02 from Horse-Drawn Trams to Streetcars
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From horse-drawn trams to streetcars I ntroduction In 1871, permission was given for horse-drawn carriages to be gence of streetcars. In 1903, Tokyo Basha Tetsudo railway be- used on some roads in Tokyo. At that time, these carriages were gan operations anew as the Tokyo Densha Tetsudo, and follow- Chapter used by the wealthy classes, such as senior government officials ing electric operations between Shimbashi and Shinagawa, all and the nobility, but later on, horse-drawn passenger carriages routes were powered by electricity in the following year. In 1 were introduced as public transport and used for travel within 1911, the city of Tokyo purchased the private company that was Tokyo and to neighboring areas. A horse-drawn tram, in which operating the streetcars, and Tokyo Shiden was born. The trans- carriages were drawn over rails laid on the routes, started opera- portation network within Tokyo expanded during the Meiji and tions in 1882 and enjoyed good business. However, as there Taisho eras. were issues such as sanitation, their use declined with the emer- Streetcars running down Marunouchi (circa 1911). From “Scenes in the Eastern Capital of Japan” from the collection of the National Diet Library. Pictured here is Hibiya-dori Avenue, which was built through city planning, showing the area outside Babasakimon gate. Streetcars run down Hibiya-dori, and western buildings, such as the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce and Mitsubishi Nigokan (Bldg. No. 2) line the moat. Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. Akabane Akabane Takasaki Line Takasaki Line Horse-drawn passenger carriage stop near Megane bridge (Circa 1893) From “Album of Tokio by the Phototypie” from the collection of the National Kita-senju Kita-senju Diet Library. There were modes of transport such as palanquins and ox carriages up into the Edo period, but the use of horse-drawn carriages was prohibited by the gov- Ikebukuro Ikebukuro ernment. However, in 1869, horse-drawn passenger carriages began operations between Tokyo and Yokohama, and became a popular mode of transportation. Chuo Line Ueno Sobu Main Line Chuo Line Ueno Sobu Main Line Ochanomizu Ochanomizu Shinjuku Shinjuku Kandabashi Kandabashi Tokyo Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. Akabane Yamanote Line Sukiyabashi Yamanote Line Sukiyayabashi Shimbashi Shimbashi Dai-ikku Line Shibuya Shibuya Ikebukuro Tamagawa Electric Railway Tamagawa Electric Railway Kobu Railways Ueno Asakusa Iidamachi Sobu Railway Shinagawa Present-day Shinagawa Present-day 23 Special Wards 23 Special Wards Shinjuku Hongokucho Nihombashi of Tokyo of Tokyo Shinagawa Line Shimbashi Shibuya Tokaido Line Railways Tokaido Line Railways Shinagawa Present-day 23 streetcar streetcar Special Wards of Tokyo Tokaido Line Railways horse-drawn trams 0 5km 0 5km Circa July 1911 Circa 1916 0 5km Routes in the 1890s From Tabi no ietsuto, Dai 29, Miyako no maki (Vol. 29 “The Capital”, Tabi no ietsuto travelogue) from Changes in the streetcar network in the Meiji era the collection of the National Diet Library. Following the start of streetcar operations on the Shinagawa line (Shimbashi – Shinagawa Yatsuyama) in 1903 by Tokyo Densha Tetsudo railway, in the same Horse-drawn railways and routes year, Tokyo Shigai Tetsudo started operations between Sukiyabashi and Kandabashi. Then, in 1904, Tokyo Denki Tetsudo started operations between Dobashi Following the opening of the Shimbashi – Nihombashi route (approx. 2.5km) in June 1882 by Tokyo Basha Tetsudo railway, the Nihombashi – Ueno – Asaku- (north exit of Shimbashi station) and Ochanomizu, leading to rivalry between the three companies. With business slumping following the Russo-Japanese sa – Hongokucho – Nihombashi circular route was completed by October. In 1883, Ueno station opened for service, allowing streetcars to serve their role of War, in 1906 the three companies merged and the Tokyo Tetsudo railways was established. Due to reasons such as the increase in fares after this merger, a linking Shimbashi station, the southern gateway of Tokyo, and Ueno station, the northern gateway. In 1899, Tokyo Basha Tetsudo merged with Shinagawa movement was advanced to place streetcars under city management. In August 1911, the city of Tokyo purchased Tokyo Tetsudo, and established the Electrici- Basha Tetsudo, extending the line to Shinagawa. ty Bureau of the Tokyo City Government. *The shoreline in the map is as of the end of the Meiji era (1909). *The shoreline in the map is as of the end of the Meiji era (1909). Prepared from Tokyo-to Kotsukyoku 60 nen shi (60-year history of the Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government). Bureau of Transporta- Prepared from Tokyo-to Kotsukyoku 60 nen shi (60-year history of the Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government). Bureau of Transporta- tion, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and Tokyo-ko no hensen (Changes in Tokyo Port). Kanto Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastruc- tion, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and Tokyo-ko no hensen (Changes in Tokyo Port). Kanto Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastruc- ture, Transport and Tourism. ture, Transport and Tourism. 024 【Chapter1】The Dawn of Modern City Construction-Spread of new technology and development of the capital (1860s-1910s) 02-From horse-drawn trams to street cars 025.