List of town tramway systems in the United Kingdom

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This is a list of town tramway systems in the United Kingdom divided by constituent country and by regions of England. It includes all tram systems, past and present.

Contents

[edit] England, by region

[edit] East Midlands

Location System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Alford Alford and Sutton Tramway Steam 2 April 1884 December 1889 [1]
Burton upon Trent Burton upon Trent Corporation Tramways Electric 3 August 1903 31 December 1929 [2]
Burton and Ashby Light Railways Electric 13 June 1906 19 February 1927 [3]
Chesterfield Chesterfield and District Tramways Horse 8 November 1882 end of 1904 [4]
Chesterfield Corporation Tramways Electric 20 December 1904 23 May 1927 [5]
Derby Derby Tramways Company Horse 6 March 1880 1 June 1907 [6]
Derby Corporation Tramways Electric 27 July 1904 29 June 1934 [7]
Ilkeston Ilkeston Corporation Tramways Electric 16 May 1903 15 January 1931 [8]
Leicester Leicester Tramways Horse 24 December 1874 31 October 1904 [9]
Leicester Corporation Tramways Electric 18 May 1904 9 November 1949 [10]
Lincoln Lincoln Tramways Company Horse 8 September 1882 22 July 1905 [11]
Lincoln Corporation Tramways Electric 23 November 1905 4 March 1929 [12]
Mansfield Mansfield & District Light Railways. Electric 16 July 1905 9 October 1932 [13]
Matlock Matlock Cable Tramway Cable 28 March 1893 30 September 1927 [14]
Northampton Northampton Street Tramways Horse 4 June 1881 18 August 1904 [15]
Northampton Corporation Tramways Electric 21 July 1904 15 December 1934 [16]
Nottingham* Nottingham and District Tramways Company Limited Horse 17 September 1878 30 April 1902 [17]
Steam 1885 1889 [18]
Nottingham Corporation Tramways Electric 1 January 1901 5 September 1936 [19]
Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Tramways Company Electric 4 July 1913 5 October 1932 [20]
Nottingham Express Transit Electric 9 March 2004   [21]

[edit] East of England

Location System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Cambridge Cambridge Street Tramways Horse 28 October 1880 18 February 1914 [22]
Canvey Island Canvey Island Tramways Horse 1901 c.1904 [23]
Colchester Colchester Corporation Tramways Electric 28 July 1904 8 December 1929 [24]
Ipswich Ipswich Tramway Horse 13 October 1880 6 June 1903 [25]
Ipswich Corporation Tramways Electric 23 November 1903 26 July 1926 [26]
Lowestoft Lowestoft Corporation Tramways Electric 22 July 1903 8 May 1931 [27]
Luton Luton Corporation Tramways Electric 21 February 1908 16 April 1932 [28]
Norwich Norwich Electric Tramways Electric 30 July 1900 10 December 1935 [29]
Peterborough Peterborough Tramways Electric 24 January 1903 15 November 1930 [30]
Southend-on-Sea Southend-on-Sea Corporation Tramways Electric 19 July 1901 8 April 1942 [31]
Wisbech Wisbech and Upwell Tramway Steam 20 August 1883 31 December 1927 [32]
Great Yarmouth Yarmouth and Gorleston Tramways Horse 25 March 1875 4 July 1905 [33]
Great Yarmouth Corporation Tramways Electric 19 June 1902 14 December 1933 [34]

[edit] Greater London

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
London   Horse 23 Mar 1861

2 May 1870

1861

30 Apr 1915

 
Cable 1884 1909 [1].
Accumulator (storage battery) 1889 1892  
Electric 4 Apr 1901 5 Jul 1952 see Trams in London. Tram tunnel (Kingsway tramway subway), 24 Feb 1906 - 5 Apr 1952.

Note: Horse tramways existed as several unconnected systems north of the Thames, a system (owned and operated by several undertakings) south of the River Thames, and two unconnected systems at Croydon.

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Kew Bridge - Richmond West Metropolitan Tramways Company Horse 1883 1912 Not electrified.

Electric Tramways - Inner London:

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
  London County Council   15 May 1903 5 July 1952 To London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB) from 1 Jul 1933. Nationalised on 1 January 1948 as the London Transport Executive.

Note: The LCC tramway system was assembled from predecessors including fourteen municipal and three company undertakings. Tramways were not built in the City of London and the West End of London because of local opposition. The South London system had segments north of the Thames, notably the Victoria Embankment. However, this system was not connected to the North London system until construction of the Kingsway tramway subway. Reintroduction planned (Cross River Tram scheme), Camden Town / Kings Cross - Euston - Waterloo - Brixton / Peckham [2].

