Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway
| Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway | |
|---|---|
 A car body rebuilt by the preservation society | |
| Operation | |
| Locale | Llandudno Colwyn Bay |
| Open | 19 October 1907 |
| Close | 24 March 1956 |
| Status | Closed |
| Infrastructure | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Propulsion system(s) | Electric |
| Statistics | |
| Route length | 8 miles (13 km) |
The Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Electric Railway operated an electric tramway service between Llandudno and Rhos-on-Sea from 1907 and extended to Colwyn Bay in 1908. The service closed in 1956.[1]
History
The Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Light Railway Order of 1898 authorised the construction of a tramway from Colwyn Bay to Deganwy. There were substantial delays in construction and only a short section of line had been built by 1904. The original company was taken over in July 1906 by the Llandudno and District Electric Construction Company.
Work restarted in 1907 and the line from Llandudno to Rhos-on-Sea was soon ready. On 26 September 1907 the company got permission for services to start, and it opened on 19 October 1907. The final section of line to Colwyn Bay was completed by 7 June 1908.
Fleet
The company livery was red and cream.
- 1-14 Midland Railway Carriage and Wagon Company 1907.
- 15-18 United Electric Car Company 1909
- 19-22 United Electric Car Company 1920
- 23-24 English Electric 1946 (second hand from Darwen Corporation Tramways)
- Cars 1-5 were replaced in 1933 by second hand vehicles from Accrington Corporation Tramways
- Cars 6-15 were replaced in 1936 by second hand vehicles from Bournemouth Corporation Tramways
Closure
The line suffered from substantial damage in storms in January 1952. Although repairs were carried out, storms the next year did as much damage again. In 1954 the company applied for a licence to convert the service to motor buses. Although the local councils objected, there was little that could be done and the line closed on 24 March 1956.[2]
The Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Tramway Society has restored some original carriages.[3]
References
- ↑ The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
- ↑ Simpson, Andrew (2005). "Landudno & Colwyn Bay: The Aftermath". Tramway Review, No. 203, September 2005.
- ↑ The Llandudno and Colwyn Bay Tramway Society