Aberdeen Corporation Tramways

Aberdeen Corporation Tramways
Tram 34 on Union Street, Aberdeen ca. 1900
Operation
LocaleAberdeen
Open27 August 1898
Close3 May 1958
StatusClosed
OwnerAberdeen City Council
Infrastructure
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Propulsion systemElectric
Statistics
Route length16.12 miles (25.94 km)

Aberdeen Corporation Tramways formerly served the City of Aberdeen, Scotland.

The system

The city's tram system was the most northerly municipal tramway in the United Kingdom. It started on 26 August 1898 when the Aberdeen Corporation purchased the assets of Aberdeen District Tramways. The council paid the purchase price of £84,735 (equivalent to £9,110,000 in 2023),[1] representing £15 per share, and they also took over the temporary loans amounting to £10,000 (equivalent to £1,080,000 in 2023)[1]and the mortgages of £9,050 (equivalent to £970,000 in 2023).[1][2]

From 1906 to 1918 the system fell under the care of R. S. Pilcher who served as general manager and chief engineer.[3]

The system was electrified, with trams using the standard trolley poles until 1935 when bow collectors were fitted to take power from the overhead wires. The trams were double deck and painted in a dark green and cream livery, often with the words "Corporation Transport" painted prominently on the sides.

In the late 1930s the city purchased 18 trams from Nottingham Corporation Tramways, which closed in 1936. Further secondhand trams were later obtained from Manchester. The last new trams for the city were built by R Y Pickering of Wishaw in 1949.

The city's best known service was route 1, from Bridge of Don to Bridge of Dee, the numbering of which is preserved by the current number 1 bus service serving the same areas. The city's last tram operated on 3 May 1958, being replaced by diesel buses.

A short stretch of track that served as a terminus for the Sea Beach route remains alongside the Beach Boulevard where, following their final day in service, the entire fleet was burned.[4] This remainder formerly ran right across to the former Constitution Street depot (now Aberdeen Science Centre), however the western end is now occupied by a hotel.

Routes

No. From To Via Notes
1 Bridge of Dee Bridge of Don Union Street Known as "The Bridges"[5]
2 Castle Street Mannofield[6] Great Western Road Withdrawn 2 March 1951.[7][8]
3 Castle Street Castle Street Union Street, Queen's Cross, Fountainhill Road, Rosemount Place, Rosemount Viaduct, Union Terrace Circular Route
4 Castle Street Hazlehead Queen's Road Subsequently operated by buses.[9] Withdrawn in 1986 following bus deregulation.[10]
5 Castle Street King's Gate Union Terrace
6 Castle Street Castle Street Union Terrace, Rosemount Viaduct, Rosemount Place, Fountainhill Road, Queen's Cross, Union Street Circular Route
7 St Nicholas Street Woodside, Scatterburn George Street, Great Northern Road
9 Castle Street Sea Beach Constitution Street
Castle Street Fonthill Road Crown Street Included a branch via Whinhill Road that terminated at Duthie Park. Withdrawn on 30 May 1931 and replaced with the number 6 bus.[11]

The tram system was supported by 14 bus routes numbered No. 4, No. 8 and No. 11 through to No. 22, No. 4 being an extension of the No. 4 tram route.

Business

The table shows the annual mileages run, passengers carried and revenue taken on tram car services.

