Sunderland District Tram 2 stands outside the Wynyard Arms at New Silksworth before the First World War. Notice the dreadful state of the road, which was quite common in those days. The tram lines were laid on a concrete foundation and, in built up areas, the Company was supposed to pave the roadway with whinstone setts between the tracks and for 18 inches on each side. In other places only a 9 inch margin on each side of each rail was paved but even that is missing in this photo. People liked the trams because riding along on smooth rails was a lot better than using the awful roads.
Photograph and caption from Malcolm Fraser
