Melbourne cable tramway system
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Melbourne cable tramway system was a cable car public transportation system operated from 1885 to 1940 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
The system grew to about 75 km of double track (64.12 route miles or 103.2 km) and 1200 cars and trailers, on 17 radiating routes from the centre of Melbourne to neighbouring suburbs. It was one of the largest cable car systems in the world, comparable with the San Francisco and Chicago cable car networks. George Smith Duncan was appointed as consulting engineer (and subsequently engineer) for the development of the tramway network and served in these roles until 1892. The network in Melbourne was built by local Tramway trusts composed of local councils and municipalities, and was operated by The Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company from 1885 to 1916, after which the service was operated by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board for the Victorian Government.
Although the first electric tram was introduced in 1885 at Doncaster and ran for 11 years, the Electric tram network did not seriously commence until 1906 when North Melbourne Electric Tramway and Lighting Company (NMETL) built a feeder line from the terminus of the cable system out towards Essendon, and the Victorian Railways built a line from St. Kilda to Brighton. From the 1920s the cable tram lines were progressively converted to electric trams with the last Melbourne cable tram operating on October 26, 1940.
[edit] Cable tram network
[edit] Spencer Street - Richmond tramway
Line opened November 11, 1885. The trams operated along Spencer from Bourke to Flinders, Flinders to Wellington Parade, Bridge Road to Hawthorne Bridge. The powerhouse was located on Bridge Road, at Hoddle Street, and has since been demolished for a left turn lane. The trams were double-ended dummy and trailer operated by a single-jaw side grip on a 4'8 1/2" gauge tram line.
[edit] North Fitzroy tramway
Line opened: October 2, 1886 with the powerhouse located on the north east corner of Victoria Parade and Brunswick Street.
[edit] Victoria Bridge tramway
Line opened: November 22, 1886 with the powerhouse located on the north east corner of Victoria Parade and Brunswick Street.
[edit] Clifton Hill tramway
Line opened August 10, 1887 with the powerhouse located on the south east corner of Nicholson Street and Gertrude Street.
[edit] Nicholson Street tramway
Line opened August 30, 1887 with the powerhouse located on the south east corner of Nicholson Street and Gertrude Street.
[edit] Brunswick tramway
Line opened October 01, 1887 with the powerhouse located on the north west corner of Brunswick Road and Black Street.
[edit] Johnston Street Bridge (Carlton) tramway
Line opened December 21, 1887 with the powerhouse located on the north side of Johnston Street, near Brunswick Street.
[edit] Brighton Road tramway
Line opened October 11, 1888 with the powerhouse located on the south east corner of St. Kilda Road and Bromby Street.
[edit] Prahran tramway
Line opened October 26, 1888 with the powerhouse located on the north west corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street.
[edit] North Carlton tramway
Line opened February 9, 1889 with the powerhouse located at the south west corner of : Rathdowne Street and Park Street.
[edit] Toorak tramway
Line opened February 15, 1889 with the powerhouse located on the north west corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street.
[edit] North Melbourne tramway
Line opened March 3, 1890 with the powerhouse located at the south west corner of Queensberry Street and Abbotsford Street.
[edit] West Melbourne tramway
Line opened April 18, 1890 with the powerhouse located at the south west corner of Queensberry Street and Abbotsford Street.
[edit] South Melbourne tramway
Line opened June 17, 1890 with the powerhouse located on the south side of City Road, near Cecil Street.
[edit] Port Melbourne tramway
Line opened June 20, 1890 with the powerhouse located on the south side of City Road, near Cecil Street.
[edit] Windsor to St. Kilda Esplanade tramway
Line opened October 17, 1891 with the powerhouse located on the north side of Wellington Street, near Marlton Crescent. This was the first major line to close on August 25, 1925.
[edit] Northcote tramway
Line opened on February 18, 1890 and was originally operated as an independent line, with the powerhouse located on the north east corner of High Street and Martin Street. The powerhouse building is occupied in 2005 by an automobile service and repair business.
