Double-decker tram
A double-decker tram is a tram that has two levels. Double-deck trams were once popular in some European cities, like Berlin and London, throughout the British Empire countries in the early half of the 20th century including Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in New Zealand; Hobart, Tasmania in Australia and in parts of Asia. They are still in service in Hong Kong, Alexandria, Dubai and Blackpool. Some double-decker trams had open tops. Blackpool tramway and Hong Kong Tramways are the only tram company in the world that operates double-deck trams now.
The earliest double-deck trams were horse drawn. The first electric double-deck trams were those built for the Blackpool Tramway in 1898, one of which survives at the National Tramway Museum. They were common in the United Kingdom until the 1950s. London Transport was a heavy user of double deck trams until the system closed in 1952. Apart from the Blackpool tramway, the Glasgow Corporation Tramways were the last to close (in 1962). Some have been preserved at the UK's National Tramway Museum, New Zealand's MOTAT Museum in Auckland and Ferrymead Museum in Christchurch. The last double deck tram built in Britain was Blackpool "Jubilee" Class No.762, which entered service in 1982. Although it used parts from older cars, it was considered to be an entirely new tram. On this basis, when it was retired in 2011, it was gifted to the National Tramway Museum, Crich.
From 1910 to 1964 double-deck trams were in use in Mumbai (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking). They were also in use in Johannesburg where trams were operational from 1906 to 1961. A few of Alexandria Tram's fleet are double-deckers.
Manufacturers
- English Electric and United Electric Car
- Glasgow Corporation Tramways
- Dick, Kerr & Co.
- Hong Kong Tramways
- Blackpool tramway - rebuilt English Electric cars
- Brush Engineering Falcon Works
- Rouse, Black and Son, Wellington NZ
See also
External links
Media related to Double-decker trams at Wikimedia Commons