The last trams of Sunderland

Watch how Sunderland's last trams bowed out in style 70 years ago this year.

Transcript

00:00 They were once a part of everyday Sunderland life but all that changed 70 years ago this year.

00:06 The last trams of Wearside made their final journeys in 1954. The first electric tram service

00:15 had started in 1900 replacing the horse-drawn varieties which had run since 1879.

00:22 Soon the electric trams were taking people around town to Sunday church services.

00:29 Perhaps home from a day's shopping on a freezing winter's day. Our archives have preserved photos

00:37 from Dykelands Road, Durham Road, Mackie's Corner and Vallette Road. Here is the last tram from

00:44 Southwick to Grangetown and the last one for Seaburn going past the Town Hall in a grand 1954

00:52 procession. Look at the crowds. Once the service was disused workers dug up the tracks.

00:59 Here they are in Burrow Road and outside the Palatine. The last lines were dug up 65 years ago.

01:07 An era had come to an end. Tell us about a part of Sunderland's past which you would like to see

01:14 in an Echo Film tribute. Email chris.courtner@nationalworld.com