Weymouth Harbour Tramway

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The Tramway in use in 1981
Near the former cargo loading stage, 2005
The Tramway 1938 curve

Weymouth, Dorset, England had an unusual railway feature, a goods and passenger railway constructed entirely on the town's streets along a route from the main station to the harbour.

History

Opened in 1864 by the Great Western Railway, the harbour tramway ran from a junction beyond the main station, through the streets adjacent to the Backwater and the harbour, to the quay. Passenger trains begun in 1889, transporting persons to the Channel Island ferries.

In 1938-9 the former tight curve between The Backwater and harbour was supplanted by a new curve on a newly infilled section of the quayside.

The regular goods traffic ceased in 1972, though fuel oil was transported to a new facility at the pier until 1983.

Regular passenger services ceased in 1987.

The tramway today

Under The Town Bridge, 2005
Jubilee Crescent, 2006
Near Ferry's Corner in 2005
Near Custom House, Summer 2005

The last known use of the branch was on 30 May 1999 for a special railtour. The tramway (sometimes known as 'The Quay Branch' or 'Harbour Line') still exists, in remarkably good condition, and could in theory be used again, though the short reserved section from King Street to the junction is somewhat overgrown.

There were some experiments in the late 1990s with a flywheel powered vehicle, but this has not resulted in permanent traffic on the tramway.

The Dorset Echo reported in 2002 that the tramway may be removed soon, but as yet it remains, a wonderful British anachronism.

External links

References

  • Lucking, J.H. (1986). The Weymouth Harbour Tramway, Poole: Oxford Publishing. ISBN 0-86093-304-0
  • Beale, G. (2001) The Weymouth Harbour Tramway, Wild Swan Publications. ISBN 1-874103-67-4