What was it like conducting on Bristol’s Trams?
(Left) One month into his job, George pictured with driver ‘Smash’ Sheppard on Tram 31 on Upper Belgrave Road, Durdham Downs (Right) George, in his Tram Conductor’s uniform, poses for the camera in the late 1920s.
Despite his WW1 injuries, George Pine managed a 36-year career collecting fares between Eastville and Durdham Down on Bristol’s trams and buses between the 1920s and 40s. He experienced the changeover from trams to buses in the 1930s and survived several close shaves during the Blitz. He retired in 1956. At the request of his grandson, George jotted down 44,000 words of memories in the months before he died in 1972.
George’s story has been painstakingly researched by Clive Burlton in Trenches to Trams, the Life of a Bristol Tommy – a vivid social and military history – bringing to life the story of an ordinary Bristolian who experienced extraordinary times.
Here are some of George’s insights into what it was it like working on Bristol’s Trams.
Tram conducting experience in the 1920s
Ticket prices were 1d, 2d, and 3d, and conductors had to manage ticket sales efficiently. Discipline was strict, with penalties for mistakes such as failing to pick up used tickets or leaving passengers behind. The tram service was very busy during holidays, transporting crowds to various attractions.
Day trips and excursions by tram
The early 1920s saw a surge in excursion trips facilitated by the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company (BT&CC). The BT&CC operated over 200 trams and a fleet of 177 motorbuses and 56 charabancs by 1922.
Sports and team activities
George was actively involved in sports and team activities at the tramway company, including organizing events and participating in competitions. The tramway company had a strong football and cricket team, with players often representing Bristol Trams. George also served as Secretary of the Eastville Depot Sports Club, organizing inter-depot competitions in various sports.
Health challenges and work adjustments
George faced health challenges that affected his work, including eye problems and arthritis, leading to adjustments in his job responsibilities. He had to wear bifocal glasses due to vision issues, which complicated his ticket management. After a medical board assessment, his pension was fixed at 50% for life due to war-related injuries.
Transition from trams to buses in Bristol
The transition from tram services to bus services in Bristol marked a significant change in public transportation during the late 1930s. Tram Service No. 3, which operated from Eastville to Durdham Downs, was one of the first routes to be replaced by buses in May 1938. The changeover was prompted by the need to accommodate retiring tram drivers and the increasing popularity of bus services. The first bus service began on May 8, 1938, with 271 buses replacing the trams. The tram fleet, once the largest in the world with 232 vehicles, was gradually dismantled, with all 34 trams from the Eastville route scrapped by June 24, 1938.
Trenches to Trams is an invaluable social history of a working class Bristolian who lived through two World Wars. It contains more than 200 archive images most of them never previously published. Some of George Pine’s memorabilia is on show at M Shed and the book is supported by Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives.
