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Sunday, 8th November 2009

Search is on for original tram system veterans

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Published Date: 25 June 2009
TRANSPORT chiefs have launched an appeal to find people who worked on Edinburgh's original trams, which stopped running in the 1950s.
Mandy Haeburn-Little, communications director for the tram project, said: "Edinburgh's heritage, including its old tram system, is something that it is very important to this project.

"As the first of the new tracks are laid on Princes Street, we'd love to hear from the people that used to work on the old trams which travelled up and down that iconic street every day. I believe that their memories and experiences are invaluable to the work we're carrying out at the present time."

The first horse-drawn trams arrived in Edinburgh in 1871 and ran from Haymarket to Leith, and electric trams served the city until they stopped in 1956.

Anyone who worked on the previous tram scheme can get in touch with Gavin Henderson by calling him on 0131-622 8385 or via e-mail at gavin.henderson @tie.ltd.uk.





The full article contains 171 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 25 June 2009 10:26 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Edinburgh transport plans
 
1

Statsman,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 11:20:22
More PR waffle.

The tram line is massively over budget and likely to make big operational losses. Can TIE please address this issue rather than focussing on PR schemes?

We're all still going to hate this stupid project whether some 80 year old former tram driver is wheeled out or not.
2

Old Cartha Boy,

25/06/2009 11:23:52
I am sure many will tell Gavin Henderson what a wonderful idea this is and how useful a service he provides.
3

Old Cartha Boy,

25/06/2009 11:30:36
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/06/24102122

Wille G is back - unbelievable!
4

Leila,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 11:46:59
re #60: "Mr Gallagher brings knowledge and experience of driving business change at a senior level that has led to significant organisational improvements to systems and processes."
5

eric,

lothian 25/06/2009 12:07:18
I envy Glasgow and its SUBWAY ,
6

Trams shams,

25/06/2009 12:17:34
#4 Good post

Willie Gallagher blah blah is currently a Director of Touchdown Services Ltd, an engineering company providing a range of services to Utilities...blah

Utilities... you mean gas, electricity, water... you mean involvement will digging up roads and diverting services... you mean he never really gave up his job but took a side step to get the public concern of his back and... Well I can't really see the point in continuing as what ever I say Foo will have a stupid remark for but you all get the picture.
7

Trams shams,

25/06/2009 12:21:57
Equivalent of £71k/year Mr Gallagher. Not bad for a part time job
8

Euan,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 12:24:52
What next from the bunch of clowns running this doomed project??

We've had kids being exploited by encouraging them to wear silly baseball caps trying to promote the trams, we have ridiculous signs all over town saying 'taking you to work in 2011', I even seem to recall there were napkins, yes napkins, printed trying to inform people of the so-called 'benefits' if this white elephant.

And now this. Another desperate attempt at a propaganda stunt by trying to dredge up the past and find a few folk who once worked on Edinburgh's previous tram services.

Just what are they hoping to achieve? 'Oh, it was a golden era of travel wasn't it, it was just so lovely'

Well this latest publicity stunt just makes the fools in charge of this project look even more foolish by the second.

The tram project is in dire straits and immediate cancellation is the only option.
9

Sarah B,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 12:29:18
OCB (4) - the wages of sin.
10

Euan,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 12:33:52
#12

Abuse already Tony?, It's only 12.30pm. I thought you saved that type of thing until after you'd opened the sherry bottle at 4pm?

Tick, tock...
11

Dorian,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 12:36:39
#10 They can be cancelled, but all the contractors would still have to be paid for the contracts that were signed and sealed before everything started. It is not feesable to cancel it, at least not until the buildings that have the cracks in them collapse from the subsidence.
12

Euan,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 12:42:18
#14

I'm aware that there are cancellation clauses in the contracts (like the one for the ill-fated Line 1b), but I still think immediate termination and running down of the project would be the best thing for Edinburgh.