Other electric tramway operators absorbed by the London Passenger Transport Board (LPTB), arranged clockwise, from north:

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Walthamstow Urban District Council Light Railways Walthamstow Electric 3 Jun 1905 1939 To LPTB from 1 Jul 1933.
Leyton Urban District Council Tramways Leyton Electric 1 Jun 1905 1939  
West Ham Corporation Tramways West Ham Electric 27 Feb 1904 1940  
East Ham Corporation Tramways East Ham Electric 22 Jun 1901 1940  
Ilford Urban District Council Tramways Ilford Electric 14 Mar 1903 1938  
Barking Town Urban District Council Light Railways Barking (Town) Electric 1 Dec 1903 16 Feb 1929 (Last tramway line in Barking closed prior to creation of LPTB.)
Bexley Urban District Council Tramways Bexley Electric 3 Oct 1903 24 Nov 1935  
Erith Urban District Council Tramways Erith Electric 26 Aug 1905 9 Nov 1935  
Dartford Urban District Council Light Railways Dartford Electric 14 Feb 1906 23 Nov 1935 Taken over by London Transport on 1 July 1933 and closed 23 November 1935
Croydon Tramways Company Croydon Horse 9 Oct 1879 3 Jan 1902  
Croydon Corporation Tramways Electric 26 Sep 1901 7 Apr 1951
Croydon Tramlink Electric 10 May 2000

-

[3] [4].
  South Metropolitan Electric Tramways Electric 14 Feb 1906 September 1937 [5].
  London United Tramways Electric 4 Apr 1901 1931 Reintroduction planned (West London Tram scheme), Shepherd's Bush - Uxbridge [6].
  Metropolitan Electric Tramways Horse 2 May 1870 1904 (?)  
Electric 22 Jul 1904 1939  

[edit] North East England

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Darlington Darlington Street Railroad Company Horse 1862 1864  
Stockton and Darlington Steam Tramway Company Horse 1880 1904 Horse operated despite the company title. Not connected to the Stockton system operated by this company.
Darlington Corporation Light Railways Electric 2 Jun 1904 10 Apr 1926 [7].
Middlesbrough - Thornaby-on-Tees - Stockton-on-Tees - Norton Middlesbrough and Stockton Tramways Company Horse 20 Jan 1875 1898 Sold out to Imperial Tramways Company in 1878
Stockton and Darlington Steam Tramway Company Steam 17 Nov 1881 1893 Not connected to the Darlington system operated by this company. Sold to the Stockton and District Tramways Company in 1893
Stockton and District Tramways Company Steam 1893 1896 Sold out to Imperial Tramways Company
Middlesbrough, Stockton and Thornaby Electric Tramways Company Electric 21 May 1898 2 April 1921 operated by Imperial Tramways Company
Middlesborough Corporation Tramways Electric 3 April 1921 9 Jun 1934 Middlesbrough, Stockton and Thornaby Electric Tramways Company until 1921
Stockton-on-Tees Corporation Tramways Electric 3 April 1921 9 Jun 1934 Middlesbrough, Stockton and Thornaby Electric Tramways Company until 1921
Thornaby on Tees Corporation Tramways Electric 3 April 1921 1 August 1930 Middlesbrough, Stockton and Thornaby Electric Tramways Company until 1921
Newcastle-upon-Tyne Newcastle and Gosforth Tramways and Carriage Company Horse 5 December 1878 13 Apr 1901  
Steam 1882 1897  
Newcastle Corporation Tramways Electric 16 Dec 1901 4 Mar 1950 [8]. Through workings to Gateshead from 1923. Newcastle served by Gateshead tramway system to 4 Aug 1951.
Gosforth - Wallsend - North Shields (Tyneside) Tyneside Tramways and Tramroads Company Electric 22 Sep 1902 6 Apr 1930  
North Shields - Tynemouth - Whitley Bay (Tynemouth) Tynemouth and District Tramways Company Horse 1883 1884  
North Shields and District Tramways Company Steam 1884 1900 Renamed North Shields and Tynemouth District Tramways in 1897
Tynemouth and District Electric Traction Company Electric 18 Mar 1901 4 Aug 1931
Gateshead Gateshead and District Tramways Company Steam October 1883 8 May 1901  
Electric 8 May 1901 4 Aug 1951 [9]. Through working to Newcastle from 1923.
South Shields South Shields Tramways Company Horse 1 Aug 1883

Mar 1887

1885

31 Jan 1906

 
South Shields Corporation Tramways Electric 30 Mar 1906 31 Mar 1946 [10].
Jarrow Jarrow and District Electric Tramway Electric 9 Nov 1906 30 Jun 1929 [11].
Stockton-on-Tees see Middlesbrough - Thornaby-on-Tees - Stockton-on-Tees - Norton
Sunderland Sunderland Tramways Company Horse 28 Apr 1879 19 Feb 1901  
Steam 1880 1880  
Sunderland Corporation Tramways Electric 15 Aug 1900 1 Oct 1954 [12].
Grangetown - Ryhope - Philadelphia - Hetton-le-Hole (Sunderland District) Sunderland District Electric Tramways Electric 10 Jun 1905 12 Jul 1925 [13]
Thornaby-on-Tees see Middlesbrough - Thornaby-on-Tees - Stockton-on-Tees - Norton
West Hartlepool Hartlepools Steam Tramways Company Steam 2 August 1884 21 February 1891  
Hartlepool Electric Tramways Electric 19 May 1896 25 Mar 1927  