Year Tramcar Mileage Passengers Revenue
1899-1900 7,364,731 £30,781
1900-01 688,611 8,361,711 £35,452
1901-02 794,641 9,099,715 £37,931[12]
1902-03 966,859 12,152,774 £50,936[13]
1903-04 1,379,723 15,538,167 £64,071[14]
1904-05 1,617,525 17,142,896 £70,430[15]
1905-06 1,520,229 17,222,967 £70,507[16]
1906-07 1,529,682 17,676,008 £72,605[16]
1907-08 1,566,119 17,517,304 £71,930[16]
1908-09 1,553,978 17,608,695 £71,679[17]
1909-10 1,585,137 17,508,636 £71,121[18]
1910-11 1,585,137 17,152,548 £73,470[19]
1911-12 1,643,247 19,054,847 £73,470
1912-13 1,738,966 19,990,711 £80,166[20]
1913-14 1,832,587 20,966,394 £85,266[21]
1914-15 1,909,009 24,048.816 £88,002[22]
1915-16 1,963,615 26,593,730 £94,328[23]
1916-17 2,003,245 27,141,275 £100,068[24]
1917-18 2,169,667 32,739,528 £116,378
1918-19 2,214,484 40,019,565 £140,895[25]
1919-20 2,437,811 44,988,484 £169,737[26]
1920-21 £191,470
1921-22 £183,995
1922-23 2,392,918 39,885,812 £184,750
1923-24 2,434,898 40,072,746 £183,521
1924-25 2,675,785 £189,246
1925-26 2,792,572 40,471,662 £177,568
1926-27 2,564,718 £143,906
1927-28 2,702,548 39,557,263 £153,267
1928-29 2,807,796 41,584,677 £161,964
1929-30 2,892,538 42,968,627 £167,636
1930-31 2,858,639 41,700,576 £162,314[27]
1931-32 2,528,090 £145,729[28]
1932-33 2,528,090 £148,425
1933-34 2,593,165 38,256,224 £151,612
1934-35 2,660,295 37,831,049 £150,016[29]
1935-36 2,707,511 38,750,234 £153,768[30]
1936-37 2,708,803 £152,565[31]
1937-38 2,747,003 £152,565[32]
1938-39 41,358,062 £166,478[33]
1939-40 £200,315[34]

Depots

By 1914, the company had 77 passenger cars with depot accommodation for 72, with 30 at Queen’s Cross, 17 at Woodside, 6 at Mannofield, 13 at Constitution Street and 6 at Market Street.[35]

The depots and workshops were:

  • Queen's Cross Depot (grid reference NJ 92362 05887). This depot was acquired from the Aberdeen District Tramways. In 1910 it was extended in size.[36] It was extended again in 1951. The building was purchased by Grampian Television in 1960 and converted into their television studios and headquarters. In 2003 Grampian Television relocated their studios and offices to new premises; the former tram depot was subsequently demolished by 2004 with new flats built on the site.
  • Woodside Depot (grid reference NJ 92779 08627). This depot was acquired from the Aberdeen District Tramways. Electrification of the depot took place during 1900. On closure this was eventually demolished and replaced with housing and a community centre.
  • Mannofield Depot (grid reference NJ 91826 04535). This depot was acquired from the Aberdeen District Tramways. In 1901 the corporation agreed to it being rebuilt and equipped for electric tramcars. The tender for construction was won by Robert Beattie and Son of Holland Street.[37] After closure it became William Wilson’s showrooms.
  • Constitution Street Depot (grid reference NJ 94951 06915). Designed by Jenkins and Marr in 1885 as a public swimming baths. Converted to a tramway depot in 1901 for the sum of £45,000 (equivalent to £4,576,686 in 2023).[1] Remodelled by the City Architects Department in 1920. This depot was put up for sale for £20,000 (equivalent to £454,900 in 2023)[1] in 1954.[38] Now the home of Aberdeen Science Centre.
  • Market Street Depot (grid reference NJ 94596 05564). It was built from plans prepared by W. Dyack, C.E. burgh surveyor, and constructed by Alexander Cheyne, Holburn Street in Grey Rubislaw granite with picked dressings of Corennie red granite. The walls were finished with rustic ashlar. It was 114 feet (35 m) in length and 40 feet (12 m) in width.[39] It was opened in autumn 1904 and is now a Category B listed building.[40] After closure the site was redeveloped in 1997-98 incorporating the tram car shed as a large business office facility.[41]
  • Central Depot, King Street (grid reference NJ 94236 07404) Category C listed.[42] A new central depot was required by 1914 and following a report to the Tramways Committee by W. Dyack, burgh surveyor, and R.S. Pilcher, tramway manager, the company decided to acquire the King Street Barracks site which was 2½ acres in area and develop an additional central depot at a total estimated cost of £26,000 (equivalent to £2,482,400 in 2023).[1] This scheme required the conversion of the site and building two new car sheds and workshops etc. The plan was to accommodate 22 tramcars and 6 motor omnibuses in a shed 275 feet (84 m) by 45 feet (14 m) alongside the buildings facing St Peter Street with three separate lines of tramway. To anticipate future requirements, provision was made for an extension to the shed for housing an additional 24 cars.
  • Crown Street workshops and depot (grid reference NJ 94028 05394). A building of 1903-04 comprising workshops, tram car depot, and electricity works and offices. Category C listed.[43] The generating station opened in March 1903 and the tram depot in 1904.

