Buses, Trams, Tramways

Michael H C Baker    [Publisher:  Ian Allan  2014]    Hardback    142 pages

A personal odyssey and review of London Tramways written by someone who grew up in Thornton Heath and was an enthusiastic user of the system. Starting with some biographical notes, which offer an interesting insight into life in suburban London, the book goes on through the life of the tramway, exploring different routes, the depots, areas covered and then the dismantling. A final somewhat heartening section describes the preservation of vehicles and the more recent development of Tramlink around Croydon. Numerous photographs of the subjects under discussion are provided throughout the story, including a good number of period street scenes. I have not read it all, but this book strikes me as being a well written and thoughtful exploration of its subject that also touches properly with wider personal and political issues.

Malcolm Keeley    [Publisher:  Ian Allan  2013]    Hardback    160 pages

A colourful garage by garage guide to the various garages operated by this famous regional bus company, broadly covering the post war years up into recent times. Much of the photography is in colour and the illustrations are all clearly reproduced and feature numerous types of buses and street scenes in addition to the garages themselves.

C.G. Roberts & B.L. Jackson    [Publisher:  Oakwood  2001]    Softback    208 pages

A solid little history of public transport in Poole, latterly synonymous with the name of Wilts and Dorset, one of the very few constituent parts of the erstwhile NBC to remain outside the First/Stagecoach aegis. All eras are well covered and illustrated, from Trams and Charabancs through the Tilling era to the latest vehicles in 2001.

Various    [Publisher:  Capital  2002]    Softback    144 pages

A very informative and "savvy" illustrated guide to the new generation of tramways, including an introduction which describes the background to tramways' original development, decline and current renaissance. The book is organised alphabetically by location, and potential and future schemes are discussed in detail, including routes and work carried out so far. All well illustrated with clear colour photographs and plans - highly interesting and mildly upbeat.