Staffordshire Potteries Street Railway Company

Staffordshire Potteries Street Railway
Operation
LocaleHanley, Burslem
Open13 January 1862
Close2 March 1880
StatusClosed
Infrastructure
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Propulsion system(s)Horse drawn
Depot(s)Foundry Street, Hanley
Statistics
Route length1.75 miles (2.82 km)

The Staffordshire Potteries Street Railway operated a horse-drawn tramway service between Hanley and Burslem from 1862 to 1880.

History

The prospectus for the company was issued in October 1861.[1] The tramway was pioneered by George Francis Train. The share sale was quickly successful and ground breaking took place on 27 November 1861 in Waterloo Road, Burslem, near the toll chain.[2]

Progress on construction was rapid and the line opened for passengers on 13 January 1862, terminating temporarily at the Bethel Chapel in Burslem, as there was still 200 yards of rails to lay down.[3] The journey time was between 11 and 12 minutes and the fare was fixed at 3d (equivalent to £1.47 in 2023)[4] each way. One of the disadvantages of the system was that the rails were not flush with the street, and so inconvenienced other road users.

At the First General Meeting of Shareholders held on 30 January 1862 it was stated that the capital stock account showed an expenditure of £5,261[5] (equivalent to £620,100 in 2023).[4] This comprised the principal items of 2,966 yards of roadway construction for £4,213 (equivalent to £496,600 in 2023),[4] two cars and freight, £479 15s (equivalent to £56,500 in 2023),[4] seven horses and keep for £170 (equivalent to £20,000 in 2023).[4] For the two weeks ending 26 January 1862, the tramway had carried 5,302 passengers with revenue of £61 7d 4d. (equivalent to £7,469 in 2023).[4] The turnpike tolls for this two week period were £15 0s 9d (equivalent to £1,772 in 2023).[4]

The first year of operation was successful with a dividend of 2½% being declared in January 1863.[6] The tramway was unique in having been built and operated without parliamentary authority, but by wayleave agreement with the turnpike authorities.[7]

In 1865 the operation was leased to G.P. Bradford who carried it on with horse traction, running cars. He also relaid the rails flush with the street surface.[8]

Closure

Ultimately the line was not financially successful. It was undermined when the North Staffordshire Railway Potteries Loop Line of railway had opened in 1873, and traffic fell off considerably despite the reduction in fares. It had cost £6,370 to construct and equip with tramcars, and the company had to pay all of the operating costs out of revenue, which included £300 per annum in turnpike tolls. On 2 March 1880 it was taken over by the North Staffordshire Tramways Company.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Staffordshire Potteries Street Railway". Staffordshire Advertiser. England. 26 October 1861. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. ^ "The Staffordshire Potteries Street Railway". Staffordshire Advertiser. England. 30 November 1861. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "Staffordshire Potteries Street Railway. Opening of the Hanley and Burslem Branch". Birmingham Daily Post. England. 14 January 1862. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Staffordshire Potteries Street Railway". Staffordshire Advertiser. England. 1 February 1862. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ Dibdin 1959, p. 36.
  7. ^ Dibdin 1959, p. 37.
  8. ^ "Staffordshire Potteries Street Railway. Opening of the Hanley and Burslem Branch". Birmingham Daily Post. England. 22 March 1866. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Staffordshire Potteries Street Railway". Birmingham Daily Post. England. 7 October 1879. Retrieved 13 December 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.

Sources

Works cited
  • Dibdin, H.G. (1959). "Tramways in the Potteries and North Staffordshire". The Tramway Review. 4 (26).