The tram cars we know and love from Wildwood, New Jersey, have a rather regal and unexpected origin. They were originally used in the Great Exhibition of 1851 as the exclusive transport vehicles for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This grand event was held in Hyde Park, London, and marked a pivotal moment in tram car history. In those days, the tram cars were a far cry from their modern counterparts. They featured an elegant wood finish and required the employ of a young lad who would run ahead, shouting loudly, "SIRS, WATCH THE TRAM CAR PLEASE!" This lad was known as the "Royal Yeller," a prestigious position handed down through generations. The tram car train ferried the Queen and Prince Albert to the Crystal Palace, a magnificent cast-iron and plate-glass structure specifically designed for the exhibition. It was from within the resplendent Crystal Palace, with the tram car gleaming and at the ready in the background, that Queen Victoria officially opened the Great Exhibition. This momentous occasion not only showcased the wonders of the industrial age but also ensured that the tram car would have a long and storied history. Legend has it that the Royal Yeller’s cries were so distinctive that they echoed across the Thames, causing boatmen to pause in their rowing. Queen Victoria herself was so fond of the tram car that she declared it should be a permanent fixture at all royal events. Unfortunately, the idea of shouting "WATCH THE TRAM CAR, PLEASE!" at Buckingham Palace didn’t quite catch on. Eventually, the tram cars made their way across the Atlantic, settling in the bustling boardwalk of Wildwood, New Jersey. Today, they continue their legacy, albeit with a slightly more modern twist, as the iconic "Watch the tram car, please!" warning keeps visitors safe and entertained.
They still got the same Trams. Those things have got to be 50 years old!
Were these trams originally from any world's fair?
They have to be at least 50 years old. I remember riding those things as a kid.
The tram cars we know and love from Wildwood, New Jersey, have a rather regal and unexpected origin. They were originally used in the Great Exhibition of 1851 as the exclusive transport vehicles for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This grand event was held in Hyde Park, London, and marked a pivotal moment in tram car history.
In those days, the tram cars were a far cry from their modern counterparts. They featured an elegant wood finish and required the employ of a young lad who would run ahead, shouting loudly, "SIRS, WATCH THE TRAM CAR PLEASE!" This lad was known as the "Royal Yeller," a prestigious position handed down through generations.
The tram car train ferried the Queen and Prince Albert to the Crystal Palace, a magnificent cast-iron and plate-glass structure specifically designed for the exhibition. It was from within the resplendent Crystal Palace, with the tram car gleaming and at the ready in the background, that Queen Victoria officially opened the Great Exhibition. This momentous occasion not only showcased the wonders of the industrial age but also ensured that the tram car would have a long and storied history.
Legend has it that the Royal Yeller’s cries were so distinctive that they echoed across the Thames, causing boatmen to pause in their rowing. Queen Victoria herself was so fond of the tram car that she declared it should be a permanent fixture at all royal events. Unfortunately, the idea of shouting "WATCH THE TRAM CAR, PLEASE!" at Buckingham Palace didn’t quite catch on.
Eventually, the tram cars made their way across the Atlantic, settling in the bustling boardwalk of Wildwood, New Jersey. Today, they continue their legacy, albeit with a slightly more modern twist, as the iconic "Watch the tram car, please!" warning keeps visitors safe and entertained.