Become a Member Today
Connect with fellow transport enthusiasts and participate in rewarding European study tours.
About Our Society
The Scottish Tramway & Transport Society (STTS), founded in 1951, is dedicated to preserving Scotland's tramway heritage and exploring European transport systems. The Society offers members engaging virtual meetings held twice monthly on Wednesdays and organizes popular annual 5-day study tours to visit transport networks across Europe.
With a rich history of tram preservation efforts and ongoing publications, STTS provides enthusiasts with opportunities to connect with like-minded transport heritage advocates, learn about historical and contemporary transport systems, and participate in preserving Scotland's tramway legacy.
Scottish Transport Magazine
The Scottish Tramway and Transport Society, founded in 1951, has published its magazine Scottish Transport (originally Scottish Tramlines from 1963) annually to document and promote Scotland's public transport history, with a focus on tramway preservation and modern developments. Featuring articles on topics like Leith Tramways, Edinburgh's modern trams, and historical transport systems, the A5 softback magazine, such as the 2024 edition (No. 76), appeals to transport enthusiasts and supports the Society's mission, including donating profits to the National Tramway Museum in Crich.
Available through the Society's website, retailers like MDS Books, and platforms like Amazon, Scottish Transport combines historical insights with contemporary transport issues, reflecting the Society's advocacy for tramway revival, notably the Edinburgh tram line opened in 2014. With an ISSN of 0048-9808, the magazine remains a key resource for those interested in Scotland's transport heritage.
You can purchase our latest issue as well as explore our full archive of back issues in our online shop.
Membership Benefits
The benefits of joining the Scottish Tramway and Transport Society include:
- Access to welcoming transport enthusiast community
- Educational European travel experiences
- Opportunities to participate in preserving Scotland's tramway legacy
Overseas Tours
The Scottish Tramway and Transport Society has been organizing popular overseas tours since 2005, offering members the opportunity to explore transport systems across Europe. These well-attended five-day trips take place annually and provide an excellent chance to experience different tramway and public transport networks beyond the UK. With their proven success over the years, the Society continues this tradition with plans for future tours, allowing enthusiasts to combine their passion for transport heritage with European travel.
The Netherlands 2024
The Society’s 2024 tour of the Netherlands offered members a rich and varied look at several of the country’s most distinctive tramway and light‑rail systems. From the sleek, fast‑moving RandstadRail services linking The Hague and Rotterdam to the classic red trams weaving through the streets of Den Haag, the trip showcased the Netherlands’ impressive commitment … Continued
Budapest & Szeged 2023
The Scottish Tramway Society returned to Budapest in 2023 for another visit where we experienced a fascinating insight into one of Hungary’s most modern and well‑presented tramway systems. Budapest’s bright yellow trams, running along clean, well‑maintained streets and through a compact, welcoming city centre, provided plenty of interest throughout the visit. The group enjoyed exploring … Continued
Brno 2022
The 2022 annual trip for The Scottish Tramway and Transport Society was to Brno, famous for its busy radial routes, striking Tatra cars, and ongoing modernisation programme, provided our group with plenty to enjoy, from lively city centre operations. Depot visits and cross‑city journeys gave the group a real appreciation of the scale and efficiency … Continued
Restoring Tram 1282
Glasgow Coronation tram 1282 holds a special place in Scottish transport history. Built at Coplawhill Works, the tram entered service in Glasgow in March 1940 and went on to become the last tram to operate in passenger service in the city on 6th September 1962. This historic vehicle is preserved at Crich Tramway Village, where it made a memorable appearance during the Glasgow 50 celebrations in September 2012, unexpectedly stealing the show with its performance.
Following its successful outing at Glasgow 50, the Scottish Tramway and Transport Society launched the Coronation Appeal Fund in January 2013 to restore tram 1282 to full operational service. The restoration project was estimated to cost £150,000. As the successor to the Scottish Tramway Museum Society, which originally sponsored the tram's preservation, the STTS took on the challenge of returning this piece of Glasgow's tramway heritage to working order. The appeal was boosted by early donations, including proceeds from the commemorative book "Destination Crich" and a symbolic donation of £1,282 from a Life Member.
Help bring historic tram 1282 back to life! Your donation will support the careful restoration of this beloved piece of transport heritage, ensuring future generations can experience the golden age of street railways firsthand.
Latest Issue
The latest issue of Scottish Transport is now available.