[edit] North West England

Location System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Accrington Accrington Corporation Steam Tramways Company Steam 5 April 1886 31 December 1907  
Accrington Corporation Tramways Electric 1 January 1908 31 March 1932  
Ashton-under-Lyne Ashton-Under-Lyne Corporation Tramways Electric 19 August 1902 28 February 1938  
Oldham, Ashton and Hyde Electric Tramway Electric 12 June 1899 1947  
Atherton South Lancashire Tramways Company Electric 20 October 1902 16 December 1933 [35]
Barrow-in-Furness Barrow-in-Furness Tramways Company Steam 11 July 1885 13 July 1903  
Electric 6 February 1904 5 April 1932  
Birkenhead Birkenhead Tramways Company Horse 30 August 1860 8 November 1901 [35]
Hoylake and Birkenhead Tramways Horse 6 September 1873 12 October 1879 taken over by the Birkenhead Tramways Company
Wirral Tramways Company Horse 23 July 1877 22 January 1901 taken over by the Birkenhead Tramways Company
Birkenhead Corporation Tramways Electric 4 February 1901 17 July 1937 [35]
Wirral Tramway Electric 14 April 1995 -
Blackburn Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company Steam 16 April 1881 9 July 1901  
Horse 28 May 1887 1901  
Blackburn Corporation Tramways Electric 20 March 1899 3 September 1949  
Blackpool* Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad Electric 14 July 1898 1 January 1920 Taken over by Blackpool Corporation Tramways
Blackpool Corporation Tramways Horse, Conduit Electric and Overhead Electric 12 September 1885    
Bolton Bolton Corporation Tramways Horse 1 September 1880 1 January 1899  
Electric 9 December 1899 1947  
Burnley Burnley & District Tramways Company Steam August 1881 1 March 1900  
Burnley Corporation Tramways Electric 16 December 1901 7 May 1935  
Bury   Horse  ?  ?  
Manchester, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham Tramways Steam 1886 April 1904  
Bury Corporation Tramways Electric 3 June 1903 13 February 1949  
Carlisle City of Carlisle Electric Tramways Electric 30 June 1900 21 November 1931  
Chester Chester Tramways Company Horse 10 June 1879 27 December 1902 [35]
Chester Corporation Tramways Electric 6 April 1903 15 February 1930 [35]
Colne Colne and Trawden Light Railway Company Electric 28 November 1903 6 January 1934  
Darwen Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company Steam 16 April 1881 16 October 1900  
Darwen Corporation Tramways Electric 16 October 1900 5 October 1946  
Farnworth Farnworth Council Tramways Horse then electric 9 January 1902 1 April 1906 Taken over by South Lancashire Tramways
Glossop   Electric 21 August 1903 24 December 1927  
Haslingden Haslingden Corporation Tramways Electric 1 January 1908 30 April 1930 Nominally independent, in practice part of Accrington Corporation Tramways
Heywood Heywood Corporation Tramways Steam 10 December 1904 20 September 1905 Taken over by Rochdale Corporation Tramways
Lancaster Lancaster Corporation Tramways Electric 14 January 1903 4 April 1930  
Lancaster and District Tramways Horse 2 August 1890 31 December 1921  
Liverpool Old Swan Tramway Horse 1861 1862
Liverpool Tramways Company Horse 1 November 1869 25 August 1903 [35]
Liverpool Corporation Tramways Electric 16 November 1898 14 September 1957 [35]
Great Crosby Tramway Electric 19 June 1900 31 December 1925 [35]
Waterloo Great Crosby Waterloo and Great Crosby Tramways Company Electric 19 June 1900 31 December 1925  
Lytham St Annes   Town Gas 1898 1903  
Lytham St. Annes Corporation Tramways Electric 28 May 1903 28 April 1937  
Manchester* Manchester and Salford Tramways Horse 17 May 1877 31 March 1903  
Manchester Corporation Tramways Electric 6 June 1901 10 January 1949  
Manchester Metrolink Electric 6 April 1992    
Middleton Middleton Electric Traction Company Electric 27 March 1902 1935  
Morecambe Morecambe Tramways Company Horse 3 June 1887 15 January 1912  
Petrol 15 January 1912 24 October 1924  
Morecambe Corporation Tramways Horse 26 July 1909 6 October 1926  
Nelson Nelson Corporation Tramways Electric 23 February 1903 6 January 1934  
Oldham   Horse 16 September 1880 1 November 1901  
Steam November 1885 19 November 1901  
Oldham Corporation Tramways Electric 15 December 1900 3 August 1946  
Preston Preston Tramways Company Horse 20 March 1879 31 December 1903  
Preston Corporation Tramways Electric 7 June 1904 15 December 1934  
Radcliffe   Electric 4 January 1905 8 October 1938  
Rawtenstall Rossendale Valley Tramways Steam 10 November 1887 23 July 1909  
Rawtenstall Corporation Tramways Electric 15 May 1909 31 March 1932  
Rawtenstall - Bacup Steam 1889  ?  
Electric 1909 1932  
Rochdale Manchester, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham Steam Tramways Company Steam 7 March 1883 8 May 1905  
Rochdale Corporation Tramways Electric 22 May 1902 3 July 1932  
St. Helens St Helens and District Tramways Company Horse 5 November 1881 May 1890 [35]
Steam 24 May 1890 7 April 1900 [35]
St Helens Corporation Tramways Electric 20 July 1899 31 March 1936 [35]
Salford Salford Tramway Horse 1861 1872  
  Horse 30 July 1877 by October 1903  
Salford Corporation Tramways Electric 4 October 1901 31 March 1947  
Southport* Southport Tramways Company Electric 18 July 1900 31 December 1934 [35]
Southport Corporation Tramways Electric 18 July 1900 31 December 1934 [35]
Southport Pier Tramway Various 1862    
Birkdale Birkdale and Southport Tramways Company Horse 12 May 1883 1896  
Stalybridge   Horse 14 June 1881 14 October 1903  
Stalybridge, Hyde, Mossley and Dukinfield Tramways Electric 12 June 1899 21 May 1945  
Stockport Stockport and Hazel Grove Tramway Horse 7 May 1880 24 January 1905  
Stockport Corporation Tramways Electric 26 August 1901 25 August 1951  
Trafford Trafford Park Tramways Gas, electric 23 July 1897 1 May 1908  
Wallasey Wallasey United Tramway and Omnibus Company Horse 30 June 1879 19 March 1902 [35]
Wallasey Corporation Tramways Electric 17 March 1902 30 November 1933 [35]
Warrington Warrington Corporation Tramways Electric 21 April 1902 28 August 1935 [35]
Wigan Wigan and District Tramways Horse 2 August 1880 1882 [35]
Steam 8 August 1882 26 September 1904 [35]
Wigan Corporation Tramways Electric 25 January 1901 28 March 1931 [35]

