IF you want to be transported back to the past there are only two ways to go: by steam train, or by tram. Next to a gleaming old locomotive, the most nostalgic thing on wheels is the good old tramcar.

There is no tram equivalent to the National Railway Museum in York, but at least we have the pictures. And Joe Murphy has plenty of them. His collection of old York images numbers 2,500, and a good few of those show the tramway.

Joe, who gives illustrated talks on city history, realised there was a great deal of interest in the old network. So he has gathered together 80 photographs of them in his new book, City Of York Tramways.

The trams weren't here that long: the first horse-drawn service took place in 1880, the last electrically-powered journey ended in 1935. But during those brief decades, the trams became a part of York life.

In two issues of the Tramway Review in 1955 and 1956, MJ O'Connor and GJ Mellor wrote a detailed account of the York network. With permission, Joe has reproduced these articles in his book, called simply The Tramways Of York.

It was in 1878 that the city council was first approached by a private firm asking whether it would promote a Parliamentary Bill giving powers for the construction of tramways in York.

The first section, which ran from the Plough Inn at Fulford to the foot of Fishergate near Castle Mills Bridge, was completed two years later.

A steam-powered car had been brought to York, but had was so noisy it was discontinued. Another steam car proved to be more satisfactory and was approved for use alongside horse power.

On October 27, 1880, the opening ceremony took place. "One of the horse trams was in readiness at the Castle Mills Bridge terminus for the official party," wrote O'Connor and Mellor.

"It was drawn by two horses to Fulford Cross, where the depot was viewed. On the return journey, the steam car was viewed and found to be generally acceptable."

The trams were considered enough of a success that, in December 1880, the council supported an application for new tramways which would run as far as Knavesmire, as well as to the new railway station.

Soon, however, the steam car was retired and the service was conducted entirely by horsepower. It was hard work for the two-animal teams, but they got some extra help up Micklegate from a sturdy horse called Jumbo.

"When harnessed, the horses were encouraged by shouts and cracking of whip to throw their weight into their collars and begin the slow ascent of the hill with much scrabbling of iron shoes on stone setts scattering fiery sparks in all directions," recalled Arthur Theyer in the newsletter of the Yorkshire Architectural and York Archaeological Society in October 1983.

By 1891 the City of York Tramways Company owned 37 horses and ten trams which, during that year, ran 121,000 miles, carried more than 814,000 passengers and netted a profit of £940.

The tram system passed from private to public hands in February 1909 when York Corporation took it over.

Two months later, the council polled the public on whether it should construct new electric tramways. York said yes.

Work on laying the new track began in Fulford that September and, on the seventh of the month, the last horse car ran.

Going electric was a big job. Several streets had to be widened. But when the track reached from Fulford to Nessgate, York's first electric tram, No 1, suitably decorated, set forth on its inaugural journey. It was driven by the Lord Mayor and driver JA Stewart on January 20, 1910.

During that first day of operation, 6,786 passengers were carried, the receipts totalling more than £35.

The tram cars had four wheels and open tops, reached by half-turn staircases. Each one could seat 48 people, 22 on benches on the lower floor and the rest on garden seats upstairs.

"Folding metal destination boards were affixed fore and aft to the railings of the upper deck, illuminated at night by two overhanging lamps," wrote O'Connor and Mellor.

"Livery was royal blue and cream with lining and lettering in gold and the words 'City of York Tramways' in large letters on the rocker panels."

The tramways grew.

More lines were constructed from Nessgate to Dringhouses, with a spur leading from the main route to Holgate Bridge on the road to Acomb. Other tracks led along Rougier Street to the railway station.

On the Haxby Road route, Lendal Bridge was not strong enough to carry the new trams and had to be reinforced.

The same was true of Holgate Bridge, which was also too narrow. Until it was rebuilt, passengers had to change cars and cross the bridge by foot.

By 1913, a service was running from the station to a South Bank terminus. Three years later, a Hull Road tramway was added and a service from Coppergate began.

More cars were added to cope with rush hour traffic and the extra passengers generated by football games and race days.

The first one-man car arrived in York in 1924, complete with change-giving machine. Its two doors were operated by levers on the platform and worked together with folding steps.

This state-of-the-art tramcar should have been the safest on the network. But after being put into service on the Dringhouses-Hull Road route it became involved in several accidents, including a head-on collision with another tram.

By 1932, trams were already approaching the end of the line. Housing estates had been built away from the tracks which were not extended. Motor buses now looked a more modern and flexible way to serve York's changing population.

A vote at a public meeting in 1934 was in favour of scrapping the trams. They made their final journeys on Saturday November 16, 1935.

Cars Nos 1 to 4 formed the final procession, the last car, No 1, being driven by JA Stewart, by now an inspector, who had driven the same car on its first journey in 1910.

The crowd sang Auld Lang Syne and the Tramways Brass Band on Fulford Road led a "funeral procession" into the depot. There, the citation rang out: "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, the Corporation won't have us, the West Yorkshire must."

City Of York Tramways by Joe Murphy is published by the author, price £9.95. It is on sale at the launch between 10am and 4pm on Saturday, March 1 at the Tramways Club, Mill Street, York and at Barbican Books, Fossgate, York.

Updated: 10:42 Monday, February 24, 2003