Recollections around Edinburgh - Travel in Edinburgh

Recollections
1.	Bob Henderson Burdiehouse, Edinburgh	Tram Tram and Bus Tram and Walk
2.	David Barrie Adelaide, South Australia	Leith to Corstorphine - Aged 5
3.	Malcolm Acton Liverpool, Lancashire, England	Eastfield Terminus
4.	Bob Sinclair Queensland, Australia	Trams
5.	Bob Sinclair Queensland, Australia	No 16 Bus - Annie: Question
6.	Ian Mycko Gilmerton, Edinburgh	No 16 Bus - Annie: Answer
6A.	Frank Ferri Newhaven, Edinburgh	No 16 Bus - Annie: Answer
6B.	Steven Oliver Duns, Borders, Scotland	No 16 Bus - Annie: Answer
7.	Betty Wallace (nee Baxter) Burdiehouse, Edinburgh	Trams from Leith
8.	Ian M Malcolm St Andrews, Fife	Leith Tram - Unpaid Fare

Recollections

Bob Henderson

Burdiehouse, Edinburgh

Thank you to Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh for sending his memories of travelling in Edinburgh.

Bob wrote:

Tram

"As a youngster in Arthur Street, Dumbiedykes, I remember getting the No 7 or 37 tram to Libby Dams. It seemed like going to the other side of the world."

Tram and Bus

"Then we moved to Burdiehouse and for three whole years I travelled on the same tramcars from the Liberton terminus to Holy Cross Academy in Ferry road. What a great journey it was with the No 18 bus given the menial task of ferrying us back and forth between Burdiehouse and the top of Libby Brae."

Train and Walk

"It was an even greater adventure to get the train to Davidson's Mains and then walk down Lauriston Farm road to Cramond.

That was a real day out with my mother, her four sisters, her brother and all their spouses and children, all laden with enough provisions to feed a battalion of squaddies for the day.

Whilst the ladies got the soup pot and the tatties and of course a brew of tea on, the men folk and children, given a favourable tide, would be off to Cramond Island to collect buckies and mussels. These too would be cooked on the beach. There was always plenty of driftwood at Cramond in those days.

That was only one possible excursion the same train would take you to within easy walking distance of almost anywhere in the city. What a wonderland Edinburgh was in those days."

Bob Henderson, Burdiehouse, Edinburgh: December 5, 2007

NOTES

1. Bob lived in Arthur Street until about the age of 9 in 1948.

2. Bob started his first employment as a slater's apprentice, then he worked for Baxter Butchers, Liberton in 1954.

3. Edinburgh trams continued to operate until 1956.

4. Libby = Liberton.

- Peter Stubbs: December 5, 2007

Recollections

David Barrie

Adelaide, South Australia

Thank you to David Barrie who wrote:

Leith to Corstorphine - aged 5

"I can remember walking from Fort Street Primary School to the foot of Easter Road to catch a number one single-decker bus from the terminus there, under the bridge, to the terminus at Corstorphine. In the summer it continued to Cramond.

I made this journey every Friday and my Dad would come on a Sunday to my grannies to bring me back home again. And me only five years old.

Oh! These were fine old times when we allowed the wains to do this without fear, and with a three penny bit tied in the corner of my hankie by my Dad."

David Barrie, Adelaide, South Australia: Message in Guest Book, October 16, 2008.

Recollections

Malcolm Acton

Liverpool, Lancashire, England

Thank you to Malcolm Acton who wrote:

Eastfield Terminus

"The Eastfield terminus was at the junction of Milton Rd East and Musselburgh Rd. Any further and the buses would have been into SMT territory!

I especially remember the 44 route because one of my Aunts lived at Juniper Green where the 44, 45 and 46 terminated. It was a great journey and Edinburgh Corporation sold an 'All-day Ticket' I think it cost about 2/- (10p) but I could be wrong on that.

Malcolm Acton, Liverpool, Lancashire, England: November 16, 2009

Lothian Buses now have routes extending far beyond Eastfield into the old SMT territory in East Lothian.

