Dublin tramways

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Dublin tramways
Dublintram.jpg
The last DUTC tram to run in Dublin city, needed police protection from souvenir hunters on its final trip to the Blackrock Depot
New Living Pictures (8617836771).jpg
Trams passing the Parnell monument in 1913
Overview
Locale Dublin, Ireland
Transit type trams
Number of lines23 (1928)
Annual ridership88,530,737 (1937)
Operation
Began operation1872
Ended operation1949
Operator(s) Dublin United Tramways Company
Technical
System lengthover 60 mi (97 km)
System map
Trams as Dublin's main form of transport - early 1920s, with detail of all tram routes, fares and zones, times to stops, and the long-distance lines, several kilometres out from the city, as well as the very few bus routes, and the "heavy" rail system Dublin 1922-23 Map Suburbs MatureTrams wFaresTimes Trains EarlyBus Canals pubv2.jpg
Trams as Dublin's main form of transport – early 1920s, with detail of all tram routes, fares and zones, times to stops, and the long-distance lines, several kilometres out from the city, as well as the very few bus routes, and the "heavy" rail system

Dublin tramways was a system of trams in Dublin, Ireland, which commenced line-laying in 1871, and began service in 1872, following trials in the mid-1860s. [1] Established by a number of companies, the majority of the system was eventually operated by forms of the Dublin United Tramways Company (DUTC), dominated for many years by William Martin Murphy. Most of the services ran within the city centre and near suburbs, with the majority of major suburbs served (and many of the remainder handled by mainline rail). Additionally, there were two longer-range services, one reaching the "excursion" destination of Poulaphouca Falls, and two services concerning Howth.

Contents

At its peak, with over 60 miles (97 km) of active line, the system was heavily used, profitable and advanced in technology and passenger facilities, with near-full electrification complete from 1901. Heavy usage lasted from the late 19th century into the 1920s. The tram system was also central to the Dublin Lockout, which caused major distress within the city.

Elements of the system went out of service from the mid-1920s, in part overtaken by the bus. [2] The decline of the trams accelerated in the 1940s and the last trams ran on 9 July 1949 in Dublin city [3] and in 1959 on Howth Head, near Dublin. [4]

History

Background and legislation

The tram concept arrived in Ireland in the early years of railway development, and the first related projects concerned attempts to link major city train stations with a light railway. The legislation on this topic was the model for the first of the Irish Tramways Acts (which differed somewhat from those of England and Wales, or Scotland), the Tramways (Ireland) Act 1860 (23 & 24 Vict. c. 152). One feature of this law was that each establishment of a tramway operation required approvals including those of the Irish Privy Council, and an act of the Imperial Parliament, onerous and expensive provisions. This and other provisions argued to be impractical led to modification by the Tramways (Ireland) Amendment Act 1861 (24 & 25 Vict. c. 102).

Dublin Tramways Act 1871
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (1837).svg
Long title An Act to authorise the construction of Tramways in and near the city of Dublin; and for other purposes.
Citation 34 & 35 Vict. c. lxxxviii
Dates
Royal assent 29 June 1871
Text of statute as originally enacted

The next relevant legislation was the special act, the Dublin Tramways Act 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c. lxxxviii), setting up the first company to actually deliver service, and the associated similarly named act of 1872, finalising initial routes and other rules. In parallel the main legislation was modified by the Tramways (Ireland) Amendment Act 1871 (34 & 35 Vict. c. 114). A further Dublin Tramways Act 1876 (39 & 40 Vict. c. 65) followed, and the Tramways (Ireland) Amendment Act 1881 (44 & 45 Vict. c. 17), provided for the formation of tramway ventures by way of simplified procedures. In the meantime, the Relief of Distress (Ireland) Act 1880 (43 Vict. c. 4) allowed for local authority support of tramway ventures (previously some provisions existed for such support for railways only).

From 1889, a new focus came to legislation on this topic, beginning with the Light Railways (Ireland) Act 1889 (52 & 53 Vict. c. 66), also known as "Balfour's Act", which aimed to encourage tram-like or light rail systems in poorer areas, and increased the potential for government to support such projects. With more guarantees from local authorities, more light rail systems were developed, with Dublin's extensive network just part of a total of 581 miles (935 km) by 1906.

