Dear LPG

I have found a few stories among some old papers and felt that it would be a shame to throw them away without them being shared one more time.  I am hoping that some LPG readers will appreciate a little cockney humour from that era. 

London Life in the 1920s and 1930s

For a working man whose job meant using public transport.  The London County Council, who was responsible for trams in the London area and immediate suburbs, had a special fare structure known as Workmen's Returns.  Providing one bought a ticket before. I think, 07:30 a.m.  My particular journey took me from Lewisham Way to the Southwark Bridge terminus for the princely sum of 4d. Yes.... 4d in pre-decimal currency!  I shudder to think what it would cost today to cover the same journey. 

To avoid unsightly overhead wires in the London Suburbs the current supplied to the trams was via an underground rail with access via a 2” (5 cm) wide conduit running midway between the running rails.  The tram picked up the current by a device called a plough, which dropped down the centre slot from the tram's undercarriage.  Periodically a track inspector had the task of inspecting the condition of the subterranean power supply which was actually about 18" (45 cms) below the surface and to do this he used a mirror about 8" by 6" (20 cms x 15 cms) hinged on one side to a 3' (90 cms) rod, the other side of the mirror had a length of cord attached.  The inspector. Using a kneeling pad would drop the mirror down the centre slot and by careful adjustment with the cord was able to reflect sufficient light down onto the rail carrying the current.

On one occasion two charladies waiting for a tram were watching the inspector with some interest, and one of them called out to him in a truly cockney voice, "Hi Guvnor 'ave yer lorst a tram dahn there?” I don't recall his exact reply. Perhaps it is just as well...

Written by G.H. (B. 1920)

I don’t know who GH was but I hope you enjoy his sense of humour.

JC, Lewisham