Updated 13 Oct 2006

WIRKSWORTH Parish Records 1600-1900

Return to Front Page

MENU

Last

Photo 362

Next

Tram #3. Three were held, one as a spare for emergencies. Colour scheme was royal blue and white. Garden seats with reversible backs were used, face to face (a novelty and popular). Room for 13 passengers inside and 18 outside.

The official opening of Matlock cable tramway, 28 Mar 1893.
Tram #3 (Sent by Dave Bradley)

The up- and down-trams passing at Bank Road/Smedley Street, Matlock,
from an unused postcard published by C.Colledge, stationer, Matlock.
(Thanks to Alan Ankers for an exciting auction and a generous scan).

At Crown Square, (see: photo X413)

Another angle on the passing point at Bank Road/Smedley Street (see photo X220).

Tram at the terminus at Crown Square. (see photo 189)

The route up Bank Road. How does the driver know when the cable starts to pull?
Starting the long climb up Bank Road.... (see photo 189)
Passing the Town Hall....(Depot chimney in the distance, postcard 1906)

Matlock's steep-gradient Trams

The Tramway opened in 1893 and closed in 1927. It carried passengers between the railway station and the famous Hydros of Smedley's and Rockside. The tram was the steepest in the world (on a public road), 1 in 5½ (18%). So steep that the two trams (one going up, the other going down) were pulled by a cable running under the road. The trams went from Crown Square to Rutland Street, up the very steep Bank Road. Originally the route was planned to start at the railway station, close to the River Derwent, but because of the danger of flooding the terminus was moved to Crown Square. The Depot in Rutland Street contained a boiler and stationary steam engine, which pulled the cable and lifted the tram 300 feet up Bank Road in half a mile. Fares used to be "Two pence up, a penny down". Bank Road was not wide enough for two tracks, so a single track was used, with a "passing place" where the trams met (see photo). The up and down cables had to run in the same tube between the rails. The trams averaged 5½ mph, and had the advantage of the down-tram balancing the-up tram, and saving power in the Depot steam-engine. A spare tram was kept in the Depot in case of need. More photos of the tram on Photo 189.

The Directors of the "Matlock Cable Tramway Company" were: George Newnes (1 month old), Charles Rowland, Job Smith, Dr William Hunter, Robert Wildgoose, and G Croyden Marks

The resident engineer Edward Marks, and his brother Croyden Marks had to overcome many engineering problems, such as: turning circle, dirt blocking the gripper channel, water freezing in the channel, cable stretch, communication between trams, noise problems.

It is said that Job Smith got the idea for a steep-gradient tram for Matlock while in San Francisco in 1862.

Some men who made the famous tram work, and should not be forgotten, are: George Hallam (driver), Charles Foster (engineer), Charles Killick (driver), and John Parker (conductor).

Some adverts on the tram, read off enlarged photos:
Written above tram windows:
Matlock Urban District Council Tramway
Below driver's position:
W.Pilkington Ph C
one minute beyond the bridge
Pharmaceutical Photo Chemist
Dale Pharmacy
Free Dark Room
Also below driver's position:
Kirkham
Boot Maker
The Bridge
"Ye sign of Luckie Shoe"
written on stairs:
John William Wildgoose
Builder, Contractor & Quarry Owner
Industrial Works, Matlock Bank
All kinds of Building materials kept on stock
Estimates given. Jobbing Work done.
On top deck:
Oldham House and
Prospect Place Hydros
Wellington Street
Below driver:
J.W.Walker
Lorries, Taxis
? Garage
? Square

Click on photo for enlargement (on CD only)
Have any more information about this photo?
Please e-mail the author on:

Bank Street during construction (see photo 222)

The Cable Tramway Depot (during construction), at the junction of Rutland/Wellington Streets, where the stationary steam engine pulled the cable which pulled the trams up Bank Road. (see photo 223)
At Crown Square, looking towards the Bridge.

The (single) track half way up Bank Road (see photo 176)

Compiled, formatted, hyperlinked, encoded, and copyright © 2005, All Rights Reserved.