Annesley Bupp had devoted himself to literature for two years before
his first article on trams was written. This was called Voltage, was
highly technical, and convinced every editor to whom it was sent
(and by whom it was returned) that the author knew his subject
thoroughly. So when he followed it up with How to be a Tram
Conductor, he had the satisfaction not only of seeing it in print
within a week, but of reading an editorial reference to himself as
"the noted expert on our overhead system." Two other articles in the
same paper--Some Curious Tram Accidents and Tram or Bus: Which?--
established his position.
Once recognized as the authority on trams, Bupp was never at a loss
for a subject. In the first place there were certain articles, such
as Tramways in 1904, Progress of Tramway Construction in the Past
Year, Tramway Inventions of the Last Twelvemonth, and The Tram: Its
Future in 1905, which flowed annually from his pen. From time to
time there would arise the occasion for the topical article on
trams--Trams as Army Transports and How our Trams fared during the
Recent Snow, to give two obvious examples. And always there was a
market for such staple articles as Trams in Fiction....