Tramways in Metropolitan Essex Vol. 1
Tramways in the area covered by this work were operated over the years by ten different undertakings, although not by more than seven at any one time. Volume I traces the fascinating story of the horse tramways from their inception until the turn of the century, when progress demanded they should give way to electrification. However, during the latter years of the last century, horse traction was enlivened by experiments in steam, compressed air, accumulator, battery locomotive and self-propelled battery cars. Some of these had their moments of glory, while others hardly got off the touchline. At the commencement of the electric era, the surface contact system challenged the orthodox conduit and overhead line installations, but it, too, had its little day and was soon forgotten.
Horse trams were limited in design to the weight the horses could pull and remained the open top vehicles on four wheels they always had been. With the electric trams it was different. The original open top four wheel cars gradually gave way to improved designs with top covers and a jump of many years ahead was made when the London County Council introduced its famous class E/1 mounted on bogie trucks and with an enclosed upper saloon. The final form did not come until many years later, when the cars were completely enclosed on both decks and were equipped with improved comforts such as seating and lighting.
The breaking up of the horse tramway system and its piece-meal replacement by, and the creation of, new electric lines; the amazingly complex network which subsequently developed resulting in vehicles running over a greater mileage than that of their own systems; all this viewed in retrospect forms a tale of absorbing interest.
Hardback with dust jacket, 164 pages, black & white photographs, map
Condition: Very Good
ISBN: 9780900028298
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