There is still an Eastfield Terminus, but it is a little further west than the junction that you mention. Here is a photo taken at the Eastfield terminus in 1971:

Recollections

Bob Sinclair

Queensland, Australia

Bob Sinclair wrote:

Trams

"When we were young and sometimes short of even a penny, we used to get on the tram and head upstairs. On the top deck at the front of the tram was a small section, which we called the round house. It had a sliding door which could be shut. So we used to go in there and lock the door if it had a snib.

We sat there casually until the conductor made his way to the door, then ran down the drivers-end stair and either off the tram or tried to re-enter the downstairs section. The conductor used to chase us for a while then realised he was missing out on other fares, and gave up.

What you did when you had no money!"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: December 20, 2009

Recollections

Bob Sinclair

Queensland, Australia

Bob Sinclair wrote:

No 16 Bus - Annie

"Annie was a conductress on the No 16 bus and we got to know her when we travelled to and from the dancing. She, I think, was ex-Land Army. She had a vivacious manner and could give and take chat from the travellers.

I've known her to stop the bus until a difficult customer got off, and also, if too many people piled on board, the same procedure was gone through until the number standing downstairs was just right."

Question

"Does anybody else remember her or know her second name?"

Bob Sinclair, Queensland, Australia: January 17, 2010

Recollections

Ian Mycko

Gilmerton, Edinburgh

Just a few hours after I added Bob's question about Annie (5 above) to the web site, I received a reply from Ian Mycko.

Ian wrote:

No 16 Bus - Annie

Answer

"The conductress Bob Sinclair speaks about is Annie Boyle. My dad was a driver in Leith garage and often had Annie as his conductress. She was a lovely women but ruled with a rod of iron.

I'm not sure, but I heard that she had passed away a few years ago."

Ian Mycko, Gilmerton, Edinburgh: January 19, 2009

Recollections

6A.

Frank Ferri

Newhaven, Edinburgh

Thank you to Frank Ferri for coming up with the same name as Ian above.

Frank wrote:

Annie Boyle

"Someone was asking about the jolly wee lady, quite a character, that worked as a conductress on No 16 tram/bus always with a cheery remark to the passengers. She gave a running commentary, etc.

Her name was Annie Boyle. She lived at Annfield Newhaven"

Frank Ferri, Newhaven, Edinburgh: March 2, 2010

Recollections

6B.

Steven Oliver

Duns, Borders, Scotland

Thank you to Steven Oliver who replied:

Annie Boyle

"I've been reading the reminisces about Annie Boyle on the site. What you may not know is that she was the last conductress in service with LRT, retiring on 25th October 1980 after the last crew-operated run with Titan 665 on service 1.

Edinburgh Transport Group decided to recreate the last run on the 25th anniversary in 2005 There were thoughts of having Annie along as a guest of honour, but unfortunately, we found out that she had died some time previously."

Steven Oliver, Duns, Borders, Scotland: March 6, 2010

Recollections

Betty Wallace (nee Baxter)

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Thank you to Betty Wallace (nee Baxter) who wrote:

Tram from Leith

My husband, Jim, was a Leither from Assembly Street. We were remembering when we could get from Bernard Stret to Pilrig for one penny on the tram, but I would stay on to Shrubhill and risk the fury of the conductor.

Betty Wallace (nee Baxter), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: January 18, 2010

Recollections

Ian M Malcolm

St Andrews, Fife, Scotland

Thank you to Ian M Malcolm for telling me about an incident involving George Mein, one of the students that he studied with at Leith Nautical College in 1947-48.

Ian wrote:

Leith Tram

Unpaid Fare

"George Mein was a blond-haired, self-important, type who was returning to the Union Castle Line. When on a crowded tram travelling down Leith Street one lunch time, his fare was not collected.

When he got off at the foot of the Walk, the conductor leaned out and shouted, 'Hold on to your money, I know you haven't paid your fare'.

This so incensed George that he called at the transport office to pay the penny and complain of the man's insolence, explaining that even the tram's platform had been so crowded that he was unable to reach the box for uncollected fares.

The office then sent him a receipt of about a foot in length, and the stamp on the envelope was more than the fare!"

Ian M Malcolm: St Andrews, Fife, Scotland: January 24, 2010