[edit] South East England

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Aldershot and Farnborough Aldershot and Farnborough Tramways Company Horse   1906  
Brighton Brighton Corporation Tramways Electric 25 Nov 1901 31 Aug 1939  
Volk's Electric Railway Electric 4 Aug 1883

4 Apr 1884

1883

-

Operation suspended 2 Aug 1940–1948 because of war. Winter season service withdrawn from 1954. Ranked as world's oldest operating electric railway [14], [15] [16].
Chatham Chatham and District Light Railways Company Electric 17 Jun 1902 30 Sep 1930 Served Chatham, Rochester and Gillingham.
Dover Dover Corporation Tramways Electric 6 Sep 1897 31 Dec 1936 [17].
Folkestone (Sandgate) - Hythe Folkestone, Hythe and Sandgate Tramways Horse 18 May 1891 30 Sep 1921 Operation suspended 7 Aug 1914 - May 1919, operated only during summer season 1919–1921.
Gravesend Gravesend, Rosherville and Northfleet Tramways Horse 15 Jun 1883 30 Jun 1901  
Gravesend and Northfleet Electric Tramways Electric 2 Aug 1902 28 Feb 1929  
Hastings Hastings and District Electric Tramways Electric 31 Jul 1905 15 May 1929  
Isle of Thanet         see Margate - Ramsgate.
Maidstone Maidstone Corporation Electric Railways Electric 14 Jul 1904 11 Feb 1930  
Margate - Ramsgate (Isle of Thanet) Isle of Thanet Electric Tramways and Lighting Company Electric 4 Apr 1901 24 Mar 1937  
Oxford City of Oxford Tramways Company Horse 1 Dec 1881 7 Aug 1914  
Portsmouth Portsmouth Street Tramways Horse 15 May 1865 1 January 1901  
Portsmouth Corporation Transport Electric 24 Sep 1901 10 Oct 1936 [18].
Cosham - Horndean Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway Electric 3 Mar 1903 9 Jan 1935  
Gosport - Fareham Gosport and Fareham Tramways Electric 20 Dec 1905 31 Dec 1929  
Reading Reading Tramways Company Horse 1879 21 Jul 1903  
Reading Corporation Tramways Electric 22 Jul 1903 20 May 1939  
Rye - Camber Rye and Camber Tramway Steam 1895  ?  
 ? Petrol (gasoline) 4 Sep 1939 [19].
Sheerness Sheerness and District Tramways Electric 9 Apr 1903 7 Jul 1917 [20].
Shoreham-by-Sea Brighton and Shoreham Tramways Steam then Horse 3 July 1884 6 June 1913 Despite the company name, it never ran into Brighton.
Southampton Southampton Tramways Company Horse 5 May 1879 1 July 1898  
Southampton Corporation Tramways Electric 1 July 1898 31 Dec 1949  
Wantage Wantage Tramway Horse 11 Oct 1875 188_  
Steam 1 Aug 1876 31 Jul 1925  
Wolverton - Stony Stratford Wolverton and Stony Stratford Tramway Steam 27 May 1887 4 May 1926 [21].

[edit] South West England

Location System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Bath Bath Tramways Company Horse 24 December 1880 25 July 1902 [36]
Bath Electric Tramways Company Electric 2 January 1904 6 May 1939 [36]
Bristol Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co Ltd Horse 9 August 1875 1900 [36]
Steam 1880 1881 [36]
Electric 14 October 1895 11 April 1941 [36]
Bournemouth Bournemouth Corporation Tramways Electric 23 July 1902 8 April 1936 [37]
Camborne Camborne and Redruth Tramways Electric 7 November 1902 29 September 1927 [36]
Cheltenham Cheltenham and District Light Railway Electric 17 August 1901 31 December 1930  
Devonport Devonport and District Tramways Electric 26 June 1901 20 October 1915 Taken over by Plymouth Corporation Tramways
Exeter Exeter Tramways Company Horse 6 April 1882 4 April 1905 [36]
Exeter Corporation Tramways Electric 4 April 1905 19 August 1931 [36]
Gloucester Gloucester Tramways Company Horse 26 May 1879 17 March 1904
Gloucester Corporation Tramways Electric 7 May 1904 12 January 1933
Poole Poole and District Electric Traction Company Electric 6 Apr 1901 8 June 1935 A British Electric Traction company; sold to Poole Corporation and leased to Bournemouth Corporation Tramways from June 1905[37]
Plymouth Plymouth, Devonport and District Tramways Steam 4 November 1884 14 November 1885 [36]
Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport Tramways Horse, then electric 18 March 1872 1 July 1922 Taken over by Plymouth Corporation Tramways
Plymouth Corporation Tramways Electric 22 September 1899 29 September 1945 [36]
Swindon Swindon Corporation Tramways Electric 22 September 1904 11 July 1929  
Taunton Taunton Electric Traction Co Ltd Electric 21 August 1901 28 May 1921 [36]
Torquay Torquay Tramways Co Ltd Electric 4 April 1907 31 January 1934 [36]
Weston-super-Mare Weston-super-Mare & District Electric Supply Co Ltd Electric 13 May 1902 17 April 1937 [36]

