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YEARS LATER
 It is surprising what can still remain of the system many years later when it might appear that all evidence of a tram system that finally closed in 1957 has vanished. On 28th of September 2001 I was lucky enough to be passing through Smithdown Road when road work had uncovered the old tram rails that were still embedded in the road.
 The photo on the left shows Falkner Street on the 20th of July 2001. Here can be seen evidence of removed rails in the granite sets close to the junction with Catherine Street. With help from Anthony Killey, this was linked to a single track horse tram route constructed around 1884-1885. This track formed part of a package of extensions specified in the Liverpool Tramway (Extension) Order 1884. A map showing electrification during 1898-1902 shows Falkner Street remaining as Horse Line, "not electrified". Liverpool Corporation Tramway maps of a few years later do not show Falkner Street, so its unlikely it was ever electrified. In the days of the horse trams, this would have formed part of a route running out to Prince's Park. This appears to be part of the inbound track runnng in to Hope Street at the other end. Perhaps by coincidence, it turns out that one of the eight original proprietors of the Liverpool Road & Railway Omnibus Company Limited which was registered on 14th May 1860 was a Buckley Bent, who lived at 34 Falkner Street.
 The view on the right clearly shows the now unused central reservation running along Horrocks Avenue between Allerton and Garston on the 28th September 1986. Previously used by tram routes 8 and 33, these are probably the original overhead poles still in use for street lighting.
© All pictures are copyright of Ronald P Smith.
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