Wemyss and District Tramways Company

Wemyss and District Tramways
The "Car Shed" East Wemyss, a former tram stop.
Operation
LocaleLeven, Kirkcaldy
Open25 August 1906
Close30 January 1932
StatusClosed
Infrastructure
Track gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Propulsion system(s)Electric
Depot(s)Aberhill, Methil, Fife
Statistics
Route length7.45 miles (11.99 km)

Wemyss and District Tramways operated a tramway service between Leven and Kirkcaldy between 1906 and 1932.[1]

History

The Wemyss Tramway Order of 1905 authorised the construction of this tramway. It was financed by the Wemyss Coal Company, owned by Randolph Wemyss.

On 8 August 1906 a tram made a trial run from the shed at Aberhill, Methil to the power station at Denbeath, which attracted a large crowd. The power station contained two engines of 250 h.p. each.[2] Services started on 25 August 1906, and it had running powers to the Kirkcaldy Corporation Tramways system.[3]

The tramway company were granted permission to operate a limited service on Sundays, but by 1907 it was reported that services started at 7.40am and ran continually through the day[4] and this was objected to by those in favour of the Sabbath Observance in relation to Sunday working by tramway employees and it was reported that drunkenness was a problem at the tramway termini[5]

The mainline of the tramway joined Leven, Methil, Buckhaven, East Wemyss, West Wemyss, Coaltown of Wemyss, Dysart and Kirkcaldy.[6]

The company was acquired by Balfour Beatty in 1922.

Fleet

Closure

Services were closed on 30 January 1932.[7]

References

  1. ^ Klapper, C/ (1961) The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
  2. ^ "Wemyss Tramway". Dundee Evening Telegraph. Scotland. 9 August 1906. Retrieved 19 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ The Golden Age of Buses, Charles, Klapper, 1984
  4. ^ "The Wemyss Cars and Sunday Hours". Fife Free Press, & Kirkaldy Guardian. Scotland. 4 April 1907. Retrieved 19 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Wemyss Tramway and Sabbath Observance". Dundee Courier. Scotland. 3 April 1907. Retrieved 19 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ Fifeshire, Cambridge County Geographical
  7. ^ "Wemyss and District Trams No More". Dundee Courier. Scotland. 1 February 1932. Retrieved 19 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.