Trams in Newcastle, New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
and the outer suburb of Wallsend
Wallsend, New South Wales
Wallsend is a western suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district. It is part of the City of Newcastle local government area.- Origins :...
from 1887-1950. At its peak the line extended from the city all the way to Speers Point
Speers Point, New South Wales
Speers Point is a suburb within, and the location of the council seat of the City of Lake Macquarie Local Government Area in New South Wales, Australia...
and West Wallsend
West Wallsend Steam Tram Line
The West Wallsend Steam Tram Line in Australia was an extension of the tram line from Newcastle, New South Wales to Wallsend, New South Wales. Construction of the tram line began in April 1909 and opened for passenger services on 19 December 1910. The route from Newcastle to West Wallsend was long...
. The service was rarely profitable, and low utilisation for a variety of reasons including the convenience of buses led to it closing and the tracks being removed.
Steam
A depot was initially set up on Hunter Street
Hunter Street, Newcastle
Hunter Street in Newcastle is the major shopping street in the Newcastle central business district. The street is a paved pedestrian mall between Wolfe and Perkins Streets. The major features of the mall section of the street include a bus interchange and a prominent 4 floor David Jones store at...
, at Perkins Street. In 1893, the terminal was extended east to Parnell Place and the new larger depot constructed, with the original depot being retained for light maintenance and repair work.
Rolling Stock Initially ex-Sydney self propelled D1 class double decked trams were used on the system. Due to the AA Company
Australian Agricultural Company
The Australian Agricultural Company is a company which serves to improve beef cattle production through responsible natural resource and land use...
rail bridge over (what is now) Hunter Street and the overhead rail bridge to the Lambton Colliery between Hobart and Howe streets, the top deck was removed meaning that the capacity was severely reduced. The self propelled trams were not popular and were rarely used and eventually removed from service in 1896.
In addition to the self propelled trams, Baldwin
Baldwin Locomotive Works
The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of...
style steam locomotives were used to haul C1 and C2 class trailers. The locomotives originally required two men to operate, but were modified in service to allow for one man operation. The locomotives would haul up to four trailers depending on the demand. Six N Class electric cars were also brought from Sydney. Their electrical parts were removed and they were used as steam trailers, however they were only used on the very busiest days, such as major race meetings. Other rolling stock was also used, including ballast trailers, water trailers, breakdown trailers, coal/coke trailers, a water sprinkler car, hearse cars and ash disposal trucks.
Electrification
Electrification occurred in the early 1920s, the first electric tram running in October 1923. All lines were fully electric by the end of 1926 except the West WallsendWest Wallsend, New South Wales
West Wallsend is a suburb and small town in the City of Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Australia. It is located near the Sydney-Newcastle Freeway, not far from the western suburbs of Newcastle.-Coal & railways:...
and Speers Point branch lines, which remained steam operated until they were closed.
With the pending electrification of the tram system, construction of a new depot was commenced at Gordon Street, Hamilton
Hamilton, New South Wales
Hamilton is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district. The main commercial centre is located around Beaumont Street and boasts a vibrant multicultural atmosphere providing an array of restaurants, retail, fashion and commercial outlets...
in 1918. The Hunter Street and Parnell Place depots were closed in 1927, as by then, all operations had been relocated to the Hamilton Depot.
Rolling Stock Newcastle used L/P class trams throughout the period of electric service. Some C class trams and other cars were retained for electric operations.
Lines
AdamstownAdamstown, New South Wales
Adamstown is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district. It is part of the City of Newcastle local government area....
Opened on 13 August 1900. Electric services commenced on 2 February 1925. The line was extended to Victoria Street just three months before the Carrington and Port Waratah lines were closed. A proposal to extend the line along Union Street to Rifle Street never eventuated and it closed on 17 April 1950.
Carrington
Carrington, New South Wales
Carrington is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia and is named after Lord Carrington, governor of N.S.W. in 1887 when the area was proclaimed a municipality.-Origins:...
