Victorian Edinburgh tramway clock is turning back time

A HISTORIC clock which once regulated the time for the motormen of Edinburgh’s first-generation trams at the city’s busy West End intersection is back on the Scottish capital’s streets – thanks to the city’s modern trams.

The ornate clock first told the time on Waverley Bridge in 1857 before being moved to the West End, where it was used by tram drivers to regulate their running, until it was moved to London Road roundabout in 1955. Years later it was removed as part of early preparation work for the city’s new trams in 2007 and safely stored.

Iconic

Its clock face called time on the last tram in 1956 but has now been brought back between the tracks at Elm Row on the tramway extension down Leith Walk to Newhaven, which opens in the spring of 2023. Modern tram drivers will then be able to set their watches by the ornate timepiece just as their predecessors did in the past, to ensure that the trams run like clockwork.

Specialist clockmaker Smith of Derby dismantled, primed, and repainted all the parts before returning the mechanism to working order and returning the clock to Edinburgh for installation on August 16.

City archaeologist John Lawson said: “It has been fascinating to work with Smith of Derby in restoring this iconic clock back to original condition, with a striking paint scheme reflecting what we believe to be close to its original Victorian look.”

Meanwhile, discussions are underway as to where to display two original Edinburgh cable tram pulley wheels, unearthed in August 2021 on Leith Walk during excavations for laying the track for the new extension, directly on the path of the original tram route.

Last used in 1922, the cable wheels were left in situ when the new electric service began over the former cable tram route and were buried under the electric tracks. Edinburgh City Council is now consulting community and business groups on the best position for the restored cable tram pulley wheels along the tramway extension down Leith Walk as a celebration of tramway heritage when the new trams start to run next year.

CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL Right: Clock this: The clock placed on Elm Row with the Leith Walk tram extension tracks to the left.

CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL Rescued for restoration, one of the pulley wheels is lifted out of its pit for restoration. City of Edinburgh Council is now considering where best to display the wheels alongside the new tram line down Leith Walk.