The Camborne and Redruth Tramways company operated an electric freight and passenger tramway service in the Cornish towns of Camborne and Redruth between 1902 and 1934.[1]
| Camborne and Redruth Tramways | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Car 1 in Camborne | |||
| Operation | |||
| Locale | Camborne, Redruth | ||
| Open | 7 November 1902 | ||
| Close | August 1934 | ||
| Status | Closed | ||
| Infrastructure | |||
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | ||
| Propulsion system(s) | Electric | ||
| Depot(s) | Carn Brea | ||
| Statistics | |||
| Route length | 3.7 miles (6.0 km) | ||
| |||
History edit
The proposal for Camborne and Redruth, put forward by the Urban Electric Supply Company, was for a combined lighting scheme and tramway. The Urban Electric Supply Company was a subsidiary of Edmundson's Electricity Corporation.
The construction of the generating station and distribution system cost £38,500 (equivalent to £5,279,488 in 2023) [2] and the tramway and vehicles cost £35,000 (equivalent to £4,799,534 in 2023).[2] The tramway was constructed by Dick, Kerr & Co. in around 6 months. Track-laying started on 7 April 1902,[3] and the network was single-tracked with eight passing loops and double tracks at each end. The sharpest curve was 40 ft radius and the steepest section on East Hill was 1:15.
It was mostly complete by September 1902.[4] Members of Camborne and Redruth Councils visited on 1 October 1902. The first trial run of the system took place on Wednesday 8 October 1902, with a delegation of local dignitaries invited by the company manager Mr. F.C. Hanning[5] The trial car arrived at the Camborne terminus at 11.30am driven by the manager, accompanied by William Ward, the electrical engineer. The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser for 9 October 1902 reported that those passengers who caught hold of a certain brass rod, to get on to the car, experienced a mild electric shock, the effect of which caused them to quickly release their hold, and this brought a smile to the face of Engineer Ward.
The Board of Trade Inspector passed the tramway for use on 25 October 1902. The formal opening was held on 7 November 1902 when Mrs. Wigham, wife of an Edmundson's Director was the guest of honour.
The tramway opened for passenger service on 7 November 1902,[6] and for freight in May 1903.
Vehicles were obtained from G.F. Milnes & Co. in 1902 and 1903, and comprised 6 open top double deck cars (48-seaters), 2 single-deck cars (34-seaters) plus 2 freight locomotives. The company livery was dark green and cream. Between 7 November 1902 and 30 September 1903 the passenger service carried one million passengers.[7]
The freight locomotives moved 12 side-tipping mineral ore wagons on the tramway from East Pool mine.[8]
Closure edit
Around 1926, the Cornish Motor Transport Company inaugurated a 15-minute bus service between Redruth and Camborne, which reduced the patronage of the passenger tram service. Despite a reduction in fares and an amended service, it was not commercially viable[9] and the service closed to passengers on 29 September 1927. The freight services continued.
In August 1934 the freight service of tin ore was replaced by an aerial ropeway.[10]
References edit
- ^ The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
- ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ "Redruth Camborne Electric Trams". Cornubian and Redruth Times. England. 11 April 1902. Retrieved 17 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Redruth Camborne Electrical Tramway". Cornishman. England. 11 September 1902. Retrieved 17 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Camborne-RedruthTramway". West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. England. 9 October 1902. Retrieved 17 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "The Official Opening". Cornishman. England. 13 November 1902. Retrieved 17 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Redruth Tram. One Million Passengers". Cornubian and Redruth Times. England. 31 October 1903. Retrieved 17 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Ellis, Norman (1986). Trams on Old Picture Postcards. Nottingham: Reflections of a Bygone Age. p. 48. ISBN 0946245134.
- ^ "Camborne tram cars to stop. Passenger service ceases end of month". Cornishman. England. 14 September 1927. Retrieved 17 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Gamble, Barry (2011). Cornish mines: St Just to Redruth. Penzance: Alison Hodge. p. 62. ISBN 0-906720-81-8.
External links edit
