Re: Camden Trams

["Bob Merchant" <bob.merchant@bigpond.com>]

"Tezza" <tezza2000@dingoblue.net.au> wrote in message
39ea5645$0$11607$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au">news:39ea5645$0$11607$7f31c96c@news01.syd.optusnet.com.au...
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| But why were they called Camden trams?

In 1879 an International Exhibition was held in the Sydney Botanical Gardens
and to provide transport from the Redfern Station the government built a
street tramway operated by small Baldwin-built steam "motors".  This was
hugely successful and engendered the "Tramway Extension Act" of 29 April
1880, which authorised construction of 14 additional tramways to extend the
service to those suburbs not having railway communication with Sydney.

During the debate prior to the passing of the act, it was felt that a rural
route should be included to test whether such a line would be successful.
The route selected, and included in the act, was from Campbelltown to Camden
because it was close to Sydney, well populated and could be expected to
generate large quantities of goods for forwarding to the markets in Sydney.

The Sectetary for Public Works stated "...the object of the government, in
proposing the construction of a tramway from Campbelltown to Camden, was to
test the practicability of working tramways for goods traffic in connection
with the railways and because ... it afforded means for a fair test."

The tramway opened on 10 March 1882 using two Baldwin steam tram motors and
three large end-loading trailers.  These were similar to but smaller than
the American type end-loading carriages.  Goods traffic was carried in
railway wagons.

It should be noted that until 1932 the Tramways were under the control of
the Commissioner(s) for Railways and Tramways so harmonious relations could
be expected in the matter of interdepartmental dealings.

The use of tramway rolling stock was a temporary expedient, as two small
0-6-0 tank engines were ordered from Manning Wardle in 1883 and two
specially constructed composite cars, by Hudson Bros., later coded KA, took
over all services and to a great extent vitiated any "fair trial" of the
tramway principle as applied to feeder branch lines.  The pretence was
abandoned altogether on 1 January 1889 when the line was officially
transferred to the Railway Department.

Here endeth the lesson... :-)

Regards,

Bob Merchant