The Scarborough Tramways Company provided an electric tramway service in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, between 1904 and 1931.

History

Scarborough Corporation obtained parliamentary powers under the Scarborough Tramways Act 1902 to operate tramways in the town. The Scarborough Tramways Company was formed under this Act to build and work the tramways. The main contractor for construction was the parent company, Edmundson's Electricity Corporation, and the general layout of the system was to the design of Mr. Swinton, with Mr. Waler as consultant engineer. The tramways were laid with 6 inch grooved 45 foot girder rails weighing 90 pounds per yard, supplied by the North Eastern Steel Company of Middlesbrough, with points and crossings manufactured by

Hadfields Limited Hadfields Limited of Hecla and East Hecla Sheffield, Yorkshire was a British manufacturer of special steels in particular manganese alloys (which were discovered by the founder's son and often known as Hadfield steel) and the manufacture of steel ...

of Sheffield. The contract for the overhead work was awarded to Robert W. Blackwell & Company of London. The power for the system was obtained from Edmundson's Electricity Corporation from their town power station off Seamer Road. The car depot was located off Scalby Road at . Construction began on 12 October 1903 and was complete by the following May. After an inspection by Colonel Pelham von Donop on 4 May 1904, the system was opened to the public on 6 May 1904. The costs of construction, including an extension to the power station, was £96,000 (equivalent to £ in ).

Fleet

The initial 22 tramcars were built by

Brush Electrical Machines Brush Electrical Machines is a manufacturer of electrical generators typically for gas turbine and steam turbine driven applications. The main office is based at Loughborough in Leicestershire, UK. History Charles Francis Brush, born in Eucl ...

. *1–15 delivered in May 1904 *16–18 delivered later in 1904 *19–22 delivered in 1905 Five further cars and one spare car body were obtained second hand from Ipswich Corporation Tramways. One was numbered 21, to replace the original 21 destroyed in the accident on 16 September 1925. The remaining cars were numbered 23 – 25

Routes

After a rationalisation in 1906, the company operated 6 routes as follows:Scarborough Tramways, B. Marsden, Middleton Press 2007 *Route 1 – West Pier to Scalby Road via Foreshore Road, Vernon Place, and Falsgrave Road (returning via Prospect Road, Hanover Road, Westborough and Eastborough). 1.9 miles. *Route 1A – Aquarium to Scalby Road via Eastborough, Newborough, Westborough and Falsgrave Road (returning via Prospect Road, Hanover Road and Vernon Place). 1.7 miles. *Route 2 – Aquarium to Manor Road via Eastborough, Newborough, Westborough, Hanover Road, and Prospect Road (returning via Scalby Road, Falsgrave Road and Vernon Place). 2.25 miles. *Route 2A – West Pier to Manor Road via Foreshore Road, Vernon Place, Hanover Road, and Prospect Road (returning via Scalby Road, Falsgrave Road, Westborough, Newborough and Eastborough). 2.12 miles *Route 3 – Railway Station and North Side via Westborough, Aberdeen Walk, Castle Road and North Marine Road. 1.2 miles *Route 4 – South Sands (Marine Drive South Toll House) and North Side via Sandside, Foreshore Road, Vernon Place, Aberdeen Walk, Castle Road, and North Marine Road. 1.9 miles.

Closure

The system was bought by Scarborough Corporation and closed on 30 September 1931, to be replaced by omnibuses.

References

External links

Scarborough Tramways Company at the British Tramway Company Badges and Buttons website.
{{Historic UK Trams Tram transport in England 1903 establishments in England Transport in Scarborough, North Yorkshire 3 ft 6 in gauge railways in England