Gauges and Dates
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British Tramway Systems
Gauges and Dates |
A Short Guide to British Tramways for Tramway ModellingThe following lists give basic information on British and Irish tramways, including main towns/cities served, track gauge and opening and closing dates. (M) after a place name indicates that the tramway was municipally owned and (C) that it was company owned, although some systems that were built by companies were later taken over by their municipalities under the terms of the 1870 Tramways Act. The opening and closing dates for electric tramways refer to operating dates of electric traction. Note that many of these tramways started life with horse-drawn cars or, occasionally, were steam operated. There were also several cable-operated systems, some of which were later electrified and others not. Reference is made to the traditional 1:16 modelling scale. The links are to photographs, postcard histories or webcams showing the system.
Standard Gauge Electric Tramways| City/Town/District | Opened-Closed |
|---|---|
| Aberdeen (M) | 1899-1958 |
| Aberdeen Suburban (C) | 1904-1927 |
| Airdrie & Coatbridge* (C) | 1904-1956 |
| Ashton-under-Lyne (M) | 1902-1936 |
| Ayr (M) | 1901-1931 |
| Barking (M) | 1903-1929 |
| Barnsley (C) | 1902-1930 |
| Bath (C) | 1904-1939 |
| Batley (M) | 1903-1932 |
| Belfast (M) | 1905-1954 |
| Bexley (M) | 1903-1935 |
| Birkenhead (M) | 1901-1937 |
| Blackpool (M) | 1885-date |
| Bolton (M) | 1899-1947 |
| Bristol (C) | 1895-1941 |
| Bury (M) | 1903-1949 |
| Cardiff (M) | 1902-1950 |
| Chesterfield (M) | 1904-1927 |
| Croydon (M) | 1901-1951 |
| Dartford (M) | 1906-1935 |
| Dearne District (C) | 1924-1933 |
| Dewsbury & Ossett (C) | 1908-1933 |
| Doncaster (M) | 1902-1935 |
| Douglas Southern Electric (C) | 1896-1939 |
| Dumbarton* (C) | 1907-1928 |
| Dundee, Broughty Ferry (C) | 1905-1931 |
| Dundee (M) | 1900-1956 |
| East Ham (M) | 1901-1940 |
| Edinburgh (M) | 1922-1956 |
| Erith (M) | 1905-1935 |
| Farnworth (M) | 1902-1906 |
| Gateshead (C) | 1901-1951 |
| Glasgow* (M) | 1898-1962 |
| Glossop (C) | 1903-1927 |
| Gosport & Fareham* (C) | 1906-1929 |
| Gravesend & Northfleet (C) | 1901-1929 |
| Great Crosby (C) | 1900-1925 |
| Great Grimsby (C) | 1901-1937 |
| Greenock & Port Glasgow* (C) | 1901-1929 |
| Grimsby (M) | 1925-1937 |
| Grimsby & Immingham (C) | 1912-1961 |
| Guernsey (C) | 1892-1934 |
| Huddersfield* (M) | 1901-1940 |
| Hull (M) | 1899-1945 |
| Ilford (M) | 1903-1938 |
| Jarrow (C) | 1906-1929 |
| Kilmarnock (M) | 1904-1926 |
| Lanarkshire Tramways Co.* (C) | 1903-1931 |
| Lancaster (M) | 1903-1930 |
| Leeds (M) | 1897-1959 |
| Leicester (M) | 1904-1949 |
| Leith (M) | 1905-1920 |
| Leyton (M) | 1906-1939 |
| Lincoln (M) | 1905-1929 |
| Liverpool (M) | 1898-1957 |
| Llanelly & District (C) | 1911-1933 |
| London County Council (M) | 1903-1952 |
| London United Tramways (C) | 1901-1936 |
| Luton (M) | 1908-1932 |
| Lytham St.Anne's (M) | 1903-1937 |
| Manchester (M) | 1901-1949 |
| Mansfield & District (C) | 1905-1932 |
| Metropolitan Electric Tmys (C) | 1904-1939 |
| Mexborough & Swinton (C) | 1907-1929 |
| Middleton (Lancs) (C) | 1902-1935 |
| Musselborough & District (C) | 1904-1954 |
| Newcastle-on-Tyne (M) | 1901-1950 |
| Newport (M) | 1903-1937 |
| Nottingham (M) | 1901-1936 |
| Notts & Derbyshire (C) | 1913-1932 |
| Oldham (M) | 1900-1946 |
| Oldham, Ashton, & Hyde (C) | 1899-1921 |
| Paisley & District* (C) | 1904-1957 |
| Portsdown & Horndean* (C) | 1903-1935 |
| Portsmouth* (M) | 1901-1936 |
| Preston (M) | 1904-1935 |
| Rochdale (M) | 1902-1932 |
| Rotherham (M) | 1903-1949 |
