London Tram and Trolleybus crossing North End, Croydon
Click on picture [525] for an enlarged version |
Click on picture [1064] for an enlarged version |
Notes by David Bradley
Picture 66 was taken in early 1959 and was originally discarded for inclusion on this WEB site but
the negative has been recovered from the cutting room floor as it shows a piece of social history of this bustling part
of West Croydon, the gateway into North End for the town's major shopping centre. Quite surprisingly the trolleybus is
seen to be empty, probably having off loading its passengers, from the Crystal Palace leg of the route, at
the previous stop in Station Road - maybe those very people you see in the picture.
Forty-two years later I return to the same spot to capture a Tramlink vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. It has
a full compliment of passengers ready to be discharged at the next stop for their shopping expedition into
Croydon. [The fast food prices on the side of the tram may be of interest in years to come].
Sadly I don't have the camera angle quite the same as the upper picture but it can be observed that the two fashion shops
have long gone, replaced by an up market coffee emporium whose neighbour is now a camera retailer. Interestingly it was
cheaper to buy a disposable camera than have two cups of coffee. In trolleybus days I struggled to afford the black and
white film for my camera but was never thirsty! Welcome to the 21st century.