[edit] West Midlands

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Birmingham Birmingham and District Tramways Company Horse 20 May 1872 24 May 1876 Sold to the Birmingham Tramways and Omnibus Company
Birmingham Tramways and Omnibus Company Horse 24 May 1876 January 1886 Sold to the Birmingham Central Tramway Company
Birmingham and Aston Tramways Company Steam 26 December 1882 30 June 1902 Sold to Aston Manor Urban District Council and leased to the City of Birmingham Tramways Company
Birmingham Central Tramway Company Horse, Steam, Cable and Accumulator 25 Novemeber 1884 29 September 1896 Sold to the City of Birmingham Tramways Company
Birmingham and Midland Tramways Steam, Horse and Electric 6 July 1885 1 April 1928 From 13 August 1912 the Company name was changed to the Birmingham District Power and Traction Company
Birmingham and Western Districts Tramways Company Steam August 1885 1899 Sold to British Electric Traction
City of Birmingham Tramways Company Horse, Steam, Cable and Accumulator 29 September 1896 31 December 1911 Sold to Birmingham Corporation Tramways
Birmingham Corporation Tramways Electric 14 May 1901 4 July 1953
Midland Metro Electric 30 May 1999
Stourbridge Dudley and Stourbridge Steam Tramways Company Steam 21 May 1884 25 July 1899
Dudley, Stourbridge and District Electric Traction Company Electric 26 Jul 1899 1 Mar 1930 Part of "Black Country Tramway System".
Stourbridge Kinver Light Railway Electric 4 Apr 1901 8 Feb 1930 Part of "Black Country Tramway System". [22].
Wednesbury South Staffordshire and Birmingham District Steam Tramways Company Steam 1883 1893  
South Staffordshire Tramways Company Electric 1 Jan 1893 1 Apr 1924 Part of "Black Country Tramway System". To Dudley, Stourbridge and District undertaking from 17 Dec 1930.
Walsall South Staffordshire and Birmingham District Steam Tramways Company Steam 1883 1901  
Walsall Corporation Tramways Electric 1 Jan 1901 30 Sep 1933  
Wolverhampton Wolverhampton Tramways Company Horse 1 May 1878 1 May 1900 Purchased by Wolverhampton Corporation
Wolverhampton Corporation Tramways Electric 6 February 1902 11 Jul 1928 [23], [24].
Wolverhampton - Dudley Dudley, Sedgley and Wolverhampton Tramways Company Horse 1 May 1878 18 Oct 1888  
Midland Tramways Company Horse 18 Oct 1888 1893  
Dudley and Wolverhampton Tramways Company Horse 1893 1899  
Wolverhampton District Electric Tramways Company Electric 9 Jan 1902 1929 Part of "Black Country Tramway System". To Wolverhampton Corporation Tramways from 1 Sep 1928.
Coventry Coventry and District Tramways Company Steam 1884 1893  
Coventry Electric Tramways Company Electric 5 Dec 1895 1 Jan 1912
Coventry Corporation Tramways Electric 1 Jan 1912 14 Nov 1940 [25]. Closed because of bomb damage.
Kidderminster - Stourport (-on-Severn) Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway Company Electric 25 May 1898 2 Apr 1929. Unconnected part of "Black Country Tramway System".
(Royal) Leamington (Spa) - Warwick Leamington & Warwick Tramways & Omnibus Company Horse 21 Nov 1881 15 Mar 1905  
Electric 15 Jul 1905 16 Aug 1930  
Stoke-on-Trent (The Potteries) Potteries Electric Traction Company Electric 16 May 1899 1928 Also served Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Worcester Worcester Tramways Company Horse 18 Feb 1884 25 Jun 1903  
Worcester Electric Traction Company Electric 6 Feb 1904 31 May 1928  