Formation

The first Dublin trams were horse-drawn. In the early years, there were several operators, including (with the abbreviations by which they were often known):

By 1880, with many of the major districts of Dublin being served by the above three tram companies, William Martin Murphy, a founding shareholder of the Dublin Central Tramways Company, founded the Dublin United Tramways Company (DUTC) in January 1881, with himself as manager, and his father-in-law as chairman, and arranged the merger of the three companies, uniting 32 "route miles" under DUTC control. [4] [8]

In 1878, the DSDTC was acquired by the Imperial Tramways Company, who in 1893 secured an Act of Parliament allowing them to purchase the BKT, and to use electrical and mechanical power. [9] In mid-1896, the combined operation of these two companies, including the recently acquired legal authority to use electricity, was sold to the British Thomson-Houston Company, which almost immediately in turn sold it to the DUTC. [10]

Electrification and peak operation

A DUTC advertisement, c. 1900 DUTC RouteList Ad earlyC20.jpg
A DUTC advertisement, c. 1900

Discussions towards electrification began in the late 1890s, but this was opposed by Dublin Corporation, among others. An American panel also opposed the overhead line in densely populated areas. [11]

The Dublin United Tramways Company, with the acquisition of the Dublin Southern Tramways, which had earlier the same year started the first electrical tram line in Ireland, reversed long-standing policy favouring horse-drawn trams, and, having reorganised as the Dublin United Tramways Company (1896) Ltd., proceeded with a rapid electrification. As part of a deal with Dublin Corporation, the DUTC agreed to pay them £500 per route mile for 40 years and a minimum of £10,000 per year when the system was fully electrified. [11] Also included as part of the deal, the DUTC agreed not to charge more than one penny from the Pillar to any city boundary less than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away. [11]

By January 1901, the entire city system, [12] which covered about 60 miles (97 km) to 66 miles (106 km), [13] was electrified [14] and the system has 280 trams, including a special Directors tram that was used by William Martin Murphy among others to inspect the system. [15] In 1911 the system had 330 trams. [16]

At its peak, the system was known as technically innovative and was described in 1904 as "one of the most impressive in the world", [1] so that representatives of other cities from around the world came to inspect it and its electric operation. [15]

The Lockout

In 1913, the Dublin tram system was central to the Dublin lock-out, when DUTC members walked off the job over the refusal of William Martin Murphy to allow some [17] workers to join the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union [18]

Decline and closure

The DUTC opened its first bus route in 1925, progressively replacing the trams until the closure of their last route, the No. 8 to Dalkey, on 10 July 1949. According to the then Minister for Justice Seán Mac Eoin, "A force of 60 guards, including 2 superintendents, 1 inspector, 8 sergeants and 3 motor-cyclists[,] were placed on duty over the route," but they were unable to protect the last tram from damage by souvenir hunters. [19]

Following the Transport Act 1944, control of the DUTC was vested in the newly formed Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). [20] At the time the DUTC had 113 trams remaining. [21]

The Hill of Howth Tramway was transferred to CIÉ in 1958 and closed on 31 May 1959. It was the last tram to run in Ireland until the Luas tram system opened in 2004. [22]

Reasons for decline

A number of factors combined in the decline of Dublin's tram system. The advent of buses and large-scale competition meant that buses often ran the same routes as the trams and would jump in front to "grab" customers, and buses were able to move into Dublin's expanding hinterland more quickly and at less cost than the trams, [2] and the belief that trams were outdated and old technology, [4] leading to declining use. [2] Meanwhile, the DUTC's takeover of many bus operators left the DUTC with a large number of buses, which were used and expanded to areas of Dublin with no tram service, and buses eventually became the DUTC's core business. There was a belief that buses were cheaper to run than trams [23] and that the system was in a poor state of repair. [24] [25] Britain's 1930 Royal Commission on Transport similarly actively advised against trams and for their replacement with buses. [4]

After closure

After closure, the system was still being discussed in the Dáil until at least 1960 when the issue of removal of the old tram tracks was raised. [26]

Lines and companies

The original tram-related legislation identified proposed lines by number, with a detailed route description, but these numbers were not widely used.

