Richmond Branch
Trams never ran across Kew Bridge - the second (stone) bridge, built in the 1780s, was far too narrow, and very steep on the approach from Brentford - which meant that there was an isolated length of single track of 1.53 miles, with passing loops, from the south side of the bridge, across Kew Green, then south along the Kew Road to the Orange Tree public house 51°27′51″N 0°18′06″W / 51.464228°N 0.301534°W / 51.464228; -0.301534 in Richmond.
LUT made repeated attempts to cross Kew Bridge after it was rebuilt in 1903 but these continued to be resisted by the Richmond Corporation Tramways Committee. Kew Road residents opposed two attempts in 1897 & 1898 to install a second track - which would have necessitated road widening - and any subsequent electrification using unsightly overhead wires seemed out of the question, locals favouring the underground conduit system. Kew Observatory had concerns about the introduction of electric trams.
So whilst the rest of London went electric, this little branch continued to use horse-drawn cars until well into the twentieth century - the interiors had red velvet seat cushions and were described as "comfortable, if not luxurious", and ran every quarter hour (the full "end to end" journey costing 2d) - until 20 April 1912 after which it was replaced by part of a London General (LGOC) motor-bus route.
Richmond's tram-shed still exists as the former Shaftesbury Centre in Kew Road just north of the A316.
Read more about this topic: London United Tramways
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