Hastings and District Electric Tramways
 Map of the routes of the Hastings and District Electric Tramways | |
| Operation | |
|---|---|
| Locale | Hastings |
| Open | 31 July 1905 |
| Close | 15 May 1929 |
| Status | Closed |
| Infrastructure | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Propulsion system(s) | Electric |
| Statistics | |
| Route length | 19.57 miles (31.49 km) |
Hastings and District Electric Tramways operated a tramway service in Hastings between 1905 and 1929.[1]
History
The tramway opened in two sections which operated independently until 1907. Services started in Hastings on 31 July 1905. The depot was located in Silverhill at TQ 8017 1067.
A second depot was built at Bulverhythe (TQ 7815 0880) for services between St Leonards-on-Sea and Bexhill which started on 9 April 1906. That line finally reached Cooden Beach on 28 July 1906. On 12 January 1907, the two systems were connected along the seafront.
The trams ran as far as Bexhill, and were worked by overhead electric wires, except for the stretch along the seafront from Bo-Peep to the Memorial, which was initially worked by the Dolter Stud contact system. The Dolter system was replaced by petrol electric trams in 1914, but overhead electrification was extended to this section in 1921.
Closure
Under the 1905 Act, the councils had an option to buy Hastings Tramway Co. in 1925. They didn't, so the company reviewed its options. The tramway service closed on 15 May 1929 and was replaced by trolleybuses on the same routes, except for a short section of private right of way on Pebsham Marsh, off Bexhill Rd and a new link through High St.[2]
Two tramcars survive, 48 and 56. Both are under restoration by the Hastings Tramway Club.