Dublin United Tramways Company

Map of central-eastern Dublin with the centre of the tram system and radiating lines in red and some termini, early 20th century Dublin East & Ctr w Roads & Trams w Termini inc centre pt Nelsons Pillar.jpg
Map of central-eastern Dublin with the centre of the tram system and radiating lines in red and some termini, early 20th century

In 1910, there were seventeen Dublin United Tramways Company (DUTC) routes, each identified with a different symbol (since 1903), and named for their terminus stations. Route numbers replaced the symbols from 1918, rising from 1 at Ringsend to 30 for Dollymount (and 31 for Howth, shared with another company) in a circuit around the city. Both the original routes and their numbers were the basis of some of the later bus routes and numbers.

Routes in December 1910 DUTC tram routes early C20.jpg
Routes in December 1910
NumberRouteOriginal operatorOpenedElectrifiedClosed
1 Nelson's Pillar and Ringsend (Thomas St).DUTC18 March 190118 March 190126 March 1940
2 Nelson's Pillar and Sandymount (Sandymount Rd) via Ringsend DUTC18 March 190118 March 190126 March 1940
3 Nelson's Pillar and Sandymount (Strand Rd) via Ringsend DUTC18 March 190118 March 190126 March 1940
4 Nelson's Pillar and Sandymount (Strand Rd) via Bath AvenueDTC1 October 187214 January 190131 July 1932
5 Phoenix Park and Pembroke (Ballsbridge)16 June 191916 June 19191 November 1928
6 Nelson's Pillar and Blackrock DTC (Haddington Rd.),
DSDT (Blackrock)
16 July 187916 May 1896 (from Haddington Rd.),
12 July 1898 (entire line)
9 July 1949
7 Nelson's Pillar and Kingstown DTC (Haddington Rd.),
DSDT (Blackrock),
Kingstown (BKT)
August 188516 May 1896 (from Haddington Rd.),
12 July 1898 (entire line)
9 July 1949
8 Nelson's Pillar and Dalkey DTC (Haddington Rd.),
DSDT (Blackrock),
Kingstown (BKT),
Dalkey (DSDT)
19 March 1879 (originally 4 ft / 1,219 mm gauge Kingstown / Dalkey)16 May 1896 (from Haddington Rd.),
12 July 1898 (entire line)
9 July 1949 [3]
9 Donnybrook and Phoenix Park via Merrion Square DTC (Donnybrook),
NDST (Phoenix Park)
14 March 1873 (Donnybrook),
10 December 1876 (Phoenix Park)
22 November 1898 (Phoenix Park),
23 January 1899 (Donnybrook)
6 June 1940
10 Donnybrook and Phoenix Park via Stephen's Green DUTC14 May 190614 May 19066 June 1940 (withdrawn on 21 March 1918, but reintroduced on 1 November 1928)
10Finglas Road and Clonskea DUTC16 June 19191922
11 Whitehall and Clonskea via Leeson Street DCT (Ranelagh to Clonskea),
NDST (Drumcondra),
DUTC (full route)
17 March 1879 (DCT),
1877 (NDST),
1903 (DUTC)
1 December 1899 (Clonskea),
9 November 1899 (Drumcondra),
7 September 1903 (Whitehall)
1939
12 Nelson's Pillar and Palmerston Park (Cnr Dartry Rd).DCT (from College Green)3 May 187924 October 18991 January 1939
13 Clontarf Rd. (cnr St. Lawrence's Rd.) and Westland Row railway station DUTC17 February 191821 March 1918
14 Nelson's Pillar and Dartry Road (Cnr Orwell Pk) via upper Rathmines DUTC27 January 190527 January 190531 October 1948
15 Nelson's Pillar and Terenure via Rathmines DTC1 February 1872 [11] 28 August 189931 October 1948
16 & 17 Rathfarnham and Drumcondra via Harold's Cross Dublin Central Tramways Company [27] (Rathfarnham),
NDST (Drumcondra)
22 June 1879 [27] 9 November 1899 [27] 1 May 1939 [27]
18 Kenilworth Road and Lansdowne Road
Kenilworth Sq., Castlewood Ave., Belgrave Sq., Oakley Rd., Ranelagh, Leeson Pk., Appian Way, Waterloo Rd., Pembroke Rd., Lansdowne Rd.
DUTC22 August 1898 (Rathmines to Ballsbridge horse tram)12 October 18991 December 1940
19 Rialto and Glasnevin NDST (Glasnevin), DUTC (Rialto)10 December 1876 (Glasnevin),
20 May 1905 (Rialto)
4 December 18991939 [28]
20 Rialto and Glasnevin via Harcourt St.NDST (Glasnevin),
DUTC (Rialto)
10 December 1876 (Glasnevin),
20 May 1905 (Rialto)
4 December 18991939 [28]
21 Inchicore and Westland Row railway station NDSTJuly 18784 September 18994 February 1940
22 Kingsbridge railway station and Harcourt St. railway station (corner of Hatch Street) via southern quays and Westland Row railway station DTC3 June 187216 January 19004 February 1940
23Park Gate (the entrance to the Phoenix Park) and Ballybough DUTC1 October 19001 October 190016 April 1938
24 O'Connell Bridge and Park Gate via northern quaysDTC16 April 187418 October 189916 April 1938
25 Bachelor's Walk and Lucan DUTC14 May 192814 May 192812 April 1940
26Bachelor's Walk and Chapelizod DUTC27 May 192827 May 192812 April 1940
27 College Green and Drumcondra via Capel Street NDST18775 January 190021 March 1918, briefly reinstated in 1922 as route no. 27
28, 29, 30 Nelson's Pillar and Dollymount DTC187320 March 18981939 [2]
31 Nelson's Pillar and Howth DTC (Dollymount), C&HoHT (Howth)26 July 1900 (Howth)29 March 1941

Non-DUTC operations

The Dublin region had six other tram companies in the early 20th century, two operating back-to-back lines to Lucan and Leixlip, and two similarly in the direction of Blessington and Poulaphouca. The remaining two operated lines relating to Howth, one circuiting Howth Head and one connecting the DUTC system to Howth village and harbour. The Lucan and Leixlip lines were absorbed by the DUTC in 1927, and the coastal service to Howth was part-DUTC for many years.

Clontarf and Hill of Howth Tramroad

The Clontarf and Hill of Howth Tramroad (C&HoHT), incorporated by a Private Local Act, having considered both a coastal route and one via Raheny, had a single line, from Dollymount to Howth Harbour, which opened on 26 July 1900. It operated as an extension of the DUTC lines and shared operation with the DUTC, providing a route from Nelson's Pillar to Howth. It remained legally independent until closure, being wound up on 1 July 1941, [29] but was operationally integrated with the DUTC, at least from the second decade of the century.

Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway

The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway (DBST), (1888–1932), which ran from Terenure to Blessington, at a length of 15.5 miles (24.9 km) and with a total journey time of 1 hour and 25 minutes. [30] [31] Although the DBST connected with the DUTC system at Terenure, through-running was not allowed, as Dublin Corporation prohibited the operation of steam trams within the city.

The line was actually one of the first proposed in Ireland, as the Dublin and Baltinglass Tramway, but the costs of setting up operation under the early legislation were deemed prohibitive, and it was only after its promoters obtained the Dublin Tramways Act, 1881 (c. 17 of that year) that work really started.

Dublin and Wicklow county councils guaranteed this line, Kildare however, despite usage from the direction of Harristown (and Kilcullen and Ballymore Eustace) refused to be involved. It came under the administration of the Dublin County Surveyor in 1916, after years of profitable operation ended in 1914, and later under a committee of management. The potential inclusion of the line into the new Great Southern Railways entity was debated in the Dáil in 1924, but the government successfully opposed the idea. The DBST was closed by the Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway (Abandonment) Act, 1932, after years of being a burden on ratepayers, especially in the much more sparsely populated Wicklow.

Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway

The Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway (1895–1927), was a 4.5 miles (7.2 km) extension of the DBST from Blessington to Poulaphouca, [31] built and operated by a separate company.

Dublin and Lucan Steam Tramway

The Lucan steam tram, c. 1892 Lucan steam tram.jpg
The Lucan steam tram, c. 1892

The Dublin and Lucan Steam Tramway (DLST), authorised by an Order in Council under the Tramways Act, which commenced in 1880, opened, mostly on a roadside reservation, to Chapelizod in June 1881, Palmerstown in November 1881, and to Lucan in 1883. [32]

In 1900, under a new Order in Council, the DLST was electrified and regauged from 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge to 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) and renamed the Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway Company (D&LER).

Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway tram Dublin Lucan Electric Railway tram.jpg
Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway tram

Legally a railway, it was taken over and supported by the government during World War I under the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA). However, this ended in 1921 and facing increasing competition from the Tower Bus Co., the D&LER's financial position deteriorated.

In 1925, after their failure to be amalgamated into the GSR under the Railways Act 1924, the line was closed, going into liquidation. Following discussions, and enabled by two acts of the Irish Free State, the D&LER was bought up by the DUTC. The lines were regauged to Dublin's 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) [33] only as far as Lucan, a new line was fitted in Chapelizod, and it reopened as a DUTC route in 1928.

Extensions beyond Lucan

Lucan and Leixlip Steam Tramway The Lucan, Leixlip and Celbridge Steam Tramway Company was established to build lines from the Lucan terminus to Leixlip and Celbridge (branching off just outside Leixlip). The Lucan and Leixlip Steam Tramway (L&LST) extension was built, and operated between 1890 and 1898. [34] After it went into liquidation, its assets were sold at auction on 1 August 1899, including around 6,160 yards (5,630 m) of rails, two bogie passenger carriages, two other passenger carriages, two goods wagons, a locomotive engine, a water ram in the River Liffey and much other material [35]

Lucan and Leixlip Electric Railway A new line was laid close to the original steam line, over a decade later, under an Order in Council, the Lucan and Leixlip Electric Railway Order, 1910, by a completely new company. Despite the name, this does not seem to have followed the full distance to Leixlip but rather only the 0.5 miles (0.80 km) to the Spa Hotel at Doddsborough. This was opened as an electric line in 1910, and was leased to the (D&LER) in August 1911.

When the DUTC bought up the insolvent D&LER, they also purchased the L&LER from its shareholders, and although required to refit and reopen it in like manner, following objections from Dublin County Council the extension beyond Lucan was not reopened. [36]

Interconnection of the Lucan / Leixlip and city trams

The Lucan tram & terminus (left) & DUTC tram & terminus (right), Phoenix Park Gate Phoenix Pk Gate, c.1900.jpg
The Lucan tram & terminus (left) & DUTC tram & terminus (right), Phoenix Park Gate

While not originally connected, the Dublin terminus of the Lucan line was 12 yards from the Park Gate terminus of the DUTC lines, on Conyngham Road, and the two were connected after the purchase by the DUTC.

Hill of Howth Tramway

Operated by the Great Northern Railway (GNR), the Hill of Howth Tramway comprised a single route, from Sutton railway station to Howth railway station over Howth Head by way of the Summit. The tramway was opened under the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) Act of 1897 (and the Tramways Acts), the first line segment, from Sutton to the Summit, on 17 July 1901, the remainder to Howth on 1 August 1901.

Industrial services

Guinness Brewery tramways

Guinness Brewery Locos nos. 2 & 3, "Hops" & "Malt", built 1876 Malt & Hops.jpg
Guinness Brewery Locos nos. 2 & 3, "Hops" & "Malt", built 1876

The Guinness Brewery tramways was a system of industrial tramways that operated on and around the site of St. James's Gate Brewery [37] Two different gauges were used; a narrow gauge tramway and a broad gauge line. Neither were for public use.

The narrow gauge tramway

No. 13, Talyllyn Museum Guinness loco at NGRM - 2008-03-18.jpg
No. 13, Talyllyn Museum

The narrow gauge tramway operated on and around the site of St. James's Gate Brewery. [37] The system was laid between 1873 and 1879 and had a gauge of 1 ft 10 in (559 mm). [37] The tramway had direct access to the Liffey via a specially constructed quay and made use of a spiral tunnel to overcome a height difference on the brewery site. The tunnel cost £3,000 and construction spanned 1877–1878 [38]

A Guinness narrow gauge loco, No. 23, one of the last built by W. Spence of the Cork Street Foundry and Engineering Works, Dublin in 1921 Guinness locomotive.jpg
A Guinness narrow gauge loco, No. 23, one of the last built by W. Spence of the Cork Street Foundry and Engineering Works, Dublin in 1921

The broad gauge tramway

The broad gauge tramway connected the brewery with the goods yards of Heuston Station. The system began circa 1880, had a gauge of 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) [39] and was horse drawn but they were replaced by the narrow gauge tramway's locomotives on a special haulage wagon. [37] The broad gauge system closed on 15 May 1965.