[edit] Yorkshire and the Humber

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Cleethorpes Great Grimsby Street Tramways Company Horse 1881 1901  
Electric 1 Jan 1902 Nov 1936
Cleethorpes Corporation Tramways Electric Nov 1936 July 1937 Cleethorpes took over the Great Grimsby Street Tramways lines within their boundary, the remainder going to Grimsby
Doncaster Doncaster Corporation Tramways Electric 2 Jun 1902 8 Jun 1935  
(Great) Grimsby Great Grimsby Street Tramways Company Horse 1881 1901  
Electric 1 Jan 1902 15 July 1936
Grimsby Corporation Tramways Electric 15 July 1936 17 Jul 1937
Grimsby - Immingham Grimsby & Immingham Electric Railway Steam 3 Jan 1901 14 May 1912  
Electric 15 May 1912 1 Jul 1961 [26].
(Kingston upon) Hull Hull Street Tramways Company Horse 9 Jan 1875 1899 Company in liquidation 1889, acquired by Hull Corporation 1895, last horse tram in city 1899
Drypool and Marfleet Steam Tramways Company Steam 22 May 1889 1899 Acquired by Hull Corporation 1899, last steam tram operated 1901
City of Hull Tramways Electric 5 Jul 1899 30 Jun 1945 Former from the acquisition of Hull Street Tramways and Drypool and Marfleet Steam Tramways Company, system electrified 1899-1901, trams replaced by trolleybuses in late 1930s and 1940s.
Leeds Leeds Tramways Company Horse 16 Sep 1871 13 Oct 1901  
Steam 17 Jun 1880 1 Apr 1902  
Leeds Corporation Tramways Electric 11 Nov 1891 7 Nov 1959  
Bradford Bradford Tramways Company Horse 1 Feb 1882 by 1903  
Bradford Tramways Company and Bradford and Shelf Tramway Company Steam 8 Aug 1882 by 1903  
Bradford Corporation Tramways Electric Mar 1892

30 Jun 1898

Mar 1892

6 May 1950

 
♦♦ Keighley Keighley Tramways Company Horse 8 May 1889 28 May 1904  
Keighley Corporation Tramways Electric 12 Oct 1904 17 Dec 1924  
♦♦ Shipley Shipley Tramways Company Horse 3 August 1882 9 October 1891  
Mid-Yorkshire Tramways Electric 23 July 1903 30 April 1904 Taken over by Bradford Corporation Tramways
Halifax Halifax Corporation Tramways Electric 9 Jun 1898 14 Feb 1939  
Huddersfield  Huddersfield Corporation Tramways Horse 16 Nov 1882 1 Apr 1888  
Steam 11 Jan 1883 21 Jun 1902  
Electric 14 Feb 1901 29 Jun 1940  
Dewsbury Yorkshire (Woollen District) Electric Tramways Company Electric 18 Feb 1903 31 Oct 1934 Also includes Batley Corporation Tramways
♦♦ Dewsbury - Batley - Birstall Dewsbury, Batley and Birstall Tramways Company Horse and steam 25 July 1874 26 September 1905  
♦♦ Dewsbury - Ossett Dewsbury, Ossett and Soothill Nether Tramways Electric 11 Nov 1908 19 Oct 1933  
Wakefield Yorkshire (West Riding) Electric Tramways Company Electric 15 Aug 1904 25 Jul 1932  
♦♦ Castleford   Electric 29 Oct 1906 1 Nov 1925  
Scarborough Scarborough Tramways Company Electric 6 May 1904 30 Sep 1931  
Sheffield Sheffield Tramways Company Horse 6 Oct 1873 11 Nov 1902  
Sheffield Corporation Tramways Electric 5 Sep 1899

21 Mar 1994

8 October 1960

-

[27], see also Sheffield Supertram.
Rotherham Rotherham Tramway Electric 31 Jan 1903 13 Nov 1949  
Mexborough - Swinton Mexborough & Swinton Tramways Company Electric 16 Feb 1907 19 Mar 1929  
(Wath-upon-) Dearne (Dearne District) Dearne District Light Railways Electric 14 Jul 1924 30 Sep 1933 [28]. "Last" tramway system opened in the UK (until Manchester Metrolink).
Barnsley Barnsley and District Tramway Electric 31 Oct 1902 31 Aug 1930  
York York Tramways Company and City of York Tramways Company Horse 1880  ?  
York Corporation Tramways Electric 20 Jan 1910 16 Nov 1935  

[edit] Scotland

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Aberdeen Aberdeen District Tramways Company Horse 1874 1900  
Aberdeen Corporation Tramways Electric 23 Dec 1899 3 May 1958 replaced by motor buses
Aberdeen - Bankhead and Aberdeen - Bieldside Aberdeen Suburban Tramways Co. Electric 23 Jun 1904 9 Jun 1927 replaced by Aberdeen Corporation motor buses
Airdrie Coatbridge Airdrie and Coatbridge Tramways Electric 8 February 1904 1 January 1922
Ayr Ayr Corporation Tramways Electric 26 Sep 1901 31 Dec 1931 replaced by Western SMT motor buses
Carstairs West   Electric 6 Feb 1886 1905 first permanent electric railway in Scotland
Horse 1905 1935  
Cruden Bay Cruden Bay Hotel Tramway Electric 1899 31 October 1932 Great North of Scotland Railway tramway linking Cruden Bay Hotel to railway station, replaced by a Rolls Royce car[29]
Dumbarton Dumbarton Burgh & County Tramways Company Electric 20 Feb 1907 3 Mar 1928 defunct, replaced by competitors' motor buses
Dundee Dundee Tramway and Omnibus Company Horse 30 Aug 1877 12 Jul 1900 known as the Dundee and District Tramway
Steam 1885 15 May 1902  
Dundee Corporation Tramways Electric 13 Jul 1900 20 Oct 1956 replaced by motor buses
Dundee - Broughty Ferry Dundee, Broughty Ferry & District Tramways Company Electric 27 Oct 1905 16 May 1931 replaced by Dundee Corporation motor buses
Dunfermline Dunfermline & District Tramways Company Electric 2 Nov 1909 15 Jul 1937 replaced by Walter Alexander & Sons buses
Edinburgh Edinburgh Street Tramways Horse 6 Nov 1871 23 October 1904  
Steam 23 Apr 1881 27 Oct 1882 previous operations in 1876, 1877 and 1880.
Edinburgh Northern Tramways Cable 28 Jan 1888 23 Jun 1923  
Edinburgh Corporation Tramways Electric 8 Jun 1910 16 Nov 1956 replaced by buses. For planned new tramway see Edinburgh Trams.
♦♦ Leith Leith Corporation Tramways Horse 16 Nov 1871 24 Aug 1907  
Electric 18 May 1905 20 Nov 1920 absorbed by Edinburgh Corporation Tramways 1920, last trams ran in Leith 11 Mar 1956.
♦♦ Musselburgh Musselburgh & District Electric Light & Traction Company Electric 12 Dec 1904 15 Feb 1928 absorbed by Edinburgh Corporation Tramways 1928, last trams ran in Musselburgh 1954
Falkirk Falkirk & District Tramways Company Electric 21 Oct 1905 21 Jul 1936 replaced by Walter Alexander & Sons motor buses
Glasgow Glasgow Tramway and Omnibus Company Horse 19 Aug 1872 1898  
Steam 1877  ?  
Glasgow Corporation Tramways Electric 13 Oct 1898 31 Aug 1962 replaced by motor buses and trolleybuses [30].
♦♦ Govan   Horse 1873 1877  
Steam August 1877 1901  
Electric 10 Aug 1901 1912 operated by Glasgow Corporation, Burgh of Govan amalgamated with Glasgow in 1912
♦♦ Airdrie and Coatbridge Airdrie & Coatbridge Tramways Co. Electric 18 Feb 1904 31 Dec 1921. absorbed by Glasgow Corporation Tramways 1921, last trams ran in Coatbridge 3 Nov 1956
Paisley Paisley Tramways Company Horse 30 December 1885 21 November 1903  
Paisley District Tramways Company Electric 13 Jun 1904 1 Aug 1923 absorbed by Glasgow Corporation Tramways 1923, last trams ran in Paisley 11 May 1957
Greenock Greenock & Port Glasgow Tramway Co. Horse 7 Jun 1873 1901  
Electric 1901 15 Jul 1929 replaced by motor buses
Inchture Inchture Village Tram Horse 1895 1916 Caledonian Railway horse tramway linking village to railway station
Kilmarnock Kilmarnock Corporation Tramways Electric 10 December 1904 3 May 1926 replaced by motor buses
Kirkcaldy Kirkcaldy Corporation Tramways Electric 28 Feb 1903 15 May 1931 replaced by Walter Alexander & Sons motor buses
Kirkcaldy to Leven Wemyss & District Tramways Co. Electric 25 Aug 1906 30 Jan 1932 replaced by motor buses
Motherwell and Hamilton area Lanarkshire Tramways Co. Electric 22 Jul 1903 14 Feb 1931 replaced by motor buses
Perth Perth and District Tramways Company Horse 17 September 1895 7 October 1903
Perth Corporation Tramways Electric 31 Oct 1905 19 Jan 1929 replaced by Walter Alexander & Sons motor buses
Rothesay Rothesay Tramways Company Horse 1881 1902  
Electric 19 Aug 1902 30 Sep 1936 replaced by motor buses
Stirling Stirling & Bridge of Allan Tramways Company Horse 27 July 1874 20 May 1920 replaced by Scottish General Omnibus Co. motor buses

[edit] Wales

[edit] North Wales

Great Orme Tramway, Llandudno
Location System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Barmouth Barmouth Junction and Arthog Tramways Horse 1899 1903  
Fairbourne Fairbourne Tramway Horse 1898 1916  
Glyn Ceiriog Glyn Valley Tramway Horse 1 Apr 1874 31 Mar 1886  
Glyn Valley Tramway Steam 15 Mar 1891 6 Apr 1933  
Harlech Harlech Tramway Horse 1878 1880s  
Llandudno* Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway Ltd Electric 19 October 1907 24 Mar 1956 [35]
Great Orme Tramway Cable 31 July 1902   [35]
Pwllheli Pwllheli Corporation Tramway Horse 24 July 1899 c. September 1920 [35]
Pwllheli and Llanbedrog Tramway Horse 1 August 1896 28 October 1927 [35]
Wrexham Wrexham District Tramways Horse 1 Nov 1876 26 Apr 1901
Wrexham and District Electric Tramways Electric 4 April 1903 31 March 1927 [35]

[edit] South Wales

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Aberdare Aberdate Urban District Council Tramways Electric 9 Oct 1913 31 Mar 1935  
Cardiff Cardiff Tramways Company Horse 12 Jul 1872 17 Oct 1902  
Cardiff District and Penarth Harbour Tramways Horse 28 Nov 1881 10 Feb 1903  
Cardiff Corporation Tramways Electric 2 May 1902 19 Feb 1950  
Llanelly (Llanelli) Llanelly Tramways Company Horse 28 Sep 1882 31 Mar 1908  
Llanelly and District Light Tramways Electric 19 Jul 1911 16 Feb 1933  
Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil Electric Tramways Electric 6 Apr 1901 23 Aug 1939  
Neath Neath Corporation Tramways Horse 9 Nov 1875 1899  
Gas 31 Aug 1899 8 Aug 1920 "Gas" refers to town gas, not petrol (gasoline). One car is preserved locally at the Cefn Coed Colliery Museum.
Newport Newport Tramways Company Horse 1 Feb 1875

30 Jul 1894

28 Jul 1894

3 Nov 1903

 
Newport Corporation Tramways Electric 9 Apr 1903 5 Sep 1937  
Pontypridd Pontypridd and Rhondda Valley Tramway Company Horse Mar 1888 July 1903  
Pontypridd Urban District Council Tramways Electric 5 Mar 1905 30 Aug 1931  
Rhondda Pontypridd and Rhondda Valley Tramway Company Horse Mar 1888 July 1903  
Rhondda Tramways Company Electric 11 Jul 1908 1 Feb 1934  
Swansea Swansea Improvements and Tramways Company Horse 12 Apr 1878 1901  
Steam 1882 1884  
Swansea Constitution Hill Tramway Cable 1898 1902 Street funicular.
Swansea Improvements and Tramways Company Electric 30 Jun 1900 29 Jun 1937  
♦ Swansea - Mumbles Swansea and Mumbles Railway, Mumbles Train Horse 25 Mar 1807

1860

1826

1877

Believed to be the world's first public passenger rail service. Early traction experiments included wind (sail mounted on passenger carriage). Passenger service withdrawn 1826, restored 1860 following reconstruction of the line.
Steam 17 Aug 1877 1929 Two competing undertakings operated service on the line, ca. 1879 - ca. 1898. One used steam traction. The other was compelled (by court order, obtained by its rival) to use horse traction. Traction experiments prior to electrification included accumulator (storage battery), petrol (gasoline) and diesel.
Electric 2 Mar 1929 5 Jan 1960 [31]. One car preserved following closure, but scrapped after being vandalized.

[edit] Northern Ireland

Location Name of System Traction
Type
Date (From) Date (To) Notes
Belfast Belfast Street Tramways Company Horse 28 Aug 1872 1906  
Steam 1 Jul 1882 1895  
Belfast Corporation Tramways Electric 5 Dec 1905 10 Feb 1954  
Cavehill Whitewell Cavehill and Whitewell Tramway Steam 1 July 1882 1892 Taken over by Belfast Corporation Tramways
Horse 1892 1906
Electric 12 February 1906 1 July 1911
Derry City of Derry Tramways Horse 1 Apr 1897 1920  
Fintona Londonderry and Enniskillen Railway (1853–83);
GNR(I) (1883–1957)
Steam 15 June 1853 16 Jan 1854  
Horse 16 Jan 1854 30 Sep 1957 Railway branch, worked by horse-drawn tram from 1854 to closure in 1957.
Bessbrook - Newry Bessbrook and Newry Tramway Electric 1 Oct 1885 10 Jan 1948 [32], [33].
Glenanne - Loughgilly Glenanne - Loughgilly Tramway Horse 1897 1919  
Warrenpoint - Rostrevor Warrenpoint and Rostrevor Tramway Horse 1 Aug 1877 February 1915  
Portrush - Bushmills - Giant's Causeway Giant's Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway & Tramway Company, Ltd. Steam 29 Jan 1883 1926(?)  
Electric 15 Nov 1883 30 Sep 1949 [34]. Operation suspended during winter, 1927–1939, 1947–1948.
Portstewart Portstewart Tramway Company Steam 1882 1926  

Note for Giant's Causeway Tramway: Portrush - Bushmills opened 29 Jan 1883. Bushmills - Giant's Causeway opened 1 Jul 1887. World's first use of electric traction with hydroelectric generation. Track built in street in Portrush.

[edit] Crown dependencies

See List of town tramway systems in Europe.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 24–25
  2. ^ Turner 2009, p. 42
  3. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 42–43
  4. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 43–45
  5. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 45–46
  6. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 49–51
  7. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 51–52
  8. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 65–66
  9. ^ Turner 2009, p. 73
  10. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 73–76
  11. ^ Turner 2009, p. 76
  12. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 76–77
  13. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 77–78
  14. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 78–81
  15. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 81–83
  16. ^ Turner 2009, p. 83
  17. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 84–85
  18. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 84–85
  19. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 85–88
  20. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 89–90
  21. ^ Turner 2009, pp. 88–89
  22. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 49–52
  23. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 52–53
  24. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 58–60
  25. ^ Turner 2007, p. 91
  26. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 91–93
  27. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 128–129
  28. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 130–131
  29. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 135–137
  30. ^ Turner 2007, p. 138
  31. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 167–169
  32. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 186–189
  33. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 191–192
  34. ^ Turner 2007, pp. 192–195
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Gillham & Wiseman 2003, pp. 58–71
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Bett & Gillham 1990, pp. 43–47
  37. ^ a b Anderson 1995, pp. 4–7

[edit] References

  • Anderson, Roy C. (1995). Bournemouth and Poole Tramways. Midhurst, West Sussex: Middleton Press. ISBN 1-873793-47-2. 
  • Bett, W. H.; Gillham, J. C. (1990). The Tramways of South West England. Light Rail Transit Association. ISBN 0-948106-08-5. 
  • Gillham, J. C.; Wiseman, R. J. S. (2003). The Tramways of South Lancashire and North Wales. Light Rail Transit Association. ISBN 0-948106-29-8. 
  • Turner, Keith (2007). Directory of British Tramways. Volume 1. Stroud: Tempus Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-0-7524-3901-3. 
  • Turner, Keith (2009). Directory of British Tramways. Volume 2. Stroud: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-4233-4. 

[edit] See also

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