Edinburgh and District Tramways

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Edinburgh and District Tramways
Operation
Locale Edinburgh
Open9 December 1893
Close1 July 1919
StatusClosed
Infrastructure
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Propulsion system(s)Horse, Steam and Cable
Statistics
Route length 18.65 miles (30.01 km)

Edinburgh and District Tramways operated a tramway service in Edinburgh between 1893 and 1919, and Leith between 1871 and 1904. [1]

Contents

History

The company was formed as a subsidiary of Dick, Kerr & Co. On 9 December 1893 it took over the Edinburgh Street Tramways services within the Edinburgh city boundary. On 31 January 1896 it took over the line to Meadowbank operated by the same company, and in 1898 the line to Portobello.

On 1 January 1897 it took over the Edinburgh Northern Tramways cable operated lines.

The company also undertook a conversion programme replacing many horse drawn services with cable operated lines. [2] The choice of cable traction was driven by the gradients on many streets in Edinburgh.

The cable lines included:

In 1902, one of its tramcars was sold to the Stirling and Bridge of Allan Tramways and in 1913 this vehicle was converted with a petrol engine.

Closure

The company was taken over on 1 July 1919 by Edinburgh Corporation Tramways.

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References

  1. The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
  2. The Stock Exchange Year Book 1908