Length 5 miles 78.5 chains. Electrification Overhead line | Headquarters Portsmouth Locale England | |
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Dates of operation 2 March 1903–9 January 1935 Track gauge 4 ft 7 ⁄4 in (1,416 mm) Predecessor Portsmouth Street Tramways Company | ||
The Portsdown and Horndean Light Railway was a tram service that ran initially from Cosham to Horndean in Hampshire, England.
Contents
Opening
Authorised in 1899 by an Order of the 1896 Light Railway Commission under the Light Railway Act, it opened on 3 March 1903 and started from a junction with the Portsmouth Corporation Transport street tramway system on the Portsmouth Road, south of Cosham Station.
The company was a wholly owned subsidiary of The Provincial Tramways Company.
Route
The route ran alongside the London Road (now A3) throughout and traces can still be seen as extra-wide pavements in several locations, and the abutments of the old bridge over the Southwick Road in Cosham. From 1924 through running onto Portsmouth Corporation tramlines was introduced with the light railway trams running firstly to the town hall and later to Clarence Pier and finally to South Parade Pier.
Rolling stock
A steam tramcar, designed by John Grantham, was used experimentally. This was probably a short-term expedient, pending electrification.
Benefits
The system transformed the growth of the Waterlooville, Cowplain and Horndean areas. Guidebooks were produced advertising the benefits of healthy country air and fresh farm food
Replacement by buses
The last tram ran on 9 January 1935, by which time it had been superseded by motor buses, and became the Southdown Bus Company Route 42. In 2006, new lighting was installed along the route as part of Havant Borough Council's bus corridor improvement scheme.