Officials

General Managers

Traffic Superintendents

  • David Moonie 1898 - 1905[48] (from Aberdeen District Tramways)
  • James D. Caird 1905 - 1908[49] (afterwards superintendent of the Halifax Corporation Tramways)
  • Walter P. Young 1908 - 1912[50] (afterwards traffic superintendent of the Oldham Tramways)
  • William Forbes 1912 - 1918[51] (afterwards general manager)
  • Robert McLeod 1918 - 1919
  • Charles Symon 1927 - 1834[52]
  • M.R. Shepherd 1934 - 1951[53]
  • Alexander Main from 1951

Successors

Following the closure of the tram system, Aberdeen Corporation continued to operate buses. Following the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the fleet passed to the new Grampian Regional Council in 1975, becoming Grampian Regional Transport. The dark green and cream livery was retained. Following the Transport Act 1985 the company was subsequently privatised, becoming the GRT Group, which later became FirstGroup. As of 2009, buses in Aberdeen are operated by First Aberdeen.

There were proposals for a new tramway system in 2013, but they were rejected in September 2014.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f UK Consumer Price Index inflation figures from 1209–2024 based on data from "Inflation calculator". Bank of England. London: Bank of England. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Aberdeen Corporation Tramways. Town Council Take Over the Undertaking". Aberdeen Press and Journal. Scotland. 27 August 1898. Retrieved 19 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ Biographical Index of Former Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1783–2002 (PDF). The Royal Society of Edinburgh. July 2006. ISBN 0 902 198 84 X. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  4. ^ Paton, Craig; Morrice, Emma. "Watch: Focus on Aberdeen trams 60 years after their service ended". Evening Express. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Bridges Buses At Peak Times?". Evening Express. 11 June 1956. p. 7. The Bridges tram-to-bus switch will not take place until 1959
  6. ^ "Mannofield Bus Fares at Tram Rates". Press and Journal. 23 April 1947. p. 6. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Buses Replace Trams March 4". Evening Express. 24 February 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Farewell To-night To Mannofield Trams". Evening Express. 2 March 1951. p. 12. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Buses". Evening Express. 2 April 1981. p. 17. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  10. ^ "No road ot 'treasure' of a park, Bridge of Don woman hits at lack of Hazlehead bus service". Press and Journal. 22 June 1988. p. 3. Retrieved 27 February 2022. The service provided by Grampian Regional Council transport to Hazlehead Park ended with bus deregulation in October, 1986
  11. ^ "Farewell to trams, 'Buses on Ferryhill Route To-Morrow". Press and Journal. 30 May 1931. p. 5. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Aberdeen Tramways Accounts". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 21 July 1902. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Aberdeen Corporation Tramway Accounts". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 3 July 1903. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "Aberdeen Town Council. The Tramway Accounts". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 4 July 1904. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Aberdeen Corporation Tramways". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 12 July 1905. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ a b c "Aberdeen Corporation Tramways". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 23 July 1908. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ "Aberdeen Corporation Tramways". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 23 July 1909. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ "Aberdeen Tramways. The Annual Report". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 25 July 1910. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ^ "Aberdeen Tramways. A successful working year". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 26 July 1911. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ "Aberdeen Tramways Most Successful Year". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 23 July 1913. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ "Flourishing Aberdeen Tramways". Dundee Courier. United Kingdom. 24 July 1914. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "Aberdeen Tramways Record Year". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 26 July 1915. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^ "Aberdeen Tramway Profits". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 31 July 1916. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ^ "Aberdeen Tramways Record". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 4 June 1917. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  25. ^ "Aberdeen Tramways". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 4 June 1919. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. ^ "Aberdeen Tramways in 1919-20". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 4 June 1920. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. ^ "Transport Departments New Record". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 26 August 1931. Retrieved 6 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  28. ^ "Aberdeen's Transport Service Report". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 18 August 1932. Retrieved 6 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. ^ "Passengers Increase On Aberdeen Trams and Buses". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 4 September 1935. Retrieved 6 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  30. ^ "Records Made in Transport". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 27 August 1936. Retrieved 6 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  31. ^ "Tram & Bus Records". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 25 August 1937. Retrieved 6 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  32. ^ "Tram & Bus Records". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 25 August 1938. Retrieved 6 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  33. ^ "Aberdeen Tramcars & Buses Establish New Records". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 23 August 1939. Retrieved 6 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  34. ^ "Tram and Bus Fares to Stand as Now". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 22 August 1940. Retrieved 6 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  35. ^ "Aberdeen Tramways Central Depot". Aberdeen Evening Express. United Kingdom. 5 February 1914. Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  36. ^ "Aberdeen Corporation Tramways. Extension of Car Shed". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 20 September 1910. Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  37. ^ "Electrical Equipment of Union Street Tramways". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 4 December 1901. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  38. ^ "Aberdeen tram depot for sale". Dundee Courier. United Kingdom. 16 April 1954. Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  39. ^ "The New Car Depot for the Torry Route". Aberdeen Weekly Journal. United Kingdom. 9 November 1904. Retrieved 4 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  40. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "244 Market Street and 1 North Esplanade West, Riverside House, Former Tramshed (LB20678)". Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  41. ^ "Tram depot centrepiece of £8m city office scheme". Aberdeen Press and Journal. United Kingdom. 30 April 1997. Retrieved 3 January 2026 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  42. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Public Transport Department King Street (LB19998)". Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  43. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Millburn Street and Crown Street, Hydro-electric Board offices and warehousing (LB45664)". Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  44. ^ "Aberdeen Tramway manager Appointed". Dundee Courier. Scotland. 20 February 1906. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  45. ^ "Aberdeen Tramway manager Appointed". Dundee Evening Telegraph. Scotland. 18 January 1929. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  46. ^ "Aberdeen Transport Manager's New Post". Dundee Evening Telegraph. Scotland. 10 January 1934. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  47. ^ "Official of Wide Experience". Aberdeen Press and Journal. Scotland. 10 May 1934. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  48. ^ "Presentation to Mr. David Moonie". Aberdeen Press and Journal. Scotland. 9 October 1905. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  49. ^ "Appointment to an Aberdeen Tramway Official". Aberdeen Press and Journal. Scotland. 4 January 1908. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  50. ^ "Tramway Official's Appointment". Aberdeen Press and Journal. Scotland. 7 February 1912. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  51. ^ "New Tram Manager". Aberdeen Weekly Journal. Scotland. 20 September 1918. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  52. ^ "Sudden Death of Mr. C. Symon". Aberdeen Press and Journal. Scotland. 28 March 1934. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  53. ^ "Superintendent Retiring". Aberdeen Evening Express. Scotland. 30 April 1951. Retrieved 20 November 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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