SO far 2015 has been a vintage year for local people interested in the history of Southampton with the publication of three landmark books, each one giving a fascinating insight into the life of the city.

First came the runaway best seller, Southampton’s Lost Pubs, from Dave Goddard and Jim Brown highlighting the passing of so many local inns, which in turn changed the day-to-day lives of so many communities.

Then came the definitive history The Story of Cunard’s 175 Years, The Triumph of a Great Tradition, which traced the history of the world-famous shipping line compiled and written by Eric Flounders and Michael Gallagher.

The latest in the trio of Southampton books to make its mark on the city is Twilight of Southampton’s Trams: Images of their Final Years by the well-known author and historian, Dave Marden.

Although these three books cover very different subjects, anyone reading these volumes would obtain a wide understanding of how modern day Southampton has taken shape as far as community life, shipping, and transport – three of the city’s vital components – are concerned.

Dave Marden, probably best known for his previous books on the region’s railways, has brought together many dozens of rare images of the trams, which at one time clanked their way backwards and forwards along the tracks, snaking through the city and its suburbs.

Daily Echo:

“I should imagine that only a small and dwindling proportion of Southampton’s population will remember its trams as it is now a little over 65 years since the last one to carry passengers ran on December 31, 1949, setting off from the Floating Bridge for Shirley at about 11pm,” said Dave.

“Festooned with lights amid crowds of onlookers it rattled off into history.”

Photographs are one of the great strengths of Dave’s book as not only do they highlight the many different trams which once served Southampton and its people but the images also feature much of the surrounding street scene including Stag Gates, Lodge Road, Bitterne Park Triangle, Six Dials, St. Mary’s and Bevois Valley.

Dave said: “The trams themselves were a mixture of odd types and individual designs, some new while others were rebuilds, mainly open topped, some of which were gradually enclosed,” says Dave in the introduction to his book.

What hope is there of seeing trams run in Southampton once more?

“Many British cities now have the modern rapid transport version, running in single deck articulated units rather than individual cars but their appearance in our city is extremely unlikely, given the narrow and congested streets that make up the main thoroughfares, although perhaps a modern tramway linking the airport, city and the population along the old Fawley branch line might just be feasible.

Daily Echo:

“Realistically, the best we can hope for is for a modest exhibition track running somewhere along the city’s redeveloped waterfront, and linked to a heritage museum in that area.”

“I’m more of a railway enthusiast than a tram person but anything that has flanged wheels and runs on rails is OK by me!” said Dave.

The book came about after Dave’s friend Bert Moody acquired a collection of photos taken around the town’s tram system in the late 1940s when its closure was imminent.

“From a personal view I was just as interested in the street scenes as in the trams themselves because they showed Southampton as I knew it in my early childhood just after the war.

“Having recently met people who are involved in the Southampton Tram Project it seemed a good idea to promote an interest in their work of restoring three trams, currently housed in a workshop in Southampton Docks, where volunteers are working to see them operating once again in the city. While there is no shortage of dedication and enthusiasm, the project team is desperately short of money to see its dream realised.

Daily Echo:

“I had an idea to get the photographs published in a book and, for my contribution, any royalties that come my way will be handed over to the tram project.

“Irwell Press were happy to take it on and have made a fine job of reproducing many of the photos.

“Hopefully, the book will sell well and raise sufficient cash to help with the costs of restoration. That will speed the process and, perhaps with public support, the sight of a tram running in Southampton will not be confined to vintage photographs.”