Documentary exploring how the tram liberated overcrowded cities, mapping its journey from horse-drawn carriage on rails to steam and then electric power.
Move along the car! Timeshift takes a nostalgic trip on the tram car and explores how it liberated overcrowded cities and launched the era of the commuter. The film maps the tram's journey from early horse-drawn carriages on rails, through steam, and to electric power.
Overhead wires hung over Britain's towns and cities for nearly 50 years from the beginning of the 20th century until they were phased out everywhere except Blackpool. Manchester, the last city to lose its trams was, however, among the first to reintroduce them as the solution to modern-day traffic problems.
The film includes a specially recorded reading by Alan Bennett of his short story Leeds Trams, and contributions from Ken Dodd and Roy Hattersley.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Clips
-
Riding on top of the car
Duration: 01:29
-
From Leeds to Bristol
Duration: 02:26
-
Tram from Knotty Ash
Duration: 03:12
-
Audio of Alan Bennett reading Leeds Trams
Duration: 11:02
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Narrator | Sarah Lancashire |
Producer | Julia Foot |
Director | Julia Foot |
Series Producer | Ben Southwell |
Executive Producer | Michael Poole |
Broadcasts
- Mon 5 Dec 2011 21:00
- Tue 6 Dec 2011 00:30
- Tue 6 Dec 2011 03:00
- Wed 7 Dec 2011 20:00
- Thu 8 Dec 2011 02:30
- Christmas Eve 2011 19:00
- Tue 5 Jun 2012 19:00
- Wed 6 Jun 2012 01:30
- Sat 9 Jun 2012 22:45
- Sun 25 Nov 2012 19:00
- Wed 28 Nov 2012 00:00
- Thu 10 Jan 2013 22:50
- Mon 15 Apr 2013 21:00
- Tue 16 Apr 2013 02:00
- Tue 2 Jul 2013 22:00
- Wed 3 Jul 2013 02:00
- Fri 5 Jul 2013 00:30
- Sun 17 Nov 2013 21:50
- Tue 2 Sep 2014 00:50
- Mon 3 Nov 2014 20:00
- Thu 15 Jan 2015 20:00
- Sat 19 Sep 2015 20:00
- Tue 22 Sep 2015 01:00
- Tue 26 Apr 2016 20:00