Dublin tramways in literature

Dublin tramways, routes, tracks and the DUTC are mentioned several times in Ulysses by James Joyce [40]

Today

Around the city it is still possible to see buildings associated with the system such as the Blackrock Depot (later the Mazda Europa Centre, now demolished), Dartry Depot, Clonskeagh Depot, Donnybrook Depot (now part of Donnybrook Bus Garage), Dalkey Yard (some track still in-situ), the Sandymount Depot, the Marlborough Street Depot which still features the lettering DUTC [41] or the Power House in Ringsend, [42] and other reminders of the system also exist. Meanwhile some trams are preserved in the National Museum of Ireland and the National Transport Museum of Ireland (at Howth Castle) [43] and at the National Tramway Museum in the UK. [44] A modern tram system, Luas, opened in 2004.

Historic

Modern day

See also

External sources

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 Thacker, Andrew (2 May 2003). The Hibernian metropolis. Manchester University Press. ISBN   9780719053092 . Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Public Transport in Clontarf 1880". Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008. In 1939 the route 30 trams to Dollymount were replaced by double-decker buses.
  3. 1 2 "The last Tram to Dalkey". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008. The happening in question was the departure of the No. 8 tram from Nelson's Pillar for its last journey to the terminus in Castle Street, Dalkey
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dublin city passenger transport services" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  5. Dublin, The Irish Times, 30 January 1871, page 5: "Opposition to Tramways in Dublin" – begins "The Citizen's (sic) opposition Committee held its meeting..."
  6. Dublin, The Irish Times, 14 December 1871, page 5: "Before the Dublin Tramways Company..."
  7. 1 2 Dublin: South Dublin County Council, Archived 10 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine . Retrieved 1 August 2008
  8. 1 2 Cork, Ireland, 1998: Bielenberg, Andy "Entrepreneurship, Power and Public Opinion in Ireland; The Career of William Martin Murphy", in Chronicon 2, no. 6: 1–35, ISSN 1393-5259
  9. Dublin, The Irish Times, 5 May 1893, page 6, "The Dublin Southern Tramways Bill"
  10. Dublin: The Irish Times, 10 August 1896, "Purchase of the Dublin Electric Trams" (statement by Mr George White)
  11. 1 2 3 4 Geraghty, Tom; Whitehead, Trevor (2004). The Dublin Fire Brigade. City Council. ISBN   9780946841714 . Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  12. The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway never was electrified.
  13. Sources disagree over the exact figure
  14. "National Transport Museum". Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
  15. 1 2 "www.askaboutireland.ie/show_narrative_page.do?page_id=1256". Archived from the original on 23 November 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  16. "City Transport". Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
  17. Murphy allowed some skilled workers to be in unions but had a major objection to "unskilled" workers organising – cf Bielenberg above.
  18. "Dublin, 1913—Strike and Lockout". Archived from the original on 16 April 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008. The strike began. Tram workers deserted their vehicles in protest when William Martin Murphy forbade employees of his Tramways Company to be members of the Irish Transport and General Workers Union.
  19. "Ceisteanna—Questions: Dublin-Dalkey Last Tram Scenes". Dáil Éireann. 19 July 1949. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2008. A force of 60 guards, including 2 superintendents, 1 inspector, 8 sergeants and 3 motor-cyclists were placed on duty over the route.
  20. "Irish statute book, 1944". Archived from the original on 20 November 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  21. "Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ)". Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008. When CIÉ was formed it had 618 serviceable buses and 113 trams. Every tram and 364 buses came from DUTC and the other 254 from GSR
  22. "The Hill of Howth Tramway and tram No. 9". Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2008.
  23. "Closing of Tram Routes". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2008. a plan to replace electric trams by buses, although the former are admittedly cheaper to run
  24. "Dublin-Dalkey Tram Service". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2008. I am informed by Córas Iompair Éireann that, having regard to the condition of the cars, track, cables and overhead wires, it would be impracticable to operate the existing fleet of trams for an indefinite future period.
  25. "Dublin Tram Lines" . Retrieved 31 July 2008. Mr. Brady asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he is aware of the dangerous condition of tram lines in many places, owing to the failure of the Dublin United Tramway Company to keep their tram lines level with road surface, and whether he will use his powers to have this matter remedied.
  26. "Questions. Oral Answers. – Removal of Tram Tracks.Mr. M.J. O'Higgins Mr. M.J. O'Higgins". Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2008. Mr. M.J. O'Higgins asked the [720] Minister for Local Government when it is proposed to remove the tram tracks at Palmerston Road and in other Dublin districts.
  27. 1 2 3 4 "History of Rathfarnham". Archived from the original on 10 June 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  28. 1 2 "Glasnevin". Archived from the original on 29 February 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2008.
  29. Dublin, Ireland, 1981, North Dublin Round Table: Howth – McBrierty, Vincent (lead author / editor) – Chapter 7, Transport (chapter author Kilroy, James M.C.)
  30. "The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  31. 1 2 "History of Templeogue". Archived from the original on 22 February 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  32. "History of Lucan". Archived from the original on 28 March 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  33. "Gauge". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  34. "south dublin county library, the lucan tram". Archived from the original on 23 November 2007. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
  35. Dublin, The Irish Times: 1 August 1899, "Auctions", beginning "Sales this day. In the High Court of Justice (Ireland). Chancery Division..."
  36. Dublin, The Irish Times: 19 June 1929, page 4, "An Irishman's Diary", section "The Lucan Tram"
  37. 1 2 3 4 "Guinness Brewery tramways". Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  38. "Dear sir". Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
  39. "Guinness Brewery Tramways". Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
  40. "Ulysses by James Joyce". Archived from the original on 15 June 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  41. "DUTC depot". Archived from the original on 17 November 2007. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  42. "Ringsend power house". Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.
  43. "The Hill of Howth Tramway and tram No. 9". Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2008.
  44. "Hill of Howth 10". Archived from the original on 13 July 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2008.

