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R.C. Anderson is R. C. Anderson (2). For other authors named R. C. Anderson, see the disambiguation page.

R.C. Anderson (2) has been aliased into R. Claude Anderson.

7 Works 29 Members 1 Review

Works by R.C. Anderson

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Anderson, Roy Claude
Gender
male

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This latest addition to the league's stadard tramways histories is a very hansome volume, similar in style and finish to "The Tramways of East London" and a thoroughly professionnal job in every way. Its geographical coverage - Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and part of Essex - Means that it describes tramways which have not previously been the subject of any readily available publication, whereas the lines on the fringes of the area (Peterborough, Southend, Southend Pier & Canvey Island) have been described fairly recently in Tramway Review or Modern Tramway and would not justify reprinting, (...). Within its chosen area, the present book is a thoroughly comprehensive survey of all passenger-carrying tramways that ever existed.
Chapter I deals with the Cambridge Horse Tramways (1880-1914) and does so in satisfying details, in marked contrast to certain other books in which the horse tram is treated merely as a poor relation of the electric. Chapter 2 to 5 descibe in full the municipal electric tramways of Colchester, Great Yarmouth, Ipswich and Lowesoft, including the horse tramways that preceded two of them, and the sixth chapter traces the complicated story of the company-owned system in Norwich. In each case, the electric car fleets are fully recorded after the main text, through there are unresolved queries on the Norwich and Ipswich water cars; the former certainly existed, for it was sometimes used with a passenger trailer. the continued existence of the Cambridge depôt is mentionned but not that of the Ipswich horse car depôt in Quadling Street.
The seventh chapter is particuliarly welcome, for it places on record the elusive story of the Felixstowe and Walton pier tramways and their parent company, the Coast Development Corporation. This section is followed by concise accounts of the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway, The Kelvedon and Tollesbury Light Railway and the Southwold Railway, and a short chapter on proposed lines elsewhere. excluded, by definition, are the GER dock tramways at Yarmouth and Ipswich and the market tramway at Wisbech, though the first two are mentionned briefly in explanation of the GEr's large stock of steam tram engines, not all of which ever visited the line to Upwell.
In one respect, this volume differs from earlier League books, for the author, who is assistant traffic manager of the Wester and Southern National Omnibus Companies (and was previously with Eastern National at Norwich) gives the complete transport story, buses and all, in the six towns up to the date of abandonment of the trams, and a brief survey of later events to date, thus showing clearly how the transport pattern established by tramway operation has shaped the present structure of local transport. Equally the space given to service details and fares is greater than hitherto, though this has not been at the expense of other facets of the story. Lack of available source material has prevented the inclusion of car drawings, but the photographic coverage is excellent, and if small four-wheel open-top cars predominate, this is due to the regrettable fact that not one of the systems described ever progressed beyond this stage. The only bogie cars were at Lowesoft, four winter single-deckers and a works car. A special word is due to D.W. Willoughby for the admirable track maps.
(J.H. Price)
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intres | May 25, 2010 |

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Works
7
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Rating
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ISBNs
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