Street Lighting

The Mound

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The Mound

Street Lighting

This photo comes from the Edinburgh Street Lighting Collection held by Edinburgh City Archive.  There are no tall lamp posts in this photo as there are in this photo taken from the foot of The Mound:

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There are just the low lanterns on either side of The Mound and round the corner into Mound Place.  (These lanterns ca still be found today, 2011, on The Mound and the south side of Princes Street where it borders with Princes Street Gardens.

Date of Photo

The tram tracks have been lifted from this part of The Mound.

-  The first bus is Reg No GSG13, a Guy on service 23 to Morningside

-  The second is Reg No LWS548, one of a large batch of Leylands bought in the mid-1950s to replace the trams.

Looking at the traffic in this photo, I feel that it might have been taken some time around 1960.

Reply

1.

David King

Trinity, Edinburgh

Thank you to David King who wrote:

Date of Photo

"I think you are probably right about the date of this photo (around 1960).  The tram lines on the Mound were used right up to November 1956 by the last two service, 23 and 28."

The Mound

"Not only were the tracks on the Mound lifted, but the whole road surface was removed.  Electric heating elements were installed below the new surface, as there were apparently concerns that the buses might not be able to operate in snow.

There was a temperature sensor fixed to a lighting column on the west side of the street, near the Princes Street junction.  I don’t know if it turned on the elements automatically or alerted staff. 

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The picture above shows that the heating elements were quite effective.  Over the years they gradually failed, sometimes giving a patchwork effect in snow, and I think the whole thing is now out of use.  Maybe someone else has more information!"

David King, Trinity, Edinburgh:  January 27, 2011

Reply

2.

John Cavanagh

Durham, County Durham, England

Thank you to John Cavanagh who also remembers the electric blanket on the Mound.

John wrote:

The Mound

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"I couldn't help but notice the lack of snow on the  road  in this photo.  I'm sure I can remember reading that when the tram lines were removed and the road re-laid an 'electric blanket' under road heating system was laid down to enable vehicles to climb the Mound during icy weather."

John Cavanagh, Durham, County Durham, England:  January 27, 2011

Reply

3.

Mike Cheyne

Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England

Thank you to Mike Cheyne for posting a message in the EdinPhoto guest book.

Mike wrote:

The Mound

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"Could your photograph of the Mound have been taken in 1959 or later?  That was the year they laid miles of electric wiring under the road surface to prevent icing in winter. The road looks as if it has been thoroughly de-iced."

Mike Cheyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England
Message posted in EdinPhoto guest book:  January 27, 2011

 Reply

4.

John Gray

Stenhouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to John Gray who also referred to the electric blanket on the Mound.

John wrote:

The Mound

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"It seems to me that the 'electric blanket' on the Mound must still have been working, due to the complete lack of snow on the road surface.

Maybe that will help to date the picture more accurately. "

John Gray, Stenhouse, Edinburgh:  January 27, 2011

 Reply

5.

Ian Taylor

South Glasgow, Scotland

Thank you to John Gray who also referred to the electric blanket on the Mound.

Ian wrote:

The Mound

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"As far as I can gather, the tram tracks were being lifted in 1958 and an 'electric blanket' to keep the road free of ice and snow was laid in 1959.

This device had some faults and was switched off after a few years, but I think it has been improved/replaced and now works efficiently.

Perhaps an Edinburgh resident could confirm this."

Ian Taylor:  South Glasgow, Scotland:  January 28, 2011

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