Originally proposed in February 1901, the line did not enter service until 23 September 1912. Track was actually laid in 1905 across the old Throsby Creek Bridge, however there were disputes with the residents of Carrington about how the line would cross the railway line that ran along Cowper Street. The issue was never resolved and work was ceased before the line was completed. By 1912, the railway line in Cowper Street was no longer in use allowing the line to finally be built. However, it now branched from Mayfield
Mayfield, New South Wales
Mayfield is a north-western suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, which takes its name from Ada May a daughter of the landowner there, John Scholey, J.P...
line at Hannell Street and used the old railway bridge on Cowper Street. Electric services commenced on 15 August 1926. The Carrington and Port Waratah lines were the first electrified lines to close (the steam only West Wallsend
West Wallsend Steam Tram Line
The West Wallsend Steam Tram Line in Australia was an extension of the tram line from Newcastle, New South Wales to Wallsend, New South Wales. Construction of the tram line began in April 1909 and opened for passenger services on 19 December 1910. The route from Newcastle to West Wallsend was long...
and Speers Point services ended in 1930) when they ceased services on 19 November 1938.
Glebe Originally called the Merewether
Merewether, New South Wales
Merewether is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district with a population of around 10,000. The suburb stretches from Merewether Beach in the east to Adamstown in the west.- Establishment :...
line, it was changed to Glebe when the line to Merewether Beach was completed. It was opened on 19 April 1894. It was electrified in 1924 with the first electric service running on 2 November 1924. The line closed on 26 February 1950.
Mayfield Construction of the line to Mayfield commenced June 1892. Construction included the building of a bridge over Throsby Creek. The line was opened 19 April 1893. Initially it terminated at Elizabeth Street, Tighes Hill with the extension to Hanbury Street opening in 1901. The Mayfield line was the first line in Newcastle to be electrified, opening on 15 December 1923. The section of track along Albert Street was never electrified. Connection of the electric line was along Hunter Street, through Tighes Hill. Plans to extend the line to Mayfield West and to connect it with the Waratah
Waratah, New South Wales
Waratah is a north-western residential suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district and bounded on the north by the Main North line. Waratah station was opened in 1858 and is served by CityRail's Hunter line.- History :Waratah was once a major...
line never eventuated. The line closed on 26 September 1948.
Merewether Originally proposed to branch off the Glebe line (then called the Merewether line). Construction of the line along Darby Street commenced on 29 March 1902, however insufficient funding saw the line terminate at Patrick Street. Services commenced on 3 November 1902. The extension to Ridge Street was eventually completed with services commencing on 21 September 1903. The line was originally called Merewether Beach, but was changed to Merewether when the Glebe line changed name. The line was electrified on 27 July 1924 and closed on 26 February 1950.
Port Waratah Service commenced on 20 July 1914 as far as Estell Street. The line was initially called Maryville
Maryville, New South Wales
Maryville is an inner suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located northwest of Newcastle's central business district....
. The line was later extended in 1916, with services commencing on 16 December. The line was subsequently called Port Waratah, however it was often referred to as Steelworks. The line was electrified on 11 October 1926,. The Carrington and Port Waratah lines were the first electrified lines to close (the steam only West Wallsend and Speers Point services ended in 1930) when they ceased services on 19 November 1938.
Port Waratah Wharf A line to Port Waratah Wharf (also known as Walsh Island Ferry) was constructed in 1920. Direct competition with a free ferry from the Steelworks lead to the realization that the line would be underutilized. A trial was conducted on 11 February 1920, however the line was never opened, eventually being abandoned and removed.
Racecourse First services commenced on 27 April 1907, though the balloon loop was not utilized until 1 July 1907. The loop was later enlarged towards the east to allow more trams to lay up while waiting for race goers. The first electric service commenced on 14 November 1925. A mixture of steam and electric services ran until all electric service ran on 29 May 1926. The line was closed 10 April 1950.
Speers Point A branch to Speers Point was added to the West Wallsend line in an attempt to reduce the losses expected on the line. The first service ran on 15 January 1912. To accommodate the service, the Wallsend depot was enlarged. As with the West Wallsend line, it was never electrified. The last regular steam services ran on 1 November 1930. Several special services were run after this date; with the last running on 8 May 1931.