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The history of rail transport in Ireland began only a decade later than that of Great Britain. By its peak in 1920, Ireland had 3,500 route miles (5,630 km). The current status is less than half that amount, with a large unserviced area around the border area between Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terenure</span> Suburb of Dublin, Ireland

Terenure, originally called Roundtown, is a middle class suburb of Dublin in Ireland. It is located in the city's D6 and D6W postal districts. The population of all electoral divisions labelled as Terenure was 17,972 as of the 2022 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glyn Valley Tramway</span> Welsh railway in use 1873–1935

The Glyn Valley Tramway was a narrow-gauge railway that ran through the Ceiriog Valley in north-east Wales, connecting Chirk with Glyn Ceiriog in Denbighshire. The gauge of the line was 2 feet 4+14 inches (718 mm) while it was horse-drawn, which was unofficially increased to 2 ft 4+12 in when steam locomotives were introduced. The total length of the line was 8+14 miles (13.3 km), 6+12 miles (10.5 km) of which were worked by passenger trains, the remainder serving a large granite quarry and several minor slate quarries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blessington</span> Town in western County Wicklow, Ireland

Blessington, historically known as Ballycomeen, is a town on the River Liffey in County Wicklow, Ireland, near the border with County Kildare. It is around 25 km south-west of Dublin, and is situated on the N81 road, which connects Dublin to Tullow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giant's Causeway Tramway</span>

The Giant's Causeway Tramway, operated by the Giant's Causeway, Portrush and Bush Valley Railway & Tramway Company Ltd, was a pioneering 3 ft narrow gauge electric railway operating between Portrush and the Giant's Causeway on the coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The line, 9+14 miles (14.9 km) long, was hailed at its opening as "the first long electric tramway in the world". The Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Railway today operates diesel and steam tourist trains over part of the Tramway's former course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">N81 road (Ireland)</span> Road connecting M50 motorway to Tullow in Ireland

The N81 road is a national secondary road in Ireland, from the M50 motorway to Tullow, County Carlow, north to south. The N81 continues past Tullow for another 8 km to terminate at the village of Closh, County Carlow, where it intersects the N80. The N81 is 76.784 km (47.711 mi) long. The road is a dual carriageway between M50 motorway and west of Tallaght, known as the Tallaght Bypass or Blessington Road. It intersects with the M50 motorway at Junction 11. There are plans to extend the dual carriageway by 5 km (3.1 mi) to the urban boundary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hill of Howth Tramway</span> Tram which served Howth Head, Ireland

