No 9 Tram in Colinton Road, heading for Granton

Colinton Road

Thank you to Eric White, a fellow member of Edinburgh Photographic Society, for sending the photograph above to me.

Eric wrote:

Colinton Tram Ticket Office

"Here is an image of an unprepossessing building, the toilet block at Colinton.

This has just been preserved from demolition as of historical importance. The central door used to open for people to buy tram tickets, at the terminus at the top of the hill before it dropped down into Colinton. It is supposedly the last of its kind."

Porsche Showroom

"The building to the right, the old Porsche showroom, has been demolished and a vast hole has been excavated to construct apartments. It will be pretty amazing if the toilet block does not fall into it (it is supported by brick piles at the rear)."

Eric White, Edinburgh: November 20, 2008

Recollections

George T Smith

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Thank you to George T Smith who wrote:

Toilets for Drivers and Clippies

"I can't recollect this building, but I suspect all routes had a toilet block for the drivers and clippies.

There certainly was one at the Slateford terminus of the No 4 route. It was in the south entrance to the cattle market/ slaughter house buildings.

I had no idea of ticket offices however."

George T Smith, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada: November 21, 2008

Toilets

This building looks to me to be a toilet block for the public, rather than just for drivers and clippies.

However, I know that toilet facilities were provided for the drivers and clippies at various places around Edinburgh. The ones I remember were much smaller buildings. There was one on the east side of the road at Orchard Brae, and one at the western end of Newhaven Harbour.

In some cases other buildings were later converted into toilets. This toilet block at Stockbridge used to be a small fire station!

Peter Stubbs: November 21, 2008

Recollections

Brian Alexander

Prestonfield, Edinburgh

Thank you to Brian Alexander who wrote:

Public Toilets

"This red brick toilet block in Colinton Road was always a Public Toilet during my time with LRT (1975-1997). 'Gents' to the left and 'Ladies' to the right with metal gate in place of the black metal doors.

I do recall the area in the centre (behind the brown door in the photograph) was used by the Council Cleansing Department to store street cleaning equipment. I don't know if it was built for use only by Bus or Tram crews.

Toilets for Drivers and Clippies

"There were a few 'Crew Only' toilets dotted around the town:

- behind the large bus shelter at Clermiston terminus

- The, foot of Orchard Brae

- Sighthill (opposite Burton's Biscuits)

- Newhaven

- Beside the Public Toilets at Fairmilehead Crossroads.

Drivers and Conductors were issued with keys to enter.

Tea Break

The toilet at Fairmilehead still had the gas ring for use by Tram crews to 'brew-up' when the 'Tea Break' was taken at the terminus. The timetable would allow the crew a certain amount of time at the terminus for a break before the days of taking your break in the garage canteen.

Brian Alexander, Prestonfield, Edinburgh: August 13, 2010