Status Closed Propulsion system(s) Cable Open 27 August 1898 | Track gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Route length 0.175 miles (0.282 km) Close 5 October 1901 | |
 | ||
The Swansea Constitution Hill Incline Tramway operated a cable tramway service on Constitution Hill in Swansea between 1898 and 1902.
Contents
History
The Swansea Constitution Hill Incline Tramway Company developed this tramway with consulting engineer George Croydon Marks, 1st Baron Marks. It was built by George Webb and Company. It operated along Constitution Hill between the lower terminus at St. George Street which is now Hannover Street and the upper terminus at Terrace Road. There was an average gradient of 1 in 5 with a maximum of 1 in 3.5. The total elevation was 185 feet (56 m). It opened for service on 27 August 1898 but was closed on the same day when a problem was discovered in the clutch mechanism.
Two counterbalanced cars built by the Brush Electrical Engineering Company were fixed to the steel cable, guided by pulleys in a conduit. At the top of the hill the winding house contained two Tangye gas engines.
Closure
On 3 October 1901 the following statement appeared in the Evening Express:
It is stated to be the decision of the directors of the Swansea Cliff Railway up Constitution-hill to discontinue the service after this week, the line failing to be renumerative. An offer of the line has been made to the Swansea Corporation
It closed for traffic on 5 October 1901. The offer of the line to the Swansea Corporation was declined and the line was removed shortly afterwards. The cars, machinery and rails were purchased by Mr. Lowndes.