Trams in India
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In India currently only Kolkata (Calcutta) has a tram service.
Other cities to have had trams in the past:
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[edit] Kolkata
The Calcutta Tramways Company Limited is the company which manages tramways in Kolkata. The first horse driven tram carriage service started in the year 1873 between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street (Inaugurated on February 24, 1873). The service was wound up on November 20 as there was no adequate patronisation. The British started The Calcutta Tramways Company Limited as a registered joint stock company at London, in the year 1880. Before 1900s they were powered by horses later the same year the process of electrification began.
In the year 1951 The Govt. of West Bengal entered into an agreement with the Calcutta Tramways Co and the Calcutta Tramways Act, 1951 was enacted . The Govt took over all rights with regard to Tramways and reserved the right to purchase the system on 1st Jan, 1972 or any time thereafter giving two years notice. Later in the year 1967 The Govt of West Bengal passed the Calcutta Tramways Company (Taking Over of Management ) Act, 1967 and took over the management on 19th July 1967. On November 8th, 1976 the Calcutta Tramways (Acquisition of Undertaking) Ordinance, 1976 was promulgated under which the Company with all its assets vested with the government. After that it is now a Public Sector Undertaking.
[edit] Mumbai
The British proposed the introduction of trams in the year 1864 and the contract was awarded to Stearns and Kitteredge in the year 1873. The first tram was between Parel and Colaba were drawn by six to eight horses. The trams had their pie of glory till the advent of trains and were there for almost 21 years and it is also said that the Stearns and Ktteredge had a stable of 900 horses when they started the service.
See also: Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
[edit] Kanpur
[edit] Nasik
The trams were pulled by 4 horses and it had 2 carriages. It originated from what is now the "Old municipal corporation" building located on "main road" and terminated at Nasik Road Railway station, a distance of around 8-10 km. It closed down around 1931-1933. The strip between Nasik and Nasik Road was covered with dense jungle and only mode of transport from the station to the city was by means of horse carriages or by means of only 2 taxis which used to ply in those days.
[edit] Chennai
Trams in Chennai (old Madras), between Ports and other places. This could carry lot of head loads. This was a very popular transport at that time. This ended by about 1950.
[edit] Power supply
These were run on Direct-current Power supply from over head bear lines. The supply to tram was obtained by a current collector called Trolley pole, mounted on the top of the tram. The rails on which trams were moving served as return path for the DC current. The electric power for these were being supplied by Madras Electricity System. There was a Thermal Power station at Basins Bridge, generating Ac power. The AC power was converted to Direct-current power by Mercury arc rectifier (Converter) stations located at different parts of Chennai.
[edit] External links
