Gloucester Corporation Light Railways
(Gloucester Corporation Tramways)

History
Although Gloucester Corporation formally took over the assets of the City of Gloucester Tramways Company on 30th September 1902, it initially allowed the company to continue working the services until the end of the year. From 1st January 1903 however, the corporation took over operation, working the horse trams for some 14 months before the last of them was withdrawn as electrification progressed towards completion. Photographs which unequivocally stem from this period of Corporation operation have yet to surface, so it is currently impossible to state whether uniforms were worn; however, and on the balance of probability, it is likely that the corporation was content for staff to continue wearing the unmarked uniforms that they had worn under the company's jurisdiction (see link).

Uniforms
Staff working the new electric services were provided with smart new uniforms: motormen wore double-breasted, lancer-style style tunics with five pairs of buttons (bearing the city's coat of arms — see link — and narrowing from top to bottom), and stand-up collars; the latter bore an employee number on the bearer's left-hand side, and system initials — 'G C L R' — on the right-hand side. Conductors on the other hand, wore single-breasted jackets with five buttons, two breast pockets (with button closures), epaulettes and stand-up collars; the latter bore the same insignia as the motormen's jacket collars. Caps were initially of the drooping-peak type; they bore script-lettering grade badges — either 'Motorman' or 'Conductor' — above which an unmarked Gloucester municipal-device cap badge was worn (see below). It is unclear whether the badges were brass or nickel, as buttons exist in both materials. The drooping-peak caps were superseded by tensioned-crown peaked caps, probably in the mid-to-late Edwardian era; the new caps continued to carry the same badges as worn previously.

The style of conductors uniforms does not appear to have altered at all during the entire lifetime of the tramway (from the first electric service in 1904 through to closure in 1933). Motorman's jackets on the other hand, were at some point — and certainly by the time of the Great War — changed to a double-breasted design with five pairs of buttons, three flap pockets (two hip level and one waist level) and high, fold-over collars; the latter continued to carry the same badges as the earlier jackets.

Tramcar staff were also issued with long double-breasted greatcoats with five pairs of buttons, high fold-over collars and epaulettes; the latter were fastened at the neck end with a button, and possibly bore an employee number. The collars were left unadorned.

Although detailed photographs of inspectors are yet to surface, a good quality photograph of the tramway's chief inspector has survived, from which information about inspectors' uniforms can be inferred. Inspectors were probably issued with double-breasted jackets with four pairs of buttons, two waist pockets (with flap closures) and lapels; the collars probably carried the grade — 'Inspector' — in embroidered script-lettering. Although photographs of senior staff from the earliest years of the system have not survived, it is likely that the caps were of the drooping-peak type. By the late-Edwardian era, senior staff caps were of the tensioned-crown type; they bore the grade — 'Inspector' — in embroidered script lettering upon a hat band.

The chief inspector wore a very similar style of jacket to inspectors, but with piped chevrons on the sleeve cuffs, as well as an embellishment just above these, which may have been a monogram of the system initials ('GCLR'), though this is for now unproven. The collars and the cap bore the grade — 'Chief Inspector' — in embroidered script lettering, the latter, on a hatband with a piped border.

In 1912, the tramway employed one chief inspector, three inspectors, thirty-four motormen and thirty-six conductors.

The GCLR — like many other tramway operators — employed women as conductresses during the Great War to replace male staff lost to the armed services. Conductresses were issued with tailored, single-breasted jackets with five buttons, two breast pockets and two hip-level pockets (all with button closures), a waist belt (secured with two buttons), lapels, and epaulettes. Headgear took the form of a felt bonnet, which was usually pinned up at one side (in the manner of an Australian slouch hat); it is likely, though by no means certain, that the standard municipal-device badge was fixed to the upturned brim at the side. Conductresses were also issued with single-breasted topcoats with off-centre buttons and high, fold-over collars; it is unclear whether the collars carried any badges.

Further reading
For more information on this system see: 'Gloucester Corporation Light Railways' by S E Webb, in the Tramway Review, Nos 112 (p236-242) and 113 (p3-24); Light Rail Transit Association (1982/3).

Images

Motormen and conductors
Gloucester Corporation Tramways Tram No 7 and driver
A brand-new looking Tramcar No 7 stands in the middle of a busy thoroughfare with its motorman seemingly interested in something to the left of the tramcar — photo undated, but probably taken in 1904. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society, with thanks to David Voice.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways Tram No 7 and driver
An enlargement of the above photograph showing a rather unusual side-on profile of the motorman; he is wearing a double-breasted lancer-style tunic and a drooping-peak cap.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways Tram No 30 and driver
Another poor quality photograph, but one which clearly shows a motorman — at the controls of Tramcar No 30 — wearing a double-breasted, lancer-style tunic — photo undated, but given the immaculate condition of the vehicle, probably taken in 1905/6. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society, with thanks to David Voice.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways Tram No 10 and crew
The crew of Tramcar No 10, working a service to Tuffley and Cross, pose for the cameraman — photo undated, but probably taken in the mid-to-late Edwardian era. By this time, tensioned-crown peaked caps had superseded the drooping-peak caps. Photo courtesy of the National Tramway Museum.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways Edwardian tram driver
An enlargement of the above photograph showing the motorman (Employee No 7), in lancer-style tunic and tensioned-crown peaked cap, the latter bearing a municipal-device cap badge and a 'Motorman' grade badge.


Gloucester Tramways tram conductor Edwardian
Another blow-up of the photo of No 10 above, this time showing the conductor, in single-breasted jacket and with a cap bearing a municipal-device cap badge and a 'Conductor' grade badge. His right-hand collar clearly bears the letter 'R', the last initial of the official system title — 'G C L R' — Gloucester Corporation Light Railways. He is possibly Employee No 30.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways cap badge
Gloucester Corporation Tramways municipal-device cap badge — nickel. Author's Collection.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways cap badges
Standard off-the-shelf script-lettering grade badges of the type worn by Gloucester Corporation Light Railways staff — nickel. Author's Collection.


Gloucester Corporation Light Railways Tramcar No 17
A Great War GCLR conductress and her motorman with Tramcar No 17. Author's Collection.


Gloucester Corporation Light Railways tram driver Great War
An enlargement of the above photograph shown details of the motorman's insignia. The collars of his double-breasted jacket bear system initials ('GCLR') on one side, and an employee number on the other. His is wearing a silver wound badge, indicating that he had been honourably discharged from the armed forces.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways Tram No 12 and conductor
Tramcar No 12, at the Hucclecote terminus, some time in the late 1920s. The tramcars were painted in this rather unflattering all-over-grey livery from around 1915 onwards. Whilst many systems were forced into such exigencies by paint shortages during the Great War, most reverted to their original livery as soon as supplies permitted. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society, with thanks to David Voice.



Gloucester Corporation Tramways Tram No 12 and conductor
An enlargement of the above photograph, which though blurred, does show that the conductor is wearing a single-breasted jacket with breast pockets and epaulettes, suggesting that conductors' uniforms remained unchanged right through to the demise of the tramway.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways Tram No 10 and crew
The crew of Tramcar No 10 pose for the camera of Dr H Nicol — photo undated, but probably taken in the late 1920s or early 1930s. Photo courtesy of the National Tramway Museum.


Glouceter Corporation Tramways conductor
An enlargement of the above photograph showing the conductor, whose script-lettering 'Conductor' and municipal-device cap badges can clearly be seen.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways motorman
Another blow up of the photograph above, this time showing the motorman's script-lettering 'Motorman' and municipal-device cap badges.


Senior staff
Gloucester Corporation Tramways decorated tram 1911
An unidentified GCLR tramcar, decorated to mark the coronation of King George V, which took place on the 22nd June 1911. The man in the foreground is the GCLR's chief inspector. Photo courtesy of the National Tramway Museum.


Gloucester Corporation Tramways Chief Inspector 1911
An enlargement of the above photograph showing the chief inspector. His jacket sleeve bears piped chevrons, as well as an embellishment that may comprise the system's initials. Both the cap and the collars bear the grade — 'Chief Inspector' — in embroidered script lettering.


Female staff
Gloucester Corporation Light Railways Great War tram conductress
An enlargement of the Great War photograph of Tramcar No 17 above, showing the conductress. Whilst her jacket appears to be devoid of insignia, her felt bonnet probably bears a municipal-device cap badge where it is pinned up at the side.