Cheltenham and District Light Railway

The Cheltenham and District Light Railway operated an electric tramway service in Cheltenham between 1901 and 1930.[1]

Cheltenham and District Light Railway
Map of the Cheltenham and District Light Railway
Operation
LocaleCheltenham
Open22 August 1901
Close31 December 1930
StatusClosed
Infrastructure
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Propulsion system(s)Electric
Statistics
Route length10.44 miles (16.80 km)

History

Construction began in 1901 and services started on the initial route from Lansdown to Cleeve Hill on 22 August 1901. The opening day was marred by an accident when one tram ran away down Cleeve Hill and overturned, resulting in the deaths of two employees.

The last surviving Cheltenham tram (No 21) is conserved by The Cheltenham Trust but not on public display. It was built by English Electric in Preston in 1921 but withdrawn from service in 1931 when the tram system was abandoned.

Routes were operated from Cheltenham Spa railway station to Cleeve Hill, Prestbury, Charlton Kings and Leckhampton.[2]

The depot was located 300m north of Cheltenham Spa railway station at SO 9327 2239.

Closure

As part of a programme of replacing the tramway services with buses, the final trams ran on 31 December 1930.

References

  1. The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
  2. Kelly's Directory of Gloucestershire, 1914


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