Chatham and District Light Railways Company
Encyclopedia
The Chatham and District Light Railways Company was the originator and first operator of the electric tramway system that served Chatham and Gillingham
, and was later extended into Rochester, Strood
and Rainham. The system was in operation from 17 June 1902 to 30 September 1930 when it was superseded by the motorbuses of the Chatham and District Traction Company.
The network expanded for several years, and by 1908 there were eight operational routes.
(Note that "the Delce" referred to the area at the junction of Priestfields and Maidstone Road where Upper Delce Farm and Delce Grange were located. It did not refer to Delce Road which is locally known as the Delce.)
The system's depot, which included a shed with a capacity of fifty tramcars, a boiler house and generating house, and an office building, was located to the south of Luton High Street opposite Christchurch.
After the closure of the tramway system the depot, with its original sheds and workshops, was used for buses until November 1995. In 1998-99 the depot was demolished, and the site redeveloped for housing. Its role in the C&DLRCo is commemorated by the name of its access road, "Tramways".
In earlier years the name of the "Chatham & District Light Railways Co" was written in large ornate letters along the full length of the ivory side panel.
The tram model shows the scheme as it was in later years. The ornate lettering had gone.
Gillingham, Kent
Gillingham is a town in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. It is part of the ceremonial county of Kent. The town includes the settlements of Brompton, Hempstead, Rainham, Rainham Mark and Twydall....
, and was later extended into Rochester, Strood
Strood
Strood is a town in the unitary authority of Medway in South East England. It is part of the ceremonial county of Kent. It lies on the north west bank of the River Medway at its lowest bridging point, and is part of the Rochester post town....
and Rainham. The system was in operation from 17 June 1902 to 30 September 1930 when it was superseded by the motorbuses of the Chatham and District Traction Company.
Principal routes
At its inauguration the tramway had the following routes.- Luton to the Dockyard via Chatham Town Hall.
- Chatham Cemetery to Gillingham Victoria Bridge via Chatham Town Hall and Brompton.
- Chatham Town Hall to Gillingham Pier Road via Chatham Hill, Gillingham and James Street.
- Chatham Railway station to the dockyard via Chatham Town Hall.
The network expanded for several years, and by 1908 there were eight operational routes.
- Luton to the Dockyard via Chatham Town Hall.
- Frindsbury to Gillingham Green via Rochester, Chatham Town Hall and Brompton.
- Strood Hill to Gillingham Green via Rochester, Chatham Town Hall and Brompton.
- Borstal to Gillingham Victoria Bridge via the Delce, Rochester, Chatham Town Hall and Brompton.
- Chatham Town Hall to Gillingham Shalders Arms via Chatham Hill and Canterbury Street.
- Chatham Cemetery to Gillingham Victoria Bridge via Chatham Town Hall and Brompton.
- Chatham Town Hall to Rainham High Street via Chatham Hill, Jezreels and Rainham Mark.
- Chatham Railway Station to Brompton via Chatham Town Hall.
(Note that "the Delce" referred to the area at the junction of Priestfields and Maidstone Road where Upper Delce Farm and Delce Grange were located. It did not refer to Delce Road which is locally known as the Delce.)
Depot
Grid referenceThe system's depot, which included a shed with a capacity of fifty tramcars, a boiler house and generating house, and an office building, was located to the south of Luton High Street opposite Christchurch.
After the closure of the tramway system the depot, with its original sheds and workshops, was used for buses until November 1995. In 1998-99 the depot was demolished, and the site redeveloped for housing. Its role in the C&DLRCo is commemorated by the name of its access road, "Tramways".
Tramcars
Tramcars had a Light Green and Ivory livery, and there were changes to the detailing of the paint scheme over the life of the tram system.In earlier years the name of the "Chatham & District Light Railways Co" was written in large ornate letters along the full length of the ivory side panel.
The tram model shows the scheme as it was in later years. The ornate lettering had gone.
