Norwich Electric Tramway

Electric tramway 00 [ Map ]

The work of constructing the tramways in Norwich commenced on 22nd June 1898. On 19th April 1900 trial trips were made on completed sections, the service being formally opened to the public on 30th July following. The bodies of the tramcars, by Brush Electrical Engineering Co had seats for 26 persons inside and 26 outside. Commencing in 1923 a number of new tramcar bodies, built by English Electric Co, were purchased to replace others which had worn out. These differed in detail and seated 26 inside and 29 outside.

Electric tramway 01 [ St Catherine’s Plain, Trowse (the Orford Place to Trowse station route February 1934 just before its closure), Fye bridge (English Electric type crossing newly reopened bridge on 1st July 1933) ]

Electric tramway 02 [ St Giles’ gates (tram track renewal in 1933), Orford Place shelter and timekeepers office by day and night (erected 1928 by Walter Macfarlane and Co Glasgow - cost £650) ]

At St Giles’ Gates the Unthank Road and Earlham Road routes converged with the route via Chapel Field North and Theatre Street. The latter was used only by the outward bound early morning services to avoid parked vans delivering goods to the Market at that time.

Electric tramway 03 [ City Road, Bracondale, Silver Road, Old tramcar chassis Denmark Opening 1960 ]

On 19th April 1925 the Aylsham Road track was abandoned, the first of a fleet of tramway motor buses being substituted on amended routes. City Road services withdrawn October 1933. Trowse services withdrawn February 1934. The last service to operate was between Newmarket Road and Cavalry Barracks Riverside Road the final car leaving Orford Place 11:10pm on 10th December 1935. In 1955 the only places where track remained were at the former tramway depot Silver Road and in Thorpe Station yard.

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