Trams
In 1874 the Leicester Tramways Company Limited was formed. The first trams were horse-drawn, but the electricification of the system in 1904 allowed for a broader network that opened up the far reaches of the town. This enabled cheap transport in from the suburbs and encouraged the development of housing on the edges of the town.
At the end of World War One the system was in a poor state with a backlog of repairs and maintenance. Despite this, in 1919 the 160 cars on the system carried 62.4 million passengers. The following years saw upgrades to the track and overhead wiring, although the introduction of Leicester's first motor buses in 1924 pointed the way to the demise of the tram system 25 years later.
Trams were open to the elements, but in 1923 the first fully enclosed tram was introduced and other trams were adapted in later years. In 1924 a new line was opened on Blackbird Rd and general improvements included kerbside loading, and a tram shelter and loading bay in Humberstone Gate. Humberstone Gate was also the site of the Central Depot - large premeses entered through a small, thin opening.
The last tramway was built in 1927 although upgrades to the trams and the system continued into the 1930s. As traffic congestion got worse the Council voted for petrol buses over trams and the system's days were numbered. Gradually routes were given over to buses, although the Second World War delayed the process. The final tram ran on 9th November 1949. The one surviving tramcar from Leicester can be found at the Crich Tramway Museum.
Video showing the history of Leicester's trams 1874-1949:
Video showing Leicester's trams in 1949:
The information on this page was taken from 'Tramcars in Leicester' by MSW Pearson. The sound clips were chosen and edited by Chris Pearson.
For further memories, listen to Leicester's Trams.
For more information about Leicester's trams, look at the website Leicester Trams.
For more information about the history of transport in Leicester, look at the website of the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust.