Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway
The Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway ran between the two named towns. 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]
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.[3] An advertising booklet published by the Tramway Company the following year proclaimed "Easter, 1906. 20,000 passengers travelled by Tram to Stourport."[4]
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.[5] On 26 May 1900 the Tramway Company made an application under the Light Railways Act to bring this about.[6] However work never began and the proposal was eventually abandoned in March 1905.[7]
References
- ↑ Marshall (1989) p.90.
- ↑ Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway on the Heritage Gateway web site
- ↑ Marshall p. 143.
- ↑ Voice (2017) p. 7.
- ↑ Voice (2017) p. 24.
- ↑ Voice (2017) p. 28.
- ↑ Voice (2017) p. 46.
Links
- Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway Company on Wikipedia
- Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway on the Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society web site
- Public Tramway Shelter, Oxford Street, Kidderminster on the Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society web site
