UK local transportation tokens

[Figleaf]

Thank you Paul. Very helpful.

Peter

[andyg]

tsk, two GCT 
but you're right the Glasgow tokens have the Glasgow coat of arms on.
I'd never heard of Grimsby-Cleethorpes Transport.

[andyg]

Tokens of "Glasgow Croporation Tramways" were followed by those of "Glasgow Croporation Transport" - a similar thing is seen for many other town/cities.

Yes, the tramways were either damaged in the war or needed much investment to the infrastructure.  So the municipal companies switched to funding buses instead.

[Figleaf]

Wikipedia mentions that Glasgow's tramway network was once the largest in the UK and the last to be converted to (trolley)bus (1962). The irony is of course that tramways are now rediscovered, though hardly comparable, with traffic-free track, priority at level crossings and traffic lights and much faster cars. They are bridging the gap between suburban light railways and slow and smelly busses.

Peter

[andyg]

OT - but at one time my village had a tram, to take passengers to the local town 6 miles away.
The Burton & Ashby light railway, quite unusual as it was privately operated - it closed in 1929 having operated for just over 20 years, nothing much survives, a few drain covers and maybe two poles.  The last remaining tram is in Detroit USA - sadly in storage since their "heritage line" closed in 2006.

http://www.burton-on-trent.org.uk/?cat=84

[Figleaf]

The Newcastle group shown earlier in this topic is typical of the small range of tokens for many other areas.

Quite so, Paul. Here is a comparable group from Barrow-in-Furness that arrived today. All are around 25 mm. I have sympathy for the utilitarian approach that grumbles respect for taxpayer's money.

Peter

[Figleaf]

Here are more tokens from the Nottingham series. New tokens added. They are:

• 1d. white no inscription
• 2 d. light grey no inscription
• 4d. yellow no inscription
• 1d. rose EMPLOYEE ONLY
• 1½ d. black EMPLOYEE ONLY
• 2 d. dark grey EMPLOYEE ONLY
• 3d. pink EMPLOYEE ONLY
• 1d. green PUPIL
• 2 d. dark grey PUPIL
• 1d. red GPO POSTMEN ONLY

The postbox red GPO piece is a source of great fun.

Added another batch: 3 pence blue PUPIL, 5 pence black and 6 pence green. Those ovals are cute.

Nottingham's complicated multiple tier tariff (normal, concessionary, employee, pupil) must have been a headache for the drivers and conductors.

Peter

[africancoins]

A modern metallic British piece appeared on Ebay the other day - one I had not heard of before. Likely from some time in the past 20 years. The reverse shows a stock design of "Magi Coniature" - token make.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260807207793

Thanks Mr Paul Baker

[Figleaf]

Saving the picture before it is deleted.

I guess WM stands for West Midlands...

Peter

[Figleaf]

These two tokens are a good counterpoint. North Midlands is a known quantity on the net, but the transport pool seems to have died before the internet. The penny is 26 mm, the 3d and 6d 27 mm.

Peter

Edit: 6d added.

[Figleaf]

A very nice addition: Manchester. The text on the ribbon is CONCILIO ET LABORE. The colour difference between obverse and reverse is real.

Peter

Added 1½ pence black, 2 pence green and 3 pence orange added. All 22 mm.
Added 2 penny varieties: 1 (12 mm high) aligned on N/S axis and whole denomination aligned on N/S axis, 1 is 10 mm high.
Added ½ penny grey and an intermediate variety of the penny: whole denomination aligned on N/S axis, 1 is 12 mm high.

[Figleaf]

And another (I am spoilt). Saint Helens is an industrial town in Merseyside. The text on the ribbon is EX TERRA LUCEM (light from the earth.)

Peter

[Figleaf]

Here's a metallic piece from Sunderland: 22.0 mm, 3.4 grammes, brassy-looking. The Cog reminded me of the arms of another city...

Peter

[Figleaf]

And one from Belfast @ 6.9 grammes and 22.6 mm. I wonder what the S stands for...

The text on the ribbon is "pro tanto quid retribuamus" - what shall we pay in return for so much. This may not refer to the Belfast public transportation system.

Peter

[malj1]

Going back to Sunderland for a moment here is another with reverse 1 Journey and another for the ferry.

Edited to say the 1 Journey has the same obverse as previous 1 Token.