Coventry Trams

I think the location is Eaton Road terminus, prior to tram withdrawal to the station 1937.

That was my first thought, but I'm wondering where the chimneys and telegraph pole (to the left) were and what the "building" to the right was I realise both services ran to the station, so it tends to support the theory

I suspect the chimneys and telegraph pole were in Warwick Road and the building to the right belonged to the nursery.

Looking at this tram photo reminds me of the smartness they always looked. As a five year old my mother took me to the paddling pool at Stoke Green, but I was more interested in watching the trams go by, much to the annoyance of my mother. But as my dad was a tram conductor he would tell me stories about the trams which I can still remember. On a nice summers day like today, to see a tram coming from the Bulls Head along the Binley Road between the rows of trees and the immaculate paint work shining in the sun, I will never forget. Happy days!

With the amount of trams up and down, what a bustling street it would have been. I found some old photos of Smithford Street and the pavements looked really narrow with people spilling over into the road. Smithford Street Electric Tramway, Smithford Street

Another tram on an old street view... Albany Road

Tram painting

Tram going under Longford Iron Bridge. LINK

I recall a bus conductor who I always thought may have worked on the trams. At every stop he would call out the name of all the streets at that stop so that when the #9 bus reached the famous triangle at the end of King William Street (going in the direction of Stoke) he would call "Berry St, Brook St, Vernon St and Coronation Rd" and similar locations at every stop along the route. Perhaps it was an overhang from war-time when the windows were blocked out with rexene or leather blinds with a very small hole to squint out and see where you were. But he did this in daytime as well. Did anyone else use this route from town and remember him or knew him?

Was the bus depot at Harnall Lane (you passed it on the Inner Circle in the 50s) previously a tram depot by chance? It would be interesting to know.

According to this site Prof the tram depot was next door to what became the bus depot History of Coventry trams

I have no memory of this from the early/mid-sixties so he may not have been on the route by then. Of course, my mum usually walked into town and back from Coronation Road even when I was as young as three (I bet most of us were expected to walk long distances at that age). I think I would have remembered such a character, though, if I had encountered him.

Interesting contributions on Coventry Tram network. My grandfather was Ernie Wright who was the conductor on the last tram. His son-in-law was John Over who was Chief Inspector.

An opportunity has presented itself to see a piece of history. The tram rails shown in previous posts, at the old tram depot on the Foleshill Road, can currently be seen having been obscured by hire vehicles at the ABC van hire business. It looks like the empty site may be developed so I hope that someone will try to recover or preserve this small section of track and cobbles.