Calcutta Tramways Company

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Calcutta Tramways

A horse tram system opened in January 1881, after a premature experiment in February 1873, a 2.4 mile(3.9 km) tramway service between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat Street was started. It wound up in November due to lack of takers [1].

The British-Indian government started The Calcutta Tramways Company Limited in 1880 as a registered joint stock company in London. The same year a metre gauge(MG) horse-drawn track between Sealdah and Armenian Ghat via Bowbazar Street, Dalhousie Square Customs House and Strand Road was laid [1]

The horse tram system opened in January 1881 and gave way to steam locomotives from 1882 [2].

By the end of the nineteenth century the company owned 166 tram cars, 1000 horses, seven steam locomotives and 19 miles (30km) of tram tracks [3].

During 1900, Electrification of the tramway, and reconstruction of tracks to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge (SG) commenced [3].

Electric trams began running on March 27, 1902 and by 1921 there were 35 miles (56 km) of MG track and 512 cars in service [2]

The tram system is still operating today [4].

References