In Britain's Preserved Trams: An Historic Overview the author, Peter Waller, looks, not at the actual preservation of the tramcars, but at around 200 trams which have survived to the present time, many currently still awaiting restoration. Some trams were purchased directly out of service and others were acquired after many years alternative usage, some being summer houses or homes, while others were used on farms or allotments where they served as sheds and outbuildings, before being lovingly restored over many years.
The majority of the photographs show the tramcars in service during their original working lifetime, or in a number of cases when this has not been possible, they are illustrated by one of their sister cars instead. Tramcars which have been retained by their original owners, either in storage or in operation, have not been included in this book. Likewise, due to the number of Blackpool trams which have survived only a representative selection have been incorporated.
The story of tram preservation is not wholly positive, in the early days many trams suffered from being stored in the open at unsafe sites, where they often deteriorated due to the weather and were vulnerable to acts of vandalism. In 1959 this changed to a large extent with the acquisition of the site of the future National Tramway Museum at Crich, Derbyshire, which now holds a comprehensive collection of tramcars from all over Britain, along with trams from foreign networks. There are also fine collections of trams assembled at other museums across Britain and Ireland; all of which results in a extensive range, covering much of the rich history of this once common form of public transport.
Detailed captions accompany each of the 180 mainly black & white photographs, giving historical and anecdotal information relating to the tramcar pictured. Hardback. 160 pages.