OLDHAM STEAM TRAM

[BERT ASHTONParticipant @bertashton57372]

The photograph shows a Oldham Corporation steam tram of 1889,

I did a quick web search but found very little information on this type

of tram.

Can anybody help out with any info on the maker, spec or anything

else that may be of interest.

Thanks,

Bert.

Edited By BERT ASHTON on 23/03/2013 09:39:40

[BERT ASHTONParticipant @bertashton57372]

[Eric CoxParticipant @ericcox50497]

Try asking the Crich tramway museum, http://www.tramway.co.uk

[BERT ASHTONParticipant @bertashton57372]

Thanks Eric, I will give them a try.

Bert.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I can't see the rails, and the 'carriage' seems to have wheels too wide apart to be the same gauge as the 'tram'., or is this an optical illusion?

Neil

[WearyParticipant @weary]

There is a larger copy of this image on Bury Image Bank ref: (b13719), where a bit more detail can be seen here.

Regards,

Phil

[BERT ASHTONParticipant @bertashton57372]

Hello Mr Ashton

Thank you for sending through the copy of the image, it was very helpful in working out what type of steam tram it was.

The steam tram in your picture was one of the Manning, Wardle & Co, engines supplied to the Manchester, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham Steam Tramways Company in 1885. Manning, Wardle & Co. only supplied three engines to the company and they were numbered 52 – 54. This type of steam tram was considered to have a bit of clumsy appearance due to the large water tank on the roof, in which the exhaust steam was condensed. The engine was also known to have a horizontal boiler and inside cylinders 8 ½ in by 14 in, Stephenson shifting link gear, regulator, reversing gear and hand brakes at each end.

The steam tram engine in your picture was paired with what looks like one of the cars built by the Falcon Car and Engine Co. (later Brush Electric Engineering) and was one of the ones which was fitted with a canopy cover to the upper deck.

As a side note Manning , Wardle & Co are credited with having been the first company to build an independent tramway locomotive, when they built two tramway locomotives in 1867 for the Pernambuco tramways in Brazil. They were ordinary locomotives with a horizontal boiler and two cylinders, but the difference was that they enclosed the whole machine in a cab and exhaust steam was condensed by admission to a saddle tank, hence the form of steam tram which can be seen in your photograph, of separate engine cab, with connecting tramcar vehicle.

I hope the information is helpful for you.

Kind Regards

Laura Waters

Laura Waters

Curator, Archive Collections

The National Tramway Museum

Crich

Matlock

Derbyshire

DE4 5DP

[peter ravenscroftParticipant @peterravenscroft57700]

hi bert

if you want drawings go to terry russels site he is the main supllier of tram drawings

regards

peter

[Diane CarneyModerator @dianecarney30678]

What an interesting reply from Crich!

Steam trams are a bit like steam on the canals in a way – just not quite right for the job are they? As a means of propulsion, steam was 'leap-frogged' in both cases. Which adds to the interest I suppose.

Diane

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

Diane,

I wrote a short article once on an electric canal boat system, including provision for locks and tunnels. Would you like to see it, if only for a giggle?

Regards

Geoff

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I have visions of Geoff trapped in a tunnel on your solar narrowboat…

> steam on the canals

Don't forget President, Diane.

Neil

[Diane CarneyModerator @dianecarney30678]

Hi Neil
Yes, I know President – but that's the point. It's memorable because it's unusual.

Hi Geoff
Yes – sounds … er… interesting! Was it for an early April issue by chance?

Has anyone ever designed or made a model of a Bolinder? (Sorry for wandering OT.)

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

Hi Diane,

It was not a spoof, but a semi-serious attempt to think about how it would work. I mean, you couldn't use an earth return system, for instance, or anyone who fell in might have problems, and the wildlife might object Tunnels would use a detachable 'runner' to pick up the current from exposed wires on the tunnel wall, whilst boats would carry short-range batteries for use in locks. Otherwise, current pickup would be like trolleybuses use. The voltages would have to be carefully considered due to the proximity of the wires, and corrosion might be a problem due to the constant presence of moisture. Apart from locks, canals are flat, so very little power would be called for, therefore it would be economical to run.

Geoff

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Geoff,

Having towed a narrowboat half a mile with a few other folks (in the dark after an engine failure) it's hard work, but yes it really isn't a huge amount of power that's needed. I imagine most narrowboats are hugely over-powered, which is why the engines last for ever I suppose.

Neil

[Author]

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