Hetton-le-Hole Herald The Newsletter for Hetton Local History Group Volume .2....... Issue ..2...... Date..Oct/Nov 2010...... Summary in 1832, followed in 1835 by a simi- lar development in New Orleans, Trams were an intermediary Louisiana. form of transport between rail- In 1883, Magnus Volk constructed a ways and buses. This article 2-ft gauge electric railway along the looks at the spread and impor- eastern seafront at Brighton, Eng- tance in and around Sunderland land. This 2-km line, increased in gauge to 2 ft 9ins in 1884, remains in service to this day, and is the oldest operating electric tramway in the world. This development set the pattern for the future and the electric tram soon became a feature. By September 1885 the Blackpool Elec- tric Tramway was opened, Blackpool was an emerging holiday and visitor Tram Transport in resort and it possessed a long and suitable promenade to exploit this Sunderland & the Villages form of travel. Sunderland, in the meantime had Beyond been operating horse trams from April 1879. The first route from It appears that the very first Monkwearmouth Royal Hotel along tram was one used on the Swansea Roker Avenue to the sea front at and Mumbles railway in South Wales Roker proved to be both successful in 1807, following a specific Act in and popular so that within a year 1804. additional routes were in operation across the river to the main part of The first street cars, known as the town as well as the dock area. horse cars were developed in the United States and were developed from city stagecoaches. The first 1 streetcar line was in New York city 1 The system of horse-drawn trams eventually rejected as they inter- By 1904 the Corporation was run- The trams were popular with the was operated by the Sunderland fered with other traffic and suf- ning seven single deck trams and 43 people of Sunderland as they not Tramways Corporation. Within two fered from frequent breakdowns. double deck trams throughout the only provided a regular service years Sunderland Corporation was network. With the growth of in- throughout the town but it was Eventually electrification of the constructing further extensions cheap to use them. The cars were system was started and many of which were then leased to the com- basically wooden structures built on the old horse-drawn lines were pany. closed down. The first route from By 1894, 33 tramcars were operat- Roker to Christ Church was opened ing and further expansion was con- in July 1900 although the opening templated. However Sunderland was not particularly auspicious. On Council decided to operate its own the day that the first trams were tramways and this decision was im- put into service there was an em- A steam tram similar to those used in plemented in March 1900. barrassing accident when two cars Sunderland being driven by the chairman and dustry in the town the population vice-chairman of the Tramways An early open topped tram complete with increased quickly, particularly dur- conductresses . Photo taken during World Committee collided because of ing the years of the First World War 1 driver error. By 1904 there was a War. substantial number of lines in exis- tence throughout the town. The following locations were linked, Sunderland horse-drawn tram Southwick, Monkwearmouth, Roker, Fulwell, Seaburn, Hylton Prior to the introduction of electric Road, Chester Road and the dock trams there had been experimenta- area at Hendon. These routes pro- tion with steam driven trams. They vided the basis for tram transport had the disadvantage that they did for the next 20 years. An open topped tram in Hylton Road not cope well with hills. It was also A single deck tram in Fawcett Street early 1920s 1910 thought feasible that a steam engine The first electric trams for Sun- could pull two or three trams at the derland were made at Preston. a metal chassis. The open tops did As shortages of male labour be- same time and this proved to be un- They were open topped and had not provide cover on rainy and cold came apparent during the war years necessary on a number of routes. In two decks. In spite of their design days and the seats were wooden consequently women were employed the early 1880s they were given a the population of the town defi- slatted affairs without upholstery. on the trams as conductresses. thorough trial and they were nitely benefitted from the trams. There were two tram sheds where 2 2 The system of horse-drawn trams eventually rejected as they inter- By 1904 the Corporation was run- The trams were popular with the was operated by the Sunderland fered with other traffic and suf- ning seven single deck trams and 43 people of Sunderland as they not Tramways Corporation. Within two fered from frequent breakdowns. double deck trams throughout the only provided a regular service years Sunderland Corporation was network. With the growth of in- throughout the town but it was Eventually electrification of the constructing further extensions cheap to use them. The cars were system was started and many of which were then leased to the com- basically wooden structures built on the old horse-drawn lines were pany. closed down. The first route from By 1894, 33 tramcars were operat- Roker to Christ Church was opened ing and further expansion was con- in July 1900 although the opening templated. However Sunderland was not particularly auspicious. On Council decided to operate its own the day that the first trams were tramways and this decision was im- put into service there was an em- A steam tram similar to those used in plemented in March 1900. barrassing accident when two cars Sunderland being driven by the chairman and dustry in the town the population vice-chairman of the Tramways An early open topped tram complete with increased quickly, particularly dur- conductresses . Photo taken during World Committee collided because of ing the years of the First World War 1 driver error. By 1904 there was a War. substantial number of lines in exis- tence throughout the town. The following locations were linked, Sunderland horse-drawn tram Southwick, Monkwearmouth, Roker, Fulwell, Seaburn, Hylton Prior to the introduction of electric Road, Chester Road and the dock trams there had been experimenta- area at Hendon. These routes pro- tion with steam driven trams. They vided the basis for tram transport had the disadvantage that they did for the next 20 years. An open topped tram in Hylton Road not cope well with hills. It was also A single deck tram in Fawcett Street early 1920s 1910 thought feasible that a steam engine The first electric trams for Sun- could pull two or three trams at the derland were made at Preston. a metal chassis. The open tops did As shortages of male labour be- same time and this proved to be un- They were open topped and had not provide cover on rainy and cold came apparent during the war years necessary on a number of routes. In two decks. In spite of their design days and the seats were wooden consequently women were employed the early 1880s they were given a the population of the town defi- slatted affairs without upholstery. on the trams as conductresses. thorough trial and they were nitely benefitted from the trams. There were two tram sheds where 3 3 modifications and repairs were car- Short of funds and lacking invest- Thirty two old double decker mixed The tram shown going through the ried out. The main one was at the ment and experience the tram trams were bought to service these centre of Hetton in the adjacent Wheatsheaf while the other was in tracks were set up with Houghton- extensions. Sixteen of the thirty column is the infamous No. 8 tram Hylton Road. le-Spring as the centre. In Sunder- two were French imports. The ser- involved in the afore mentioned land the line started at Grangetown vice opened on June 10th 1905. The tragedy. In this picture it is shown close to the Corporation terminus service started with an inadequate as a renumbered No. 31 following a then ran south to Ryhope and power supply to run all of the lines, two year lay off in the Company Silksworth. From Silksworth village in fact only one third of the power sheds and a paint job carried out to it ran west to East Herrington, needed was supplied at first. The disguise it and give it a new identity. West Herrington, New Herrington, trams being of light construction During winter times many of the Philadelphia, Newbottle and down to soon began to fall apart and the trams failed to negotiate the steep Houghton. In 1906 further exten- continuing problems of the power hills particularly if there had been a A tram with top deck half enclosed sions were added from Houghton to supply meant that often the trams snow fall. An extraordinary looking was introduced after 1910 and Hetton-le-Hole and to the clock at failed on the numerous hill sections tram with a double cab was con- lasted for more than 30 years Easington Lane as well as from in the west. structed with a rotating snow brush Herrington Burn to Shiney Row and By 1922 most of the open top To make matters worse only three to assist with the snow clearance. New Penshaw. A further extension trams had been roofed over, some- days after the service started the ran from Houghton-le-Spring to times with the stairs at each end number 8 tram ran out of control on Fence Houses.