It's a good point you make about the cracks that are appearing in many buildings along the route due to excavation works. TIE's insurers are going to have to be making some massive insurance payouts in the future..
13

Euan,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 12:46:30
#17, Silly Old Man

Several building on Leith Walk have structural problems due the the tram works (as reported by this paper)
14

eDUCATIon,

25/06/2009 12:58:33
Roll on swine flu!! Tonys chest is best!!
15

Euan,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 13:01:00
#19

LOL!
16

Incandescent,

25/06/2009 13:17:45
#21 G-Tone

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburghtransportplans/Tram-chiefs-send-in-engineers.5152053.jp

Now shut it.
17

P I Staker,

25/06/2009 13:27:06
"The first horse-drawn trams arrived in Edinburgh in 1871...."

Does she really honestly expect any of these horses, their jockeys or the trams themselves to still be alive? Like so much else of the whole affair, quite disillusioned.
18

Incandescent,

25/06/2009 13:42:26
#23 Tony

You only see what suits your purposes. Given the age of the building, the length of time it had previously been stable, and the fact that movement occured over the period of the utility works (which are acknowledged to have failed strength tests), it's safe to link the two.
19

Mince Pie Supper,

25/06/2009 13:52:02
What's the point in finding these old codgers.

They'll be dead when the Tram (singular) runs.

See they've shifted the mockup to the Ocean Terminal.

Doesny half get about eh?

George Tony, get lost you child beating Ers.
20

Niadh,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 14:01:34
#26 Mince Pie Supper.
"See they've shifted the mockup to the Ocean Terminal."

At the current rate of burn they won't have any money left to actually operate the trams so this is going to be the only way the tram gets about and is seen by most people.

Oh and Tony, will you kindly stop being so narrow minded, short-sighted and get a new catchprase.
We know there is not going to be a top deck (unless you are implying that the mock up is wrong) and stop acting like you have a room temperature IQ if possible.
21

Duncan in Edinburgh,

25/06/2009 14:06:29
#18 Euan I see you're still up to your old trick of talking absolute gash: "Several building on Leith Walk have structural problems due the the tram works" - and yet we find only one building with structural problems, and no confirmed link between them and the tram works.
22

Incandescent,

25/06/2009 14:16:15
#28 Dunc

"...and no confirmed link between them and the tram works"

If you have a building that's stable for c.100 years and it moves right at the time groundworks are occuring right beside it, do you not think the connection is obvious?

Any structural engineers care to comment?
23

Neale,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 14:21:38
My Ma has an old tram timetable from the 50's and back then the Trams went all the way up to the Braid Hills! Now that was a real tram network.
24

eDUCATIon,

25/06/2009 14:35:11
28

And you dont talk gash????

Structural engineer expert now Duncie?

It must take an employer years to read everything in your CV......
25

Mince Pie Supper,

25/06/2009 14:42:12
FACT - The Trams have broke the toon!
FACT - Leith is a mess!
FACT - Princes Street is a mess!
FACT - Its Thursday!
FACT - !
FACT - FACT!

Wait a minute, ma bus is coming...
26

Old Cartha Boy,

25/06/2009 14:43:15
It's clear now why they want to find these old guys - to find out how they build a tram line! So obvious when you think about it!
27

Old Cartha Boy,

..and there's more.... 25/06/2009 14:53:13
Here is some priceless stuff on Mandy Haeburn-Little, originator of this piece - the woman is barking!

"Ms Haeburn-Little’s Edinburgh-based company, MHL Corporate, is not about building bodies - more about building the right communication skills in an increasingly competitive business environment.

"Popeye’s psyche was that he believed he could do anything once he’d had his spinach," says Ms Haeburn-Little -and

http://www.allmediascotland.com/courses/158/02122008/work_the_room

http://www.mhlcorporate.com/welcome01.htm

She'll be right at home amongst the crazies at TIE and CEC.

28

Grumpy,

25/06/2009 15:16:31
Didn't Edinburgh have cable cars before trams? Didn't they follow Leith's lead and change when they realised they'd made the wrong move?

