London 'E/1' Tram

The London County Council's E/1 class tramcar was the most numerous of its kind on Britain's first-generation electric tramways, with over 1,000 built for operation. They had an operational history of almost 50 years, from the late 1920s to the final withdrawal in 1952. The cars underwent various modifications and improvements over the years, including Pullmanization and rehabilitation schemes, and many survived to the system's final days. This book examines the history of this important class from development through to preservation.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 208 pages
\n Publication date: 30 November 2020
\n Publisher: Pen & Sword Books Ltd
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The London County Council's E/1 class of trams, which played a significant role in Britain's first-generation electric tramways, is a remarkable testament to the sheer number of these vehicles that were constructed. With an operational history spanning nearly 50 years, these trams were produced in the early 20th century and continued to serve the city until the final conversion of the London tramway system in July 1952. During this time, over 1,000 E/1 class trams were built for operation by the LCC, with similar cars also constructed for a number of the council-operated systems in the capital prior to the creation of the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) in July 1933.

The last batch of E/1 class trams, which were effectively rebuilds of single-deck cars that had previously operated through the Kingsway Subway before its modernisation, was not completed until the early 1930s. During the 1920s, the LCC cars underwent a Pullmanisation programme, and during the following decade, several of these trams underwent the LPTB's Rehabilitation scheme. Moreover, with the removal of the restriction on the use of enclosed lower-deck vestibules, many E/1 class trams were converted to fully enclosed during this decade.

While withdrawals commenced in the 1930s, as the tram system north of the river was converted to trolleybus operation, and others were lost as a result of enemy action during the war, a sizeable number of E/1 class trams survived to the system's final days. This book examines the history of this important class, from its development through to its preservation, providing a comprehensive account of its significance in the history of urban transportation in Britain.

\n Weight: 1252g\n
Dimension: 226 x 288 x 23 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781526709080\n \n