Up The Pole In Norwich (2, The Poles)

 Short But Sweet

Trams came to Norwich in 1900, quite late for a tram system. Electric trams largely replaced horse buses direct without following through the horse tram phase. The network was fairly comprehesive ...

... but the cost of extending into the post WW1 suburbs proved too much. Possibly, the lack of enthusasm for development was garnered round the Directors table of the Eastern Counties Omnibus Company who took a controlling interest in the tram company.

It was easier, cheaper and more profitable to run buses into the new suburbs. As we take a look around the network, fbb will try to show some of the tram locations as they appear in today's city.

Here is Gentleman's Walk on the east side of Market Place ...

... and you can see why there would be pressure to remove the trams in favour of the more flexible infernal combustion engine!

Modern arboriculture has obscured most of the frontages in the old picture and buses no longer take gentlemen to "their" walk.

This splendid shelter, for the patrons of the electric trams, no longer stands on Red Lion Street at the end of Orfotd Place.

The shelter included a timekeeper's office. Nothing now stands at this junction ...

... but buses still pass that way.

Have you yet spotted any tram poles with very decorative street lights attached?

fbb hasn't.

They mostly look very ordinary ...

... with pole decorated but lamp very ordinary indeed; certainly nothing like the street lamp which was part of a "news" item which sparked fbb's interest.

Was this once part of tram overhead as the article suggested? Did trams actually tun past this very decorated pole?

We may discover the answer  tomorrow 

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Rear Window?

But not the classic thriller starring Jimmy Stewart. This heading refers to the rear window of fbb's hotel room in Sheffield. Actually there isn't a "rear" window, there is only one! But a trip to sheffield a year ago gave the fbbs one of the least enjoyable views from a modern hotel window.

It was a memorable view of the proud city of Sheffield, but for the wrong reasons

But back to this visit.

The view was across to the bottom of Commercial Street and the street's ramp leading to the famous delta tram junction.

Here is an aerial view of the junction.

The hotel peeps in top left, the arch girder bridge is distinctive and the eastern side of the triangle is only used by scheduled garage workings from Halfway or Herdings Park to the depot.

But as fbb gazes from his "rear" window, it seemed that only a few trams were in "fleet livery".

The pictures are of poor quality but here are some more, not all of which may be current.

When the supertram system opened the livery was a very boring grey.

Stagecoach then took over the management of the system and their very own stripes appeared.

The most recent standard paint job has been a quality livery in Stagecoach colours.

fbb feels that the increase in vinyl "wraps" cheapens the whole system. Historically a Sheffield tram was a well known blue and cream image, clean, distinctive and very recognisable.

But now!

Add the tram's messy image to the even messier image of Sheffield's buses and the City's transport looks in very poor shape.

Once upon a time ...

The Sheffield Transport livery was quality with a clear message of stability and reliability.

But today???

fbb will be collecting bus pictures tomorrow for a future "messy" blog.

 Next Up The Pole blog : Weds 25 June