History
The proposal to build the first electric tramway was proposed by the Derbyshire brothers to Ilkeston council who approved the idea in 1897. In 1899, the Ilkeston Corporation Tramways Act was passed to allow the construction to proceed although by this time the council had decided to undertake the work with the Derbyshire bothers as advisors and contractors.
The line was 3¾ miles long and consisted of a single-line from Cotmanhay to Hallam Fields Road, along Cotmanhay Road to the town centre, where it served both the Great Northern Railway station and the Midland Railway station, and then Granby Street, Bath Street, South Street, Nottingham Road to Hallam Fields. A short ½ mile branch line along Station Road served the Ilkeston Junction railway station. The track was 3' 6" gauge. The first tram tried out the track on 1 May 1903, the first public tram ran on 16 May 1903. In 1903 tram stops and fares were fixed (1d anywhere, except Station Road to Bath street which was 1/2d.) An illuminated tram was in use for Christmas 1909 and again at the celebrations for the coronation of King George V in 1911.
There were 13 trams in the fleet. The depot was on Park Road at SK 4674 4146.
The tramway was bought by Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Tramways Company in 1916. Tram services ceased in 1931 and the service was replaced by trolleybuses, (referred to locally as 'tracklesses') and by motor buses.
Read more about this topic: Ilkeston Corporation Tramways
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