Wednesday, September 6, 2017

double-deck tram in Exeter, England, late 1900s


Seen on the Exe Bridge.

The electric era in the city lasted from April 1905 to August 1931 when the system closed; it was 5 miles in length in cape gauge (3'6").

According to wikipedia:

"[Trams] were numbered 1-24 (without a number 13) in the first series and 1-4 in the second series. All were open top double deck trams with four wheels. Trams 1-21 were purchased between April 1905 and August 1906 from Dick, Kerr & Co. of Preston. They had two 25 horsepower (19 kW) motors and had 42 seats, 20 on the lower and 22 on the upper deck. Nos 22-25, bought in December 1914 were the first purchased from Brush (as were all the later trams) and had two 34 horsepower (25 kW) motors and seated 44. After World War I two new cars were purchased (26 and 27). These had seats for 54 passengers. Car 27 was the first to be fitted with an enclosed cab. Nos 28-30 were bought in 1925 and were followed by the last of the first series - no 31-34 in 1926. The last trams were purchased in 1929 (1-4 of the new series) and were initially intended for the planned extension to Whipton. They had two General Electric 50 horsepower (37 kW) motors and could seat 53 people. They were delivered only months before the decision was made to bring an end to the tram services. In 1931 these four tramcars were sold to Halifax Corporation for £200 each. They ran there for a further 7 years until finally being withdrawn in November 1938.

"The livery of the trams was dark green and cream with gold lettering and a dark maroon under carriage."

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