Lowestoft
Corporation Tramways
Summary
The earliest photographs I've seen indicate that tramcar
staff wore double-breasted, cross-over style tunics with
two rows of five buttons (presumably brass - see link) and
upright collars; the latter do not appear to have
carried any kind of insignia. Caps were initially
railway-like with a glossy peak and a soft convex top,
and carried a small brass municipal badge consisting of
an angel holding a shield, above the full system title
in a ribbon: 'Lowestoft Corporation Tramways'. A
standard script-lettering, brass cap badge was worn
beneath this badge, which denoted the individual's
grade, either 'Motorman' or 'Conductor'. Caps, tunics
and trousers were all piped, though the colour remains,
for the moment, unknown.
At some point in the early days of operation, a change
appears to have been made to kepi-style caps, which is
somewhat curious as these could be considered to be
somewhat old-fashioned compared to the previous caps. They
did not last for long however, as photos of staff wearing
them are scarce, and they were eventually replaced by
upright, military-style caps with flat tops, which
continued to be worn right through to closure. No change
was ever made to the cap badges worn throughout the entire
life of the tramway.
The style of tunics was also subtly changed over time to
include epaulettes - this had certainly taken place by
1910, though they, like the upright collars, appear to have
been devoid of insignia. However, later photos clearly show
staff wearing a small municipal badge on both collars, as
well as what appear to be employee numbers on each
epaulette. Staff also frequently wore heavy
double-breasted, cross-over style overcoats with high,
fold-over collars and epaulettes; both seem to have been
devoid of badges.
In common with many tramway systems, women were employed
during the First World War - initially as conductors and
later as motorwomen - to replace men lost to the armed
forces. Female staff were issued with long, tailored,
double-breasted, cross-over style coats, with waist belt
and high, fold-over collars; the latter carried embroidered
'L C T' initials. At least some of the coats appear to have
carried unmarked bakelite or horn buttons rather than the
standard marked brass issues. Headgear consisted of a shiny
waterproof bonnet with wide brim, which bore the standard
'Lowestoft Corporation Tramways' badge.
Inspectors wore single-breasted jackets with hidden buttons
and upright collars; the latter carried the designation
'Inspector' in embroidered script lettering. Caps were the
same pattern as worn by tramcar staff, with the identical
municipal badge, but worn above 'Inspector' in embroidered
script lettering, as opposed to the standard brass badges
worn by conductors and motormen.
I am indebted to David Mackley's 'Lowestoft Tramways'
(Middleton Press; 2010) for background information on
several of the photos shown below.
Images
Conductor and motorman (George Warnes) pose with a tramcar
in London Road South, decorated to mark the coronation of
King George V in 1911. Both men are wearing cross-over
tunics and the piping on the conductor's trousers is clear
to see.
Cap badge - brass
Standard ‘off the shelf’ script-lettering cap
badges of the type used by Lowestoft - brass.
Conductor Freddie Reynolds and motorman Harvey Crawford
with Tramcar No 10 - photo undated, but probably taken in
the 1920s. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway
Society, with particular thanks to David Voice.
Motorman and conductor pose besides Lowestoft's official
last tramcar in Station Square on 8th May 1931. The collar
badges and employee numbers (on the epaulettes) are clearly
seen. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway
Society, with particular thanks to David Voice.
Conductor and motorman in heavy overcoats alongside Tramcar
14 at Belle Vue Park in the last years of operation. Photo
courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society, with
particular thanks to David Voice.
Conductress (Olive Bately) and motorwoman (Louise Shipp)
pose with a rather delapidated looking Tramcar No 22 at
Pakefield - photo undated, but probably taken during or
shortly after World War One.
Conductress (Olive Bately) and motorman pose with Tramcar
No 1 at the same location as the above photo, but on
another day, as Miss Bately's footwear differs. Photo
courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society, with
particular thanks to David Voice.
A Lowestoft inspector in 1911, on the occasion of King
George V's coronation (see photo above).