Map of tramways routes in the North, West & South London Suburbs : issued by the Metropolitan Electric, London United & South Metropolitan Tramways Ltd, 1931 : 1

            Prior to the creation of London Transport, as the LPTB, in 1933 the ownership and operation of  London's transport system was fragmented between a mix of public and private ownership. In the case of the city's tramways other than the London County Council's network the other big player was the Underground group who, through a series of at times complex acquisitions and holding companies most notably the London & Suburban Traction Co Ltd, had control of three tram systems that served the Northern, Western & Southern suburbs of London. There was much inter-running and joint operation especially between the LCC and Croydon Corporations as seen here but this map only shows 'the half of it'. To see the complete tramway system you'd need the LCC map as well along with other smaller municipal tram operators - and overlying all of this was the Underground owned General bus company who, by this date, were cementing their place as the primary but not monopoly operator of motor buses.

The cover to the 1931 folder has the quite complex version of the Johnston roundel identity, this with the names of all three subsidiaries squeezed into the bar, and that still includes the ealry 'crossed VV' version of the W that had been largely dropped from the typeface's alphabet by the mid-20s. The companies were; the Metropolitan Electric Tramways, with their main offices at Manor House, and who had links to the North Metropolitan electricity company as well as operating 'tramways and light railways' on behalf of both Middlesex and Hertfordshire County Councils. The Manor House offices also technically managed the west London based London United Tramways whilst south of the river, at Sutton Depot, the smaller South Metropolitan Electric Tramways & Lighting Co Ltd was based - their title hinting at the one of the early spurs to development of the electricity industry when a base load for tramways would also be available for domestic supply.

The guide and timetables list the services, hours of operation and running times along with basic fare details. One useful faeture available on certain tram routes was that of through fares on to the commonly owned tube network and indeed this was one of the earliest examples of a degree of integrated marketing and fares structures in the UK. One thing not mentioned on this map, being 1931, was the imminent conversion of the first tram routes to trolleybus operation that was about to occur in the Kingston area. By 1930, after only a few decades, official policy was turning against the tram and as first generation rolling stock fell increasingly due for renewal operators were looking for alternatives. If not the motor bus - the electric bus had the advantage of continuing to use the often large capital investment in generation and distribution infrastructure. After the formation of LT in 1933 the decision was made to convert the whole of London's tram system to the seemingly more modern and flexible trolleybus - but that is another story.

Taken on: November 13, 2022

Tags:

Mike Ashworth Collection

London

trams

tramway

Map of tramways in North

West & South London 1931

MET

Metropolitan Tramways Ltd

LUT

London United Tramways

SMET

South Metropolitan Electric Tramways and Lighting Co Ltd

Manor House

Sutton

Middlesex

list of London tram routes 1931

London tram services 1931

London tram fares 1931

map

logo

Johnston typeface

publicity

folder

transport

transport ephemera

Croydon

Penge

Tooting

Putney

Twickenham

Hounslow

Hammersmith

Shepherd's Bush

Hanwell

Uxbridge

Southall

Acton

Willesden

Wembley

Paddington

Sudbury

Edgware

Cricklewood

Barnet

Finchley

Archway

Tottenham

Golders Green

Enfield

Waltham Cross

roundel

Johnston

London County Council Tramways

LCCT

London tramways map 1931

London & Suburban Traction Co Ltd

Mitcham

Kingston « less

Sets appears in: • Map of Tramways in north, west and south London, 1931 • London books and maps more » • Old bus, trolleybus and tram stuff • London Transport « less

Groups appears in: • Lost London • * L O N D O N - T R A N S P O R T * more » • European Buses , Trolleybuses and Tramways • Sporvogne, Straßenbahnen, streetcars, Trams • Old London • Tram-spotting • Straßenbahnfreunde - Tram friends - Tram des amis • (A) BEAUTIFUL HISTORY OF OLD TRAMS « less

Camera: Brother MFC-J6930DW (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Brother MFC-J6930DW
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Apple Image Capture
Show full info

Stats: 2,173 views

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: