Exeter Corporation Tramways
See Exeter Tramway Co for previous horse-drawn service
Trams ran from 1905 to 1931. They undertook more than 145 million passenger journeys with just one fatal accident during the 26 years.[1]
1902 Application to Parliament by the Corporation with full details of the twenty proposed routes to be built on a 3ft 6in gauge.[2]
1905 March 24th. First test of the electric trams. The first services only operated from the Guildhall to Mount Pleasant Inn and from St David's to Livery Dole. The depot was at the end of Paris Street.
Once completed the system operated three routes:
- Cross Park Terrace (Heavitree) to Cowick Street, via Paris Street, High Street and the Exe Bridge.
- Abbey Road junction with Pinhoe Road to Stone Lane junction with Alphington Road, via Sidwell Street, High Street and the Exe Bridge.
- Exeter St. David's Station to Pinhoe Road via Hele Road. Some trams terminated at Queen Street.
Several further extensions were proposed but none were ever built
Exeter Corporation Tramways bought a total of 37 trams. These were numbered 1-24 (without a number 13) in the first series and 1-4 in the second series. All were open top double deck trams with four wheels. Trams 1-21 were purchased between April 1905 and August 1906 from Dick, Kerr and Co. They had two 25 horsepower motors and had 42 seats, 20 on the lower and 22 on the upper deck.
Nos 22-25, bought in December 1914 were the first purchased from Brush Traction (as were all the later trams) and had two 34 horsepower motors and seated 44.
After World War I two new cars were purchased (26 and 27). These had seats for 54 passengers. Car 27 was the first to be fitted with an enclosed cab. Nos 28-30 were bought in 1925 and were followed by the last of the first series - no 31-34 in 1926.
The last trams were purchased in 1929 (1-4 of the new series) and were initially intended for the planned extension to Whipton. They had two General Electric 50 horsepower (motors and could seat 53 people. They were delivered only months before the decision was made to bring an end to the tram services.
In 1931 these four tramcars were sold to Halifax Corporation for £200 each. They ran there for a further 7 years until finally being withdrawn in November 1938.
See Also
Sources of Information
- ↑ Exeter and Plymouth Gazette - Thursday 20 August 1931
- ↑ The London Gazette Publication date:25 November 1902 Issue:27498 Page:8138