Why do I have a feeling of daja vu?
29

Mince Pie Supper,

25/06/2009 15:20:04
Search is on for original tram system veterans

Are these the guys who looked after the horses?
30

Peter - very disappointed/concerned,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 15:23:19
While straying more than a little from the subject matter of the article, many of the comments and postings here prompt me to make the following observations:

Strange how the tram works started in Leith Walk are still on-going. Makes me wonder if the unofficial reports are true, that the services have been relaid incorrectly and that the water supplies are in fact leaking. There are few signs that work in Leith Walk is likely to be finished soon and it looks as if work is being 'repeated'.

Damage to buildings, many of the older buildings in Leith (as elsewhere in Edinburgh) do not have sound foundations. Surely any heavy work being carried out adjacent to such properties can only result in damage due to vibration and subsidence.

Funny how it was originally promised that NO funding for the trams would come from Council Tax, now, no Coucillors will confirm or deny this.
31

Mince Pie Supper,

25/06/2009 15:44:15
Edinburgh

A Tram free city - 1950 - 2020.
32

eveninglies,

Henderson Row Depot 25/06/2009 15:48:44
#37,
Lieth walk would require more work than most other streets as there is not only the utilities to move but it also still had the tunnels underneath that were used for the operation of the old cable car system.

Not surprising that work is still going on in Lieth as no roads have been completed YET.

I went to princes street the other day to see how it is coming along, Lots of guys hard at work and lots of sections of track too!
33

eveninglies,

Car 226 25/06/2009 15:53:22
If the trams heritage is to be important, Then the last section of track remaining from the original system (Waterloo Place) should be better looked after by the council. White lines are repeatedly painted right over the top of them.
They need the paint removed and given a good clean up !
34

Mince Pie Supper,

25/06/2009 15:54:21
TIE

Helping keep the City of Edinburgh Tram free, year on year.
35

GraemeH,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 17:42:54
#39 - Per TIE's own business plan the works in Leith should have been completed in September LAST YEAR. As should all the other utility diversion work. So getting on for a year after completion date it is surprising that "work" is still ongoing.

You must have been in Princes St when there was a photographer about. Any time I have endured a walk along it recently there have been maybe half a dozen guys doing something with the rest standing smokin, chatting, on mobiles or reading newspapers.
36

tumshie heid,

25/06/2009 18:51:32
Now they are trying the nostalgia angle. After brainwashing school bairns I suppose it's logical to move on to doddery old duffers who think that "things just aren't the same nowadays" in order to get some positive views of this pathetic scheme.
Perhaps tie should remember though that last time around there was a tram network and not just a tourist ride along Princes Street.
Edinburgh trams.. taking you nowhere in 2011.
37

tumshie heid,

25/06/2009 18:52:17
Roll on Tony's spine, between the tracks is best.
38

gus1940,

Edinburgh 25/06/2009 19:09:54
You don't go up or down Princes St. - you go along it.
39

Gina Gibson,

Wales 25/06/2009 22:08:13
#45......Not in a tram!!
40

tumshie heid,

26/06/2009 08:14:02
#47 Shut up Foo, I mean Tony..
41

Niadh,

Edinburgh 26/06/2009 10:27:14
#47 Tony,
I take you mean the majority of people along the route of the tram are in favour of it?!?!?
I'd bet that if you were to put it to a public vote you would find that 90% of Edinburgh residents are really not taken in by TIE and the cooncils public relations exercise. This would equate to the proportion of the population that live more then half a mile away from the route.
Until such times as there is proof of your claims please stop bothering those of us who have, quite rightly, questioned the wisdom and capability of the likes of TIE with your inane rantings that are without purpose or meaning other than to create noise.
42

Peter - very disappointed/concerned,

Edinburgh 26/06/2009 10:56:18
#39 & #40 EveningLies

The 'tunnels' you refer to are nothing more than pipes along which the cables for the cable-car system operated, so they in themnselves can't be the cause of any significant holdup.

Sorry, you (and other lesser-spotted tram fanciers) will have to do better than that, Leith is still being worked on because of what look like TIE/construction compny blunders, pity the EEN won't or can't investigate this more fully.

 

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