tramdriver

Brisbane trams commenced operation in August 1885 by the Metropolitan Investment Company with horse-drawn cars on a fixed track. A decade later a new company formed, the Electric Tramways Company Limited, and they took over the electric parts of the tramways, including the line from Logan Road to the southern end of Victoria Bridge which began in 1887. On 21 June 1887 electric cars commenced and within a year the horse-drawn system became redundant. The narrow streets in Brisbane, especially in the inner city, meant limiting the body width of vehicles. As in many other Australian cities, municipal authorities were attracted to the idea of owning and running tramways, not least as the trams could be powered by government-owned electricity stations, powered by coal. In January 1923 the Brisbane Tramways Trust acquired the private company and by December 1925 the tramways were under the control of the Brisbane City Council, which constructed a large electricity powerhouse at New Farm. The track expanded until 1962 providing a maximum route length of 106 kilometers. Source: www.qhatlas.com.au/where-did-trams-go

The opening of the tramway took place on August 10, 1885, when two cars carrying Hon. W. Miles, M.L.A. (Minister for Railways), directors, officials and guests, ran from the bridge to the Exhibition, and then to the Breakfast Creek line. The first car was drawn by “four magnificent roan horses” and although it was derailed it was quickly replaced on the track and reached the Exhibition in 14 minutes. The Telegraph said, “Drivers will have to be warned not to raise their whips too high, as this constitutes a danger to passen-gers travelling on the top.” The Telegraph also said: “The adoption of this new system of traffic marks a new era in our history, and should go to prove that Queensland does not intend to be behind in this very fast age.” When the public service began the Company had 18 cars and 100 horses. Two more cars arrived by the sailing ship “Tyburnia,” in January, 1886. Car depots and stables were built at Light Street, New Farm and Logan Road; and, later, at West End. In February, 1886 a contract was let to Mr. Mus-son to lay double tram tracks across Victoria Bridge, and the first car crossed the river on April 30, 1886. This made a through connection between Breakfast Creek and Woolloongabba, and it commenced to run next day. Waggonettes were installed in February, 1886 to run as “feeders” between the tram terminus at Breakfast Creek Bridge and Hamilton Hotel. These vehicles carried eight passengers each. What a contrast with present-day loading to Hamilton and Ascot! Later the Company bought out certain bus lines and used the vehicles as feeders in other places. Source: www.qocs.org.au/brisbane-tramways-their-history-and-devel...

Saloon cars Each tram in this class was constructed by joining two single deck saloon horse trams together on a single motorized chassis. Their long, enclosed bodies gave rise to their nickname of "coffin cars". They were built in 1897 when delivery of new electric trams was delayed. 6 cars in this class. They were all withdrawn from service by 1930. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trams_in_Brisbane

Horse trams began servicing Brisbane in 1885 running from the city to Woolloongabba, yet electric trams in Ipswich Rd made Mr. Soden’s horse-drawn buses out-of-date by the turn of the century. Electric trams began in Brisbane in 1897 and reached Cornwall street that year. The extension from Cornwall to Dudley Street (then Mary Street) along Ipswich Road in 1899 changed the predominantly rural landscape into residential living. The line was extended to Chardon’s Corner in 1914. Source: www.everywherehistory.com/history-annerley-part-2/