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==Decline and closure==
Traffic levels peaked in 1908,<ref>[[Bibliography#Other Publications | Voice (2017)]] p. 57.</ref> after which a slow decline took place up the the First World War. The decline continued after the War, and the last tram ran on the short Comberton Hill route on 31 December 1923, after which time they were replaced by buses. Services to Stourport continued, but by 1928 the tramway Company was seeking permission from the Ministry of Transport to close the tramway altogether, as competition from buses meant they could not raise the necessary capital to maintain and upgrade the route. While MoT permission was still awaited, services ended unannounced on 2 April 1929 with a 'temporary' bus replacement service being instituted. The closure became official later that month<ref>[[Bibliography#Other Publications | Voice (2017)]] p. 97.</ref>.
==Gallery==
The Tramway appeared in a number of postcards, two examples of which are shown below.
<gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">
Tramway_Postcard_01.jpg|Tramcar No 8 approaching Stourport
Tramway_Postcard_02.jpg|Tramcar No 9 in Oxford Street, Kidderminster
</gallery>
The first postcard shows Tramcar No 8 approaching Stourport. The houses on the left can still be seen opposite the present-day location of the Wharf Care Home on the A451 Minster Road.
The second postcard shows Tramcar No 9 in Oxford Street, Kidderminster. The Kidderminster terminus is a short distance behind the photographer, who was standing on the Bridge Street junction where the main route to Stourport branched to the right, while the tram is on the short branch leading to Worcester Cross, Comberton Hill and Somerleyton Road.
Both No 8 and No 9 were delivered as unpowered trailer cars for the opening in 1898 but converted into powered tramcars the following year.
==References==
