with vehicles coloured red, green, yellow, white etc.

Note the marvellous route branding boards which are different on the other side.
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The horse drawn tram car, number 23, is seen working in Princes Street and looking fair busy on this day.

What a glorious scene this is with so many fine buildings to view, though sadly most of these have all been replaced. The heavy clothing on display, including the uniforms on the small horse and buggies make for considerable interest.

Note the sloping Greek pediments and Doric porticos on these Georgian buildings all along here, which I am assuming is the West end of Princes Street with the junction at Charlotte Street. And behold the wonderful light standards too!

I understand this print is currently displayed in several of Morrison's supermarket stores.
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Work to restore this old tram has progressed well since its acquisition with regular volunteer working parties. New platforms and stairs have been constructed while wheels, brakes and running gear were obtained from the horse tramway in Douglas, Isle of Man. These were regauged by the Shed 47 Railway Group at Lathalmond SVBM. Other metal work has also been undertaken by Messrs Roemac.

The tram was brought to the bus museum in 2011 where it is intended that work to complete it will continue.

Much of this information is taken from the sheet on the tram itself and I,. like many
others, am delighted to learn about this fascinating story and to share it also. Thanks to Neil Mackenzie (former General Manager of LRT) and Frank Mitchell (Newsletter Editor of the Scottish Tramway Society).
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The inside of tramcar 23 has the most marvellous advertisement boards and I was very keen to study what was just a completely different way of living and shopping. All the adverts are infact enlargements of old Post Office directory advertisements and had to be made to the correct size for the tram.

Hosiery, A Brown's of Selkirk advertise extra super lambs wool under-clothing. The caption continues:
To be had in Men's Shirts, Pants and Combinations; Ladies' Vests, Drawers and Combinations; Boys' Vests, Drawers and Combinations; Girls' Combinations.

Wonderful stuff! My grand aunt died in the mid 1980's and was a spinster head teacher. She wore a pair of corsets and I remember seeing them, draped over her chair - knicker pink they were and with steel bars at the top. They didn't look at all comfortable but kept her back in trim most of the time!
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It doesn't get better than this from Dental Surgeon James Gentle, of 6 Rankeilor Street in Edinburgh, established 1869.

For natural appearance, durability and comfort unsurpassed. Best teeth at the following prices: 3shillings and 6d, 5shillings and 7shillings and 6d per Tooth. Upper or Under Sets, complete from £2.

Painless extractions by the aid of nitrous oxide gas, stopping, scaling and regulating.

Heavens! Rankeilor Street was considered a very fine location to live and work. In those days when you applied for a job you were asked what address you came from. Where you lived mattered more than ever then! And those prices look like being incredibly exclusive to the well-off and I would imagine this to be a very upmarket dentist.
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