Camborne and Redruth Tramways
| Camborne and Redruth Tramways | |
|---|---|
 Map of the Camborne and Redruth Tramway | |
| Operation | |
| Locale | Camborne, Redruth |
| Open | 7 November 1902 |
| Close | August 1934 |
| Status | Closed |
| Infrastructure | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Propulsion system(s) | Electric |
| Depot(s) | Carn Brea |
| Statistics | |
| Route length | 3.7 miles (6.0 km) |
The Camborne and Redruth Tramways operated an electric freight and passenger tramway service in the Cornish towns of Camborne and Redruth between 1902 and 1934.[1]
History
The proposal for Camborne and Redruth, put forward by the Urban Electric Supply Company, was for a combined lighting scheme and tramway. The Urban Electric Supply Company was a subsidiary of Edmundson's Electricity Corporation.
The construction of the generating station and distribution system cost £38,500 (£3,646,905 in 2015) [2] and the tramway and vehicles cost £35,000 (£3,315,368 in 2015).[2] The tramway was constructed by Dick, Kerr & Co. in around 6 months. Track laying started on 7 April 1902 and was single tracked with eight passing loops and double tracks at each end. The sharpest curve was 40 ft radius and the steepest section on East Hill was 1:15.
It was mostly complete by September 1902. Members of Camborne and Redruth Councils visited on 1 October 1902, and the Board of Trade Inspector passed the tramway for use on 25 October 1902. The formal opening was held on 7 November 1902 when Mrs. Wigham, wife of an Edmundson's Director was the guest-of-honour.
It opened for passenger service on 7 November 1902 and for freight in May 1903.
Vehicles were obtained from G.F. Milnes & Co. in 1902 and 1903, and comprised 6 open top double deck cars (48 seaters), 2 single deck cars (34 seaters) plus 2 freight locomotives. The company livery was dark green and cream.
The freight locomotives moved 12 ore wagons on the tramway. One of the customers was East Pool mine.
Closure
The service closed to passengers on 29 September 1927. In August 1934 the freight service of tin ore was replaced by an aerial ropeway.[3]
References
- ↑ The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 UK CPI inflation numbers based on data available from Gregory Clark (2014), "What Were the British Earnings and Prices Then? (New Series)" MeasuringWorth.
- ↑ Gamble, Barry (2011). Cornish mines: St Just to Redruth. Penzance: Alison Hodge. p. 62. ISBN 0-906720-81-8.