Cardiff Corporation Tramways was a company that operated an electric tramway service in Cardiff between 1902 and 1950.[1]
| Cardiff Corporation Tramways | |
|---|---|
 Cardiff Corporation Tramways water car 131 preserved in the National Tramway Museum | |
| Operation | |
| Locale | Cardiff |
| Open | 1 May 1902 |
| Close | 19 January 1950 |
| Status | Closed |
| Infrastructure | |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Propulsion system(s) | Electric |
| Statistics | |
| Route length | 19.51 miles (31.40 km) |
History
edit
Horse trams had run in the city from 1872 until 1904. The first tram route ran from High Street in the city centre to the Docks run by the Cardiff Tramway Company.[2] In 1898, Cardiff County Borough Council obtained Parliamentary powers to take over all the tramways in the area,[3] and to use new electric trams, owning them from 1903. The routes formally opened on 1 May 1902.[4] Electricity was supplied from the Cardiff power station at Roath adjacent to the tram depot.[5]
In 1904, more than 23 million passengers had been carried in that year, up from 18 million the previous year.[2] and when Cardiff became a city in 1905, 131 electric trams were operating on the network, mainly focusing on the busy Cardiff Docks.[6] The Corporation also operated a city-wide parcel delivery service. The Hayes Island Snack Bar was built in 1911 as the main parcel depot and functioned until closure in 1942.[7]
In 1928, the network peaked at 142 cars and 19.51 miles (31.3 km) route miles.[8] Traffic and receipts were buoyant; during the year ending 31 March 1928 passengers totalled 42,440,000 with receipts of £265,028. Car miles had reached 3,490,000.[citation needed]
By 1929, the tram network stretched from Victoria Park in the west, to Grangetown and Cardiff Docks in the south, to Roath[9] and Splott in the east, and to Gabalfa in the north.[2][10]
The city council refused motor buses in 1907 but allowed them in 1910, operating its own from 1920, although 81 tramcars were introduced by Cardiff Corporation Transport to negotiate the city's low railway bridges. By 1939, these vehicles were becoming worn out and it was decided to phase out tramcars.
From 1902 until 1943, conductors on each tram collected fares but this was later replaced with a pay-as-you-enter system,[11] with fares costing 1d.[12]
Closure
editThe system was closed on 20 January 1950,[13] when electric trams were replaced with electric trolleybuses.[9][12]
Heath Park Electric Tramway
edit
A short 18 in (457 mm) gauge tramway and electric trams were built by members of Cardiff Model Engineering Society (including a former employee of Cardiff Corporation Tramways). The trams run on a 200 m (220 yd) track at the Society's grounds in Heath Park,[14] where visitors can ride the tram.[15]
References
edit- ^ Klapper, Charles F. (1961). The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
- ^ a b c Gould, David (1996). Cardiff's Electric Tramways. Oxford: The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-487-3.
- ^ "Cardiff Corporation Tramways". British Tramway Company Uniforms and Insignia. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Tramway Information". www.tramwayinfo.com. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Cardiff corporation electric power station Roath (418146)". Coflein. RCAHMW. 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- ^ Davies, Roger (2006). Streets of Cardiff. Hersham, Surrey: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-3098-7.
- ^ Cadw. "Hayes Island Snack Bar (Grade II) (18053)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ Priestley, Henry B. (1977). "Cardiff's Electric Tramways". Tramway Review, Vol. 12, No. 91, Autumn 1977.
- ^ a b "Roath Park - Tram Terminus". www.cardiffparks.org.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Cardiff 1929". www.tundria.com. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Cardiff's last Trolleybuses". Cardiff bus. Cardiff bus. 9 January 2020. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ a b Rhys, Steffan (16 September 2014). "27 fantastic pictures of trams and a Welsh street scene you'll scarcely believe used to exist". WalesOnline. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ Western Mail, 20 January 1950.
- ^ "Cardiff Model Engineering Society". www.cardiffmes.co.uk. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
- ^ Bird, Tony (8 May 2017). "Cardiff Model Engineering Society Open day May 2017". YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.