Created 29-Jan-25
Modified 20-Mar-25
Visitors 2
1 photos
The Galway and Salthill Tramway Company was a modest enterprise with a track just over two miles long that took people from Galway to the seaside resort of Salthill. Opened in October 1879 it was 3'-0" gauge and was always horse-worked. The initial fleet seems to have comprised five open-top double-deck cars built by Starbuck and seating thirty-six, with an enclosed single-decker mainly for winter use bought in 1888. Business was always very much rooted in tourism, although passengers were known to use the tram to take chickens, ducks and even piglets to the market by tram.
In 1909 they bought five trams supplied by UEC. These had transverse seating on the upper deck instead of the knifeboard seating on the original stock.
Things became more difficult for the company after 1910. There were labour disputes and then at the beginning of World War I the best of the stock of horses were commandeered by the Army meaning that they struggled to deliver a service. With the added challenge of competition from petrol buses the tramway closed down in April 1918.
The one distinction the company seems to be able to claim is that its terminus in Salthill was one of the most Westerly tram termini in Europe, only being beaten by some in Southern Portugal.
In 1909 they bought five trams supplied by UEC. These had transverse seating on the upper deck instead of the knifeboard seating on the original stock.
Things became more difficult for the company after 1910. There were labour disputes and then at the beginning of World War I the best of the stock of horses were commandeered by the Army meaning that they struggled to deliver a service. With the added challenge of competition from petrol buses the tramway closed down in April 1918.
The one distinction the company seems to be able to claim is that its terminus in Salthill was one of the most Westerly tram termini in Europe, only being beaten by some in Southern Portugal.
© David Beilby
