Archive Page
The TLRS has an extensive archive and collection. We are hoping in future to make this more available to view via the website, but at present we have summarised the contents by subject or system, as described below:
The TLRS Model Collection
The large-scale collection contains thirty 1:16 scale models, mostly built by acknowledged experts and of historical significance. A number of these models are loaned out to museums or local groups. For details of these please CLICK HERE
TLRS Models Collection at Wythall
From 2012, part of the TLRS Models Collection was on display in the depot at Heaton Park. There were over 160 models on display spread over 7 cabinets. The models ranged in size from N gauge to ¾ inch scale.
In the Spring of 2023, most of the models were removed as Heaton Park needed the space for other things. They were then put into storage.
After discussions, the Wythall Transport Museum were happy to display some of The Collection.
There are forty-three of our models on display, many of them are local to the area or have local connections. The models again range from a tiny Kato N gauge loco to two large ¾ inch scale models made by Pop Lawson. Pop Lawson was the Superintendent of the Kyotts Lake Road Tramcar Repair Works at Birmingham City Transport and wrote the Birmingham Corporation Tramway Rolling Stock book.
We are very grateful to the staff at the Transport Museum for their help in making this possible.
Further information about the Museum is available on their website – https://www.wythall.org.uk/
The Museum is just off M42 junction 3 and their address is The Transport Museum, Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcs B47 6JA.
You can view details of the models here: TLRS Models Collection at Wythall
We are now working on the next group of models and the next museum.
The Digital Photo Archive
The Digital Photo Archive contains approximately 177,000 images (218 GB). This has been collected from many sources, and most of the tram photos are sorted by town, though there are also some sorted by theme e.g. accidents, depots, manufacturers etc. We intend in the near future to review and improve the way these are categorised and filed.
It is not possible at present to enable these files to be viewed through this website, but if you wish to research a particular system or type of vehicle, please contact our Archivist for help ( archive@tlrs.info ).
- For a summary of photos of Modern British Tramways CLICK HERE
- For a summary of older (first generation) British Tram Photographs CLICK HERE
- For a summary of Foreign Tram Photographs CLICK HERE
The Drawing Archive
The drawing archive contains over 1,200 drawings, of which 1,000 are of UK trams. The rest include drawings from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, USA.
They are in varying scales from full size to HO scale, and are mainly categorised by system, but also includes some drawings of equipment.
For a number of reasons it is not possible to view individual drawings through this website. Drawings by Terry Russell are available only from him – visit (http://www.terryrusselltrams.co.uk/ . Drawings shown as by Eric Thornton are available from the National Tramway Museum at Crich https://www.tramway.co.uk . Should you wish more information about a particular drawing, please contact our Model Engineering Secretary for help ( mesec@tlrs.info )
For a list of the drawings CLICK HERE
The Library / Archive
The library contains approximately 1,000 books, booklets and magazines of which 357 are magazines. There are also a number of folders of leaflets, clippings etc. which are too numerous at present to itemise.
If you wish to borrow any of the items, or would like more details of the contents of some of the folders, please contact our Archivist for help ( archive@tlrs.info )
For a summary of what the Library Archive contains CLICK HERE