Difference between revisions of "Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway"

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[[File:Kidderminster Tram Depot.jpg |thumb|300px|right| Kidderminster Tram Depot.]]
 
[[File:Kidderminster Tram Depot.jpg |thumb|300px|right| Kidderminster Tram Depot.]]
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The Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway ran between the two named towns.  Services began on 23 May 1898 and continued until 2 April 1929.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p.90.</ref> It was built to a gauge of 3'6" and subject to a speed limit of 5mph in town and 12mph in open country.<ref>[https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MWR7562&resourceID=1035 Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway on the Heritage Gateway web site]</ref>
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The Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway ran between the two named towns as an isolated subsidiary of the Birmingham and Midland Tramways, which was itself owned by the British Electric Traction Company Ltd.  Services began on 23 May 1898 and continued until 2 April 1929.<ref>[[Bibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p.90.</ref> It was built to a gauge of 3'6" and subject to a speed limit of 5mph in town and 12mph in open country.<ref>[https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MWR7562&resourceID=1035 Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway on the Heritage Gateway web site]</ref> Unusually for a tramway, the majority of the main line outside the urban areas was on sleeper track at the side of the road.<ref>Great British Tramway Networks, Wingate H. Bett & John C. Gillham, 1940</ref>
  
 
==Competition with the GWR==
 
==Competition with the GWR==

Revision as of 18:05, 4 October 2020

Kidderminster Tram Depot.

The Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway ran between the two named towns as an isolated subsidiary of the Birmingham and Midland Tramways, which was itself owned by the British Electric Traction Company Ltd. Services began on 23 May 1898 and continued until 2 April 1929.[1] It was built to a gauge of 3'6" and subject to a speed limit of 5mph in town and 12mph in open country.[2] Unusually for a tramway, the majority of the main line outside the urban areas was on sleeper track at the side of the road.[3]

Competition with the GWRGreat Western Railway

From its introduction, the tram service competed for the GWRGreat Western Railway's passenger traffic, especially as it provided a direct connection while the journey by rail required a change at Bewdley or Hartlebury. This was one of the factors that led the GWRGreat Western Railway to introduce a steam railmotor service in January 1905 in a bid to improve local services.[4] An advertising booklet published by the Tramway Company the following year proclaimed "Easter, 1906. 20,000 passengers travelled by Tram to Stourport."[5]

Connections between the Tramway and the Severn Valley Branch

The tramway crossed the Severn Valley Branch at two locations; via the level crossing at Stourport and via the Stourport Road Bridge at Foley Park. The GWRGreat Western Railway opened Foley Park Halt, next to the Stourport Road Bridge, at the same time the Railmotor service began.

The tramway also ran up Comberton Hill, passing the present day entrance to the SVRSevern Valley Railway and crossing the GWRGreat Western Railway's Kidderminster to Stourbridge line via the road bridge next to the main line station.

Proposed Bewdley extension

In December 1899 proposals were first made for an extension of the tramway from Kidderminster to Bewdley.[6] On 26 May 1900 the Tramway Company made an application under the Light Railways Act to bring this about.[7] However work never began and the proposal was eventually abandoned in March 1905.[8]

References

  1. ↑ Marshall (1989) p.90.
  2. ↑ Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway on the Heritage Gateway web site
  3. ↑ Great British Tramway Networks, Wingate H. Bett & John C. Gillham, 1940
  4. ↑ Marshall p. 143.
  5. ↑ Voice (2017) p. 7.
  6. ↑ Voice (2017) p. 24.
  7. ↑ Voice (2017) p. 28.
  8. ↑ Voice (2017) p. 46.

Links

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