| Ryde Pier (C) | 1886-1927 |
| St. Helens (M) | 1900-1936 |
| Salford (M) | 1901-1947 |
| Sheffield (M) | 1899-1960 |
| South Lancs Tramway Co. (C) | 1902-1933 |
| South Metropolitan (C) | 1906-1937 |
| South Shields (M) | 1906-1946 |
| Southampton (M) | 1900-1949 |
| Southport (M) | 1900-1934 |
| Stalybridge (C) | 1904-1945 |
| Stockport (M) | 1901-1951 |
| Sunderland (M) | 1900-1954 |
| Sunderland District (C) | 1905-1925 |
| Swansea (C) | 1900-1937 |
| Swansea & Mumbles (C) | 1929-1960 |
| Tyneside (C) | 1902-1930 |
| Wallasey (M) | 1902-1933 |
| Walthamstow (M) | 1905-1939 |
| Warrington (M) | 1902-1935 |
| West Ham (M) | 1904-1940 |
| Weston-super-Mare (C) | 1902-1937 |
| Wigan (M) (also 3ft.6in.) | 1901-1931 |
| Yorkshire (West Riding) (C) | 1904-1932 |
| Yorkshire Woollen District (C) | 1903-1934 |
Narrow Gauge Electric Tramways| City/Town/District | Opened-Closed |
|---|---|
| Aberdare (M) | 1913-1935 |
| Birmingham & Midland (C) | 1904-1930 |
| Birmingham, City of (C) | 1901-1911 |
| Birmingham Corporation (M) | 1904-1953 |
| Bournemouth (M) | 1902-1936 |
| Brighton (M) | 1901-1939 |
| Burton & Ashby (C) | 1906-1927 |
| Burton-on-Trent (M) | 1903-1929 |
| Cambourne & Redruth (C) | 1902-1927 |
| Carlisle (C) | 1900-1931 |
| Chatham & District (C) | 1902-1930 |
| Cheltenham & District (C) | 1901-1930 |
| Chester (M) | 1903-1930 |
| Colchester (M) | 1904-1929 |
| Coventry (M) | 1895-1940 |
| Cruden Bay (C) | 1899-1932 |
| Darlington (M) | 1904-1926 |
| Dover (M) | 1897-1936 |
| Dudley & Stourbridge (C) | 1899-1930 |
| Dunfermline (C) | 1909-1937 |
| Exeter (M) | 1905-1931 |
| Gloucester (M) | 1904-1933 |
| Great Yarmouth (M) | 1902-1933 |
| Halifax (M) | 1898-1939 |
| Hastings (C) | 1905-1929 |
| Ilkeston (M) | 1903-1931 |
| Ipswich (M) | 1903-1926 |
| Isle of Thanet (C) | 1901-1937 |
| Kidderminster & Stourport (C) | 1898-1929 |
| Kinver Light Railway (C) | 1901-1930 |
| Kirkcaldy (M) | 1903-1931 |
| Leamington & Warwick (C) | 1905-1930 |
| Llandudno & Colwyn Bay (C) | 1907-1956 |
| Lowestoft (M) | 1903-1931 |
| Maidstone (M) | 1904-1930 |
| Merthyr (C) | 1901-1939 |
| Middlesbrough (C then M) (3ft 7in) | 1898-1934 |
| Northampton (M) | 1904-1934 |
| Norwich (C) | 1900-1935 |
| Perth (M) | 1905-1929 |
| Peterborough (C) | 1903-1930 |
| Plymouth (M) | 1899-1945 |
| Pontypridd (M) | 1905-1931 |
| Rhondda (C) | 1908-1934 |
| Rothesay (C) | 1902-1936 |
| Scarborough (C) | 1904-1931 |
| Sheerness (C) | 1903-1917 |
| Snaefell Mountain (C) | 1895-date |
| South Staffordshire (C) | 1893-1930 |
| Southend (M) | 1901-1942 |
| Stockton (M) (3ft 7in) | 1898-1931 |
| Swindon (M) | 1904-1929 |
| Taunton (C) | 1901-1921 |
| Torquay (C) | 1907-1934 |
| Tynemouth (C) | 1901-1931 |
| Walsall (M) | 1902-1933 |
| Wemyss & District (C) | 1906-1932 |
| West Hartlepool (M) | 1896-1927 |
| Wigan (M) (also 4ft 8½in ) | 1901-1931 |
| Wolverhampton (M) | 1902-1928 |
| Wolverhampton District (C) | 1900-1928 |
| Worcester (C) | 1904-1928 |
| Wrexham & District (C) | 1903-1927 |
| York (M) | 1910-1935 |
Intermediate Gauge Electric Tramways| City/Town/District | Opened-Closed |
|---|---|
| Accrington (M) | 1907-1932 |
| Barrow-in-Furness (M) | 1904-1932 |
| Blackburn (M) | 1899-1949 |
| Bradford (M) | 1898-1950 |
| Burnley (M) | 1901-1935 |
| Colne & Trawden (M) | 1903-1934 |
| Darwen (M) | 1900-1946 |
| Derby (M) | 1904-1934 |
| Falkirk (C) | 1905-1935 |
| Keighley (M) | 1904-1924 |
| Nelson (M) | 1903-1934 |
| Potteries (C) | 1899-1928 |
| Rawtenstall (M) | 1909-1932 |
| Reading (M) | 1903-1939 |
Miscellaneous Gauge Electric Tramways| City/Town/District [Gauge] | Opened-Closed |
|---|---|
