Created 2-Feb-25
Modified 2-Feb-25
Visitors 1
2 photos
This system started with the Gravesend, Rosherville and Northfleet Tramways Company who ran from Gravesend to the "Leather Bottel" in Northfleet. This was a horse-worked 3'-6" gauge line. An extension was opened in 1889 through to Huggens College which was built by the Series Electric Traction Company as a demonstration of electric traction using an underground conduit. Once the demonstration finished in 1890 it reverted to horse operation.
The British Electric Traction Company had set up a subsidiary company, The Gravesend and Northfleet Electric Traction Company Limited, to take over the horse tramway. After the takeover the system was converted to standard gauge and electrified, opening in 1902. Extensions were made with a short line to The Old Prince of Orange" in Gravesend and loop line from Gravesent to Northfleet via Pelham Road. This loop also served the depot off Dover Road East.
The tramway was mainly single-track with passing loops and traffic was clearly not as great as expected, partly because of objections that prevented the short link to the Dartford system being bridged. As a consequence the initial bogie cars were moved on within the BET Group and replaced by four-wheelers. The company latterly started operating feeder bus services but in 1929 the trams and feeder buses were replaced by buses run by fellow BET Group operator Maidstone & District. In the event even this was not to last long as this area came within the area of London Transport operations and the services were transferred to them in 1933. The main route then finally achieved its objective and not only linked to Dartford but continued beyond to Erith running as the 480, surviving in this form for many years.
The British Electric Traction Company had set up a subsidiary company, The Gravesend and Northfleet Electric Traction Company Limited, to take over the horse tramway. After the takeover the system was converted to standard gauge and electrified, opening in 1902. Extensions were made with a short line to The Old Prince of Orange" in Gravesend and loop line from Gravesent to Northfleet via Pelham Road. This loop also served the depot off Dover Road East.
The tramway was mainly single-track with passing loops and traffic was clearly not as great as expected, partly because of objections that prevented the short link to the Dartford system being bridged. As a consequence the initial bogie cars were moved on within the BET Group and replaced by four-wheelers. The company latterly started operating feeder bus services but in 1929 the trams and feeder buses were replaced by buses run by fellow BET Group operator Maidstone & District. In the event even this was not to last long as this area came within the area of London Transport operations and the services were transferred to them in 1933. The main route then finally achieved its objective and not only linked to Dartford but continued beyond to Erith running as the 480, surviving in this form for many years.
© David Beilby