The Howth Tram on the Hill of Howth Tramway was a tram which served Howth Head, near Dublin, Ireland. The termini were at Sutton railway station, by the entrance to the peninsula, and Howth railway station by the village and harbour of Howth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Northern Railway (Ireland)</span> Defunct railway company

The Great Northern Railway (Ireland) (GNR(I) or GNRI) was an Irish gauge (1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)) railway company in Ireland. It was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway (INW), Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland jointly nationalised the company in 1953, and the company was liquidated in 1958: assets were split on national lines between the Ulster Transport Authority and Córas Iompair Éireann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poulaphouca</span> Location with waterfall, bridge and reservoir in County Wicklow, Ireland

Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca, is the name of a waterfall and bridge on the River Liffey between County Wicklow and County Kildare. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and the associated artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lakes. The once-famous Poulaphouca Waterfall has little water running over it any longer because of the hydroelectric project.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Green & Son</span>

Thomas Green & Son, Ltd. were engineers who manufactured a wide range of products at the Smithfield Foundry, Leeds, United Kingdom

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dublin United Transport Company</span>

The Dublin United Transport Company (DUTC) operated trams and buses in Dublin, Ireland until 1945. Following legislation in the Oireachtas, the Transport Act, 1944, the DUTC and the Great Southern Railways were vested in the newly formed Córas Iompair Éireann on 1 January 1945.

The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway (DBST), later the Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway, operated steam-powered trams between Terenure in Dublin and Blessington in Co. Wicklow from 1888 until 1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Track gauge in Ireland</span> Irish railway standard

The track gauge adopted by the mainline railways in Ireland is 1,600 mm. This unusually broad track gauge is otherwise found only in Australia, in the states of Victoria, southern New South Wales and South Australia, as well as in Brazil.

The Clontarf and Hill of Howth Tramroad Company (C&HoHTCo) operated a tram service from central Dublin via Dollymount in Clontarf to Howth Harbour in the Dublin area of Ireland from 1900 to 1941. Formed in the 1880s, it was a separate entity from the other Dublin tramways, notably the Dublin United Tramways Company (DUTC), but worked closely with the latter, who owned the line as far as Dollymount, for most of its operating existence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Oxford Tramways Company</span> United Kingdom legislation

The City of Oxford and District Tramway Company and its successor the City of Oxford Electric Traction Company operated a horse-drawn passenger tramway service in Oxford between 1881 and 1914. The tramway was unusual for having a track gauge of only 4 feet (1.219 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dublin and Lucan Steam Tramway</span>

The Dublin and Lucan Steam Tramway operated a 3 ft narrow gauge steam tramway service between Dublin and Lucan between 1880 and 1897. The company was renamed as the Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway Company and steam power was replaced by electricity in 1897. This service ran until 1925.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wigan Corporation Tramways</span>

Wigan Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Wigan, England, between 1901 and 1931. The first tramway service in the town was run by the Wigan Tramways Company, whose horse trams began carrying passengers in 1880. They began replacing horses with steam tram locomotives from 1882, but the company failed in 1890 when a Receiver was appointed to manage it. The Wigan & District Tramways Company took over the system in 1893 and ran it until 1902. Meanwhile, Wigan Corporation were planning their own tramway system, obtaining an authorising Act of Parliament in 1893, and a second one in 1898. This enabled them to build electric tramways, and in 1902, they took over the lines of the Wigan & District Tramways Company.

At the peak of Britain’s first-generation tramways, it was possible to travel by tram all the way from Pier Head at Liverpool to the Pennines in Rochdale by tram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tramways in Plymouth</span> Tramways in Plymouth, Devon, England

The tramways in Plymouth were originally constructed as four independent networks operated by three different companies to serve the adjacent towns of Plymouth, Stonehouse and Devonport in Devon, England. The merger of the 'Three Towns' into the new borough of Plymouth in 1914 was the catalyst for the three companies to join up under the auspices of the new Plymouth Corporation. The network was closed in 1945, partly as a result of bomb damage during World War II.

Bradford Corporation Tramways were a tramway network in the city of Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England which operated trams from 1882 until 1950 and trolleybuses from 1911 until 1972. The track gauge of the tramways was 4 ft.