Re: Camden Trams

["Goldie" <goldicom@powerup.com.au>]

Then there was the "Silverton Tramway" - main line if there was a mainline
tramway,

Goldie


"Bob Merchant" <bob.merchant@bigpond.com> wrote in message
qFyG5.2862$e5.6990@newsfeeds.bigpond.com">news:qFyG5.2862$e5.6990@newsfeeds.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...
> <snipped>
> | 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
>
>