Hi All, I was wondering if maybe someone out there could help. Merseytravel is the passenger transport executive and integrated transport authority for Merseyside. We are currently involved in putting on a commemorative exhibition in our Mersey Ferry Woodside terminal for the 70th Anniversary of the May Blitz in Liverpool. We have hit some snags though - we're really short on photographs. We were hoping that someone out there has some images that we could display which mainly focus on the public transport network including buses, trams, overhead railway, railway and/or ferry. The Liverpool Corporation Public Transport Department at the time were also responsible for ambulance driver training, and heavily involved the transportation of troops, evacuees, internees. Does anyone have any stories/photos which we could use please or even just information? Any help would be greatly appreciated Erica
Welcome Erica, might be something for you here http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-cemeteries-war-memorial-research/21887-wartime-liverpool-website.html
welcome to the forum Erica have you contacted the Liverpool Echo they produced a booklet a few years back entitled "Bombers over Merseyside" with articles and numerous photos im sure they would have more info in their archive. regards Clive
Welcome Erica, might be something for you here http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/war-cemeteries-war-memorial-research/21887-wartime-liverpool-website.html Thank you! And thanks for the link to the overhead picture. We are currently in discussion with the museum and I'm going to email them Monday to seek approval to exhibit their photos/ask them to provide some. This image is from the Stuart Bale collection, who also took a lot of images of the construction of the Mersey Tunnel, so hopefully someone in house will have a contact for the custodian of this picture. Thats great though thanks so much
Thank you! And thanks for the link to the overhead picture. We are currently in discussion with the museum and I'm going to email them Monday to seek approval to exhibit their photos/ask them to provide some. This image is from the Stuart Bale collection, who also took a lot of images of the construction of the Mersey Tunnel, so hopefully someone in house will have a contact for the custodian of this picture. Thats great though thanks so much Thanks Erica, some more here and you gotta love the posters advertising the overhead railway. The Dockers’ Umbrella in the Blitz January 26, 2011 – 16:00 When it was opened in 1893 the Liverpool Overhead Railway was the world’s first electrically-operated overhead railway. The railway ran close to the River Mersey following the line of Liverpool Docks from Dingle to Bootle. It gained the affectionate nickname of the Dockers’ Umbrella, as a great proportion of the railway was elevated and dockers could shelter beneath it as they traveled about the docks. During World War II the Port of Liverpool was the country’s main link across the Atlantic and therefore vital for the constant supply of war materials and food. Consequently, the long sprawl of docks alongside the Mersey was a major target for the Luftwaffe. Given its proximity to the docks, it wasn’t surprising the famous Overhead Railway suffered serious bomb damage during the Blitz. James Street station was destroyed during the May Blitz of 1941 and was consequently rebuilt on modern lines in 1942. Damage to public transport made traveling to rest centres and other emergency facilities very difficult for those caught out in the bombing. Junction of James Street and Strand Street May 1941 Whenever the railway was disrupted by bomb damage, a shuttle service using buses was called into action. These vehicles carried passengers to and from working sections of track where they could resume their train journeys. Remarkably, no trains were lost to the bombers during the war, despite regular damage to the track and buildings along the entire length of the line. Some raids took place at times of the day when the trains were still running, but even after the last night service had ended, the coaches were still vulnerable standing in their depots. Damage to the Overhead at Sandon Dock Bomb raids cause a warehouse at Wapping Dock to collapse onto the line Air Raid | LIVERPOOL BLITZ 70!
welcome to the forum Erica have you contacted the Liverpool Echo they produced a booklet a few years back entitled "Bombers over Merseyside" with articles and numerous photos im sure they would have more info in their archive. regards Clive Hi Clive I have a copy of the original in the office! It's a great booklet, but unfortunately not that much on public transport. I never thought to ask them about thier archives though - thanks!
Oh I love these posters too! They would look great in my kitchen lol! I wrote a brief history leaflet on the overhead a few years back, but I didn't focus too much on the war years unfortunately as it was only a few pages long. These images are fantastic - I'll get in touch with the website. These tips/leads are great! Thank you again so much - keep them coming! But I'd really like someones stories or original photos if anyone has any we could use for a month or so? I came across some great memory stories of wartime by old tram and bus drivers written in 1957 in the Central Record OFfice in Liverpool, but unfortunately there's not enough stories to fill an exhibition - just a lot of facts and figures. A lot of the old records were destroyed in the Blitz bombing of our HQ on 3rd May 1941 unfortunately. And the records that are left are quite vague - obviously on purpose.
Welcome Erica, I think you are in the right place here! Cheers Marco - can't believe the responses were so quick and informative
Cheers Marco - can't believe the responses were so quick and informative Yes, it was the same for me, too - Great forum. Good luck for your interesting and fascinating aim.
It might be worth contacting the BMIHT at Gaydon. In addition to their own archives, they also hold the Nick Baldwin Collection, which concentrates on commercial vehicles and has a searchable online index. Here's some results which might bear further investigation: The Nick Baldwin Collection Particularly: The Nick Baldwin Collection The Nick Baldwin Collection
It might be worth contacting the BMIHT at Gaydon. In addition to their own archives, they also hold the Nick Baldwin Collection, which concentrates on commercial vehicles and has a searchable online index. Here's some results which might bear further investigation: The Nick Baldwin Collection Particularly: The Nick Baldwin Collection The Nick Baldwin Collection Thats great Vitesse - I wasn't aware this place even existed - as you can see I'm new to this! Some great leads from this website and i'll get in touch with them on Monday - thanks again
Not necessarily what you're looking for, but possibly useful as "aftermath" pictures: a street scene and a car park on a cleared bombsite, May 1946, from the Motoring Picture Library at Beaulieu. Image of Brunswick Street, Liverpool, May 1946. Image of A car park, Brunswick Street, Liverpool, May 1946. There's surprisingly little in the Science and Society Archive: there are some pretty much stock blitz pictures with no obvious transport links, but I did find this Daily Herald picture of Liverpool dockers, 1942: Image of liverpool docks, 1942. by Science & Society Picture Library Getty Images has more Liverpool blitz pictures than S & S (use advanced search and date range within Editorial Images), but the only transport-related one I could find was this: Getty Images - Evacuees at a Liverpool station, August 1942
Actually Vitesse they are great. I hadn't really thought about doing "post bombing", I only have images of actual bomb damage but it is interesting to see what the areas looked like once they were cleared. Thanks very much. I really appreciate all of the comments/suggestions/photos etc on here - they're great!
