It was Leith Corporation Tramways that ran the first electric service on 18 August 1905, Edinburgh followed in 1922, and while these periods are touched upon in the book, the majority of images featured are from the 1950s - the last 'old' Edinburgh tram ran in 1956. While the trams themselves are interesting, perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the images black and white photographs that have been together is the unique snapshot they give of a city yet to be transformed by the redevelopment that lay ahead in the 1960s, 1970s and beyond. These shots give a unique glimpse of life in an Edinburgh long gone. Published by Amberley, £14.99
1. Tollcross
Tram 216 and 52 in Tollcross, the background (which would later become home to Goldbergs) is completely unrecognisable, having been redeveloped several times since this picture was taken.
2. Bonnington Toll
Bonnington Toll is the location of Tram 225, which has just past under the old Caledionian girder bridge, which carried the line to Leith Central. The shadow of the wall of the Rosebank Cemetery where a memorial commemorates the Gretna rail disaster of 1915 can be seen to the left of the picture. The bridge is long gone.
3. Top of Leith Street
Tram 333 turning into Princes Street at the top of Leith Street, a view that has changed many times since and is currently in flux with the building of the St James Quarter. All that remains from this picture is James Craig Walk (currently closed) along the perimeter of the office of the National Records of Scotland.
4. Ferry Road
Tram 242 passes the site of the former Caledonian Railway's Ferry Road Station, which was never opened to passengers. The site became Pratt Brothers, an electrical business, and is now flats.