| Bessbrook & Newry (C) [3ft 0in] | 1885-1948 |
| Brighton & Rottingdean [2 x 2ft 8 1/2in] | 1896-1901 |
| Cork Electric Tmy (C) [2ft 11 1/2in] | 1898-1931 |
| Dublin United Tmy Co. (C) [5ft 2 3/16in but usually quoted as 5ft 3in] | 1896-1949 |
| Eastbourne (C) [2ft 0in] | 1954-1969 |
| Giant's Causeway (C) [3ft 0in] | 1883-1949 |
| Hill of Howth (C) [5ft 3in] | 1901-1959 |
| Manx Electric (C) [3ft 0in] | 1893-date |
Horse Tramways Never Electrified| City/Town/District [Gauge] | Opened-Closed |
|---|---|
| Brighton & Shoreham [3ft 6in] (see also steam) | 1893-1913 |
| Cambridge [4ft 0in] | 1880-1914 |
| Cork [5ft 3in] | 1872-1875 |
| Derry [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1897-1919 |
| Douglas, Isle of Man [3ft 0in] | 1876-date |
| Fairbourne [2ft 0in] | 1890-1915 |
| Fintona [5ft 3in] | 1853-1957 |
| Folkestone, Hythe & Sandgate [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1891-1921 |
| Galway & Salthill [3ft 0in] | 1879-1918 |
| Glenanne & Loughgilly [1ft 10in] | 1897-1918 |
| Inchture [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1895-1916 |
| Kew Bridge & Richmond [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1883-1912 |
| Lancaster & District [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1890-1921 |
| Morecambe [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1887-1926 & petrol from 1912 |
| Neath [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1875-1920 gas after 1899 |
| Oxford [4ft 0in] | 1881-1914 |
| Pwllheli [2ft 6in] | 1899-1919 |
| Pwllheli & Llanbedrog [3ft 0in] | 1894-1928 |
| Stirling & Bridge of Allan [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1874-1920 & petrol from 1913 |
| Warrenpoint & Rostrevor [3ft 0in] | 1877-1915 |
Steam Tramways Never Electrified| Town/District [Gauge] | Opened-Closed |
|---|---|
| Brighton & Shoreham [3ft 6in] (see also horse) | 1884-1893 |
| Alford & Sutton [2ft 6in] | 1884-1889 |
| Arigna [3ft 0in] | 1887-1959 |
| Portstewart [3ft 0in] | 1882-1926 |
| Rye & Camber [3ft 0in] | 1895-1939 |
| Wantage [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1875-1925 (goods 1946) |
| Wisbech & Upwell [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1883-1927 (goods 1966) |
| Wolverton & Stony Stratford [3ft 6in] | 1887-1926 |
Cable-hauled Tramways| City/Town/District [Gauge] | Opened-Closed |
|---|---|
| Birmingham - Hockley Hill [3ft 6in] | 1888-1911* |
| Douglas - Upper Douglas, IoM [3ft] | 1896-1929 |
| Edinburgh [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1888-1922* |
| London: Brixton Hill [4ft 8 1/2in] | 1892-1904* |
| London: Highgate Hill [3ft 6in] | 1884-1909* |
| Llandudno - Great Orme [3ft 6in] | 1902-date |
| Matlock [3ft 6in] | 1893-1927 |
| Swansea: Constitution Hill [3ft 6in] | 1898-1902 |
Transporter Bridges| City/Town/District | Opened-Closed |
|---|---|
| Newport, Gwent | 1906-date |
| Middlesbrough | 1911-date |
| Warrington (private at Crosfield's - disused) | 1916-date |
| Widnes-Runcorn | 1905-1961 |
'Second Generation' Tramways and Light Railways| City/Town/District | Opened |
|---|---|
| Dublin Luas | 2004 |
| Edinburgh | 2014 |
| London: Croydon Tramlink | 2000 |
| London: Docklands Light Railway | 1987 |
| Manchester Metrolink | 1992 |
| Nottingham Express Transit | 2004 |
| Midland Metro | 1999 |
| Sheffield Supertram | 1994 |
| Stourbridge (Parry People Mover) | 2009 |
| Tyne & Wear Metro | 1980 |
Current Tourist Lines| City/Town/District [Gauge] | Opened |
|---|---|
| Birkenhead [4ft 81/2in] | 1995 |
| Brighton: Volks Electric Railway [2ft 8 1/2in] | 1883 |
| Seaton & District [2ft 9in] | 1970 |
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