Taunton Tramway
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Predecessor | Taunton and West Somerset Electric Railways and Tramways Company |
| Founded | 1900 |
| Defunct | 1921 |
| Fate | Closure due to electricity supply dispute |
| Headquarters | Taunton , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Taunton, Somerset |
| Products | Electric tramway services |
The Taunton Tramway was an electric streetcar system operating in Taunton, the administrative centre of Somerset, England. It ran six narrow gauge tramcars along a single line from 1901 until its closure in 1921, which was triggered by a conflict over electricity expenses.
History
Established as the Taunton and West Somerset Electric Railways and Tramways Company under the Taunton Tramways Order 1900, this enterprise functioned as a branch of British Electric Traction. The original vision included constructing a network linking nearby towns such as Wiveliscombe, Wellington, and North Petherton. However, operations commenced with a brief route stretching from Taunton railway station to the town centre, approximately , opening on 2 August 1901. When plans for expansion were abandoned, the company changed its name to the Taunton Electric Traction Company in 1903.
In 1905, service was suspended for eight weeks to repair track subsidence and to replace the fleet of double-deck trams with single-deck vehicles. On 13 August 1909, the line was extended slightly under the railway station bridge to reach Rowbarton, bringing the total route length to .
Due to an increase in electricity charges, the company refused payment, resulting in a court ruling that invalidated their power supply contract. An offer to transfer ownership of the tramway to the municipality was rejected, leading to the disconnection of electrical power on 28 May 1921. Later that year, tramcar number 1 appeared in the town carnival, symbolically pulled by a steam locomotive bearing a sign that read 'Yes! We have no tram cars.'
Services
The route originated at the depot located on East Reach and proceeded westward to East Street, then turned northwards past the Market House into North Street. After crossing Town Bridge, it continued along Bridge Street and Station Road to its initial terminus outside the railway station. Following the 1909 extension, it continued along Kingston Road, ending near Salisbury Street.
At its launch in 1901, trams were scheduled to run at intervals no longer than eight minutes.
Engineering
The tracks were constructed with a gauge of , featuring curves as tight as and gradients reaching up to 1 in 25 (4%). Electrical power was supplied by Taunton Corporation from a generating facility on St James Street.
Ten cast iron standards that formerly supported overhead wires have been preserved as lamp posts, although none remain at their original sites. Nine were positioned for many years in Greenway Crescent near the Kingston Road terminus, while one is located in West Street, Bishops Lydeard. The remaining tram poles are kept in storage for potential reinstallation within the town centre.
Tram cars
The fleet consistently operated six tramcars at any given time, with a total of twelve different vehicles used during the transition from double-deck to single-deck models in 1905. The vehicles were painted in dark crimson lake with gold lining; double-deck trams also featured green curtains.
The open-top double-deckers, manufactured by Brush Electrical Engineering, accommodated 22 passengers downstairs and 29 upstairs. These were sold in 1905 to the Leamington and Warwick Electrical Company. One of these later served as a works vehicle for the Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway until 1935.
The replacement single-deck Brush trams were sold off in 1921: three went to Torquay Tramways, while two were converted to standard gauge () for use by the Gravesend and Northfleet Electric Tramways. Despite some speculation, there is no verified evidence that any of these tram bodies were repurposed as garden sheds.
| Numbers | In service | Type | Seats | Truck | Later numbering |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–6 | 1901–1905 | Double deck | 51 | Brush A1 | Leamington and Warwick 7–12 |
| 1–6 | 1905–1921 | Single deck | 24 | Brush A1 | Gravesend 7–8 Torquay 34–36 |
Depot
Situated at the network's eastern terminus near East Reach, behind the residences on Alfred Street (), the depot comprised a three-track shed. Adjacent to the entrance on East Reach, westward, stood the manager's residence. Eventually, the entire site was cleared to make way for the development of Chritchard Way.
Bibliography
- Taunton Tramways 1901-1921 (leaflet), Taunton Deane Borough Council, 1999
- Taunton Tramways Fleet List, Peter Davey and John Perkin 2001