Kingsway Subway - Junction of Theobalds Road 1933

LCC E/3 tram 1984 on Route 35 to Highgate (Archway) pops out of the subway and is about to turn into Theobalds Road. No Harringay interest here! The policeman holdng up the LGOC LT on Route 177 would later be replaced by electric traffic lights. The 177 was part of the 77 group of routes, the ancestor of today's 77 & 87 routes which have been diverted away from the route's traditional terminus at King's Cross. The typically fat LCC inspector was on duty to assist crews and ensure that accidents didn't happen here. A fully loaded tram could loose all power on the uphill climb out of the subway, if it's fuses blew. It would then be liable to roll back down the ramp into Holborn Tramway station. In such a case the inspector would jump onto the back of the tram (where the fuses were positioned) and flick the switch to bring back the power. This actually happened on the very last night of the trams to Manor House & Archway.. when the last tram to leave, heavily overloaded, blew it's fuses just before reaching the top of the ramp.. Luckily an inspector positoned on the back platform prevented an accident by switching the fuses back on. Otherwise the tram might have unceremoniously rolled back into the closing celebrations of Holborn Tram Station.