It is interesting, with the Edinburgh Tram developments, to know that in November 1902 it became known that there was a prospect of running trams from Edinburgh to Queensferry.
Intimation had been received by the Town Council that application was to be made to the Secretary of State for Scotland, to authorise the construction of a tramway from Edinburgh to Queensferry, which would begin at the South end of Queen Street, pass along Queensferry Road and into Queensferry, to the boundary beween Queensferry and Linlithgow at the East end of the Burgh. (bottom of the Loan).
1815 map showing Royal Burgh Boundary in Blue and Parliamentary Constituency Boundary in blue.
This was welcomed by the Magistrates and Councilors of Queensferry, particularly as the North British Railway had removed the passenger station from Queensferry to Dalmeny . They gave their consent unanimously and hoped construction would begin right away, it was also hoped this would be extended along the foreshore towards Hopetoun.
However, The County Council of Linlithgow lodged objection to the project. The Town Councilors of Queensferry urged that the consent of the County Council should be dispensed with, on the grounds that Linlithgow had no material interest in the project .
Musselburgh Trams -image kind permission from Peter Stubbs -www.edinphoto.org.uk
In January 1905, proposal was made to construct an electric tramway to Queensferry from the terminus of the cable tramway in Comely Bank and a breach from Bonnington Place, Leith to join the main line at Davidsons Mains. Queensferry Town Council pressed the promotors for an agreement that the tram would go along Queensferry foreshore to the harbor.
This request could not be permitted meantime but promotors agreed to later bring the tram as far as possible into the burgh and to run a bus from the West end of the town to the terminus.
Sadly their hopes were not to materialize. The project came to nought.
If it had succeeded, the Royal Burgh of Queensferry would have been opened up to tourist traffic to the benefit of merchants and perhaps to the relief of those who managed the affairs of the swimming baths.
Sadly their hopes were not to materialize. The project came to nought.
If it had succeeded, the Royal Burgh of Queensferry would have been opened up to tourist traffic to the benefit of merchants and perhaps to the relief of those who managed the affairs of the swimming baths.
Laying of Trams in Princes Street 1953. Image with permission from Scotsman Publications.
Information taken from Dr Masons book on Queensferry History- QHG
© Queensferry History Group 2015
© Queensferry History Group 2015