Wallsend/Plattsburg The Wallsend line
West Wallsend Steam Tram Line
The West Wallsend Steam Tram Line in Australia was an extension of the tram line from Newcastle, New South Wales to Wallsend, New South Wales. Construction of the tram line began in April 1909 and opened for passenger services on 19 December 1910. The route from Newcastle to West Wallsend was long...
was the first tramway in Newcastle. It connected Newcastle with the main residential suburbs including Hamilton, Broadmeadow
Broadmeadow, New South Wales
Broadmeadow is the geographic centre of Newcastle city. Its main commercial hub is located at the “Nineways”.-Origins:Broadmeadow was originally part of the Newcastle Pasturage Reserve of 648 hectares...
, Lambton
Lambton, New South Wales
Lambton is a suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district.- Early days :Originally a coal-mining township, Lambton was incorporated as a Municipality , on 24 June 1871. The 1891 Census gave the population as 3,434...
, Jesmond
Jesmond, New South Wales
Jesmond is a suburb of the City of Newcastle LGA, located about west of the Newcastle CBD in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is both a commercial centre and residential area catering to Newcastle residents including Australian and international students attending the University...
, Plattsburg and Wallsend. The first services ran on 19 July 1887. The line was progressively electrified from 1924 the first fully electric service to Wallsend running on 26 December 1925. The line closed on 7 November 1949.
Waratah The cost of this line included the overhead bridge at Broadmeadow. This resulted in a large cost that required Parliamentary approval. It was the last line to be completed with the first service to running on 20 January 1915. Regular electric services commenced on 6 April 1925. The closure of this line marked the cessation of all tram operations in Newcastle. The last ever service ran on the evening of 10 June 1950.
West Wallsend In 1910, a branch was constructed from Wallsend to West Wallsend. The first service ran on 19 September. A small depot was constructed at Wallsend to assist in the operation of this line. Due to the losses being suffered by the line, it was never electrified. The line was accident prone having been involved in at least three deaths in separate incidents. It was closed on 1 November 1930.
Closure
In the 1930s poor patronage and competition from bus services led to the realisation that trams were not paying their way. During the Depression, there was not the political will to remove a service that provided jobs and cheap transport, however by the late 30s this had changed and the Port Waratah and Carrington lines were closed in 1938. WWII delayed any further closures. Fuel rationing meant that buses were not allowed to run services where trams operated. The Parnell Place terminus was damaged during the Japanese shelling of NewcastleShelling of Newcastle
The Shelling of Newcastle was conducted by the Japanese submarine I-21 in the early hours of 8 June 1942. The bombardment followed the Attack on Sydney Harbour on 31 May, and was conducted shortly after I-24 shelled the eastern suburbs of Sydney. During the attack I-21 fired 34 shells at Newcastle,...
on 8 June 1942. The end of the war saw the Mayfield line close in 1948, the Wallsend line in 1949 with the remainder in 1950. The last service was run on 10 June 1950 to Waratah.
As tram services in Newcastle declined, the Hamilton Depot was converted to a bus depot; which it continues as today.
Today
Though all the tracks have been removed there is still evidence of the tram system throughout Newcastle. There are several cuttings and causeways once used by the tramways that are still visible. The cycleway through Jesmond Park is the most obvious reminder. It follows the path taken by the Wallsend Tram from Howe Street and includes a cutting through Lambton Hill.There is a proposal to build a cycleway between Wallsend and Glendale
Glendale, New South Wales
Glendale is a suburb of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia, located west of Newcastle's central business district at the northern tip of Lake Macquarie...
following the path of the Wallsend to West Wallsend Tram. The steady shallow gradient required for tram operations is ideal for cyclists. Paths actually use the old West Wallsend line as it still has all of cuttings in place however it is on private land and is not sealed.
It has also been proposed that a Light Rail system be built in Newcastle to allow the removal of the existing rail link between Wickham
Wickham, New South Wales
Wickham is an inner suburb of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, located from Newcastle's central business district.-Origin:Wickham which was a Misspelling of Whickham, a suburb of Newcastle-on-Tyne in the north of England. Means village by the creek...
and Newcastle to reduce traffic congestion.
Tramcar LP284 The Newcastle Museum owns LP car LP284 which was acquired from the now defunct Newcastle Tramway Museum. The museum is currently being relocated and expects to open in 2010. LP 284 has been moved to the depot for restoration. It is currently on display at the museum's new location.