Shadows of a Forgotten World

When I was Glasgow , I noticed on several buildings in the city center the same tram rosettes that are in Lviv. Thus I immediately knew that Glasgow once had a tram system. Glasgow ’s electric tram route began in 1898. In 1962 the city abandoned its tramway system  —  the last city in the UK to do so. At its peak in 1947, the city had more than 1,200 trams. Starting in 1953, they were phased out. As such, the tram rosettes haven’t supported tram wires for 50 years, but many still adorn Glasgow ’s buildings, reminders of the city’s once much-loved tram system.

Lviv’s support wires for its electric trams were attached directly to buildings to anchoring hooks with ornamental rosettes. I believe these tram rosettes date from the early 1900s, since the first electric trams were used in the city starting in 1894. The tram rosettes first stood out to me because several of them are marked with numbers. I could tell they were quite old because of their font and because they were faded, but I have had a difficult time figuring out what they mean exactly. As someone on a forum suggested, it is possible that the numbers were there so that if there was some sort of accident, breakdown, etc. , the location could be easily conveyed with the help of the number. Many of the numbers are fading away or have been painted over, and they no longer have a function, as there are more efficient ways now to communicate and convey necessary information. The majority of the tram rosettes are still in use as Lviv’s tram system is still thriving, but there are ...