Locale Camborne, Redruth Close August 1934 Track gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) | Open 7 November 1902 Status Closed Propulsion system(s) Electric | |
 | ||
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.
Contents
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 (equivalent to £3,769,479 in 2015) and the tramway and vehicles cost £35,000 (equivalent to £3,426,799 in 2015). 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. The first trial run of the system took place on Wednesday 8 October 1902 with a delegation of local dignitaries invited by the company manager Mr. F.C. Hanning The trial car arrived at the Camborne terminus at 11.30am driven by the manager, accompanied by William Ward, the electrical engineer. The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser for 9 October 1902 reported that those passengers who caught hold of a certain brass rod, to get on to the car, experienced a mild electric shock, the effect of which caused them to quickly release their hold, and this brought a smile to the face of Engineer Ward.
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. Between 7 November 1902 and 30 September 1903 the passenger service carried one million passengers.
The freight locomotives moved 12 ore wagons on the tramway from East Pool mine.
Closure
Around 1926 the Cornish Motor Transport Company inaugurated a 15-minute bus service between Redruth and Camborne which reduced the patronage of the passenger tram service. Despite a reduction in fares and an amended service, it was not commercially viable and the service closed to passengers on 29 September 1927. The freight services continued.
In August 1934 the freight service of tin ore was replaced by an aerial ropeway.