{"id":691,"date":"2024-12-10T09:54:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-10T09:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/connectedaberdeen.org\/woodside\/?p=691"},"modified":"2024-12-10T09:55:05","modified_gmt":"2024-12-10T09:55:05","slug":"electrication-of-the-woodside-tram-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/connectedaberdeen.org\/woodside\/2024\/12\/10\/electrication-of-the-woodside-tram-line\/","title":{"rendered":"Electrication Of The Woodside Tram Line"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Woodside tram line was the first to be electrified in Aberdeen and opened to the public on 23rd<\/sup> December 1899. Here we have an extract from an article in the Aberdeen Journal<\/em> of that date on this historic move from horse-drawn to electric power. The photo shows Lord Provost Fleming at the helm of a car with the inauguration party and is credited to The Silver City Vault.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Woodside tram line was the first to be electrified in Aberdeen and opened to the public on 23rd<\/sup> December 1899. Here we have an extract from an article in the Aberdeen Journal<\/em> of that date on this historic move from horse-drawn to electric power. The photo shows Lord Provost Fleming at the helm of a car with the inauguration party and is credited to The Silver City Vault.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The\u00a0driving power is at the command of the driver\u00a0by means of a controller, fitted close\u00a0up to the end of the platform, so that the\u00a0motor man can see clearly ahead without obstruction. This is a great improvement on the\u00a0Glasgow cars, where the controller is placed behind the stair leading to the top of the carriage,\u00a0thus giving the driver a much less satisfactory\u00a0outlook ahead.. All things are intended to minimise the risk of injury to a person who may unfortunately happen\u00a0accidentally to be caught by the car while in motion. Each car will cost \u00a3550.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

For the last few weeks the cars have been experimentally run along the route for the purpose of initiating the men in their duties. The drivers\u00a0are all chosen from the department’s own staff,\u00a0and no difficulty has been found in teaching them\u00a0how to perform their work. In point of fact, it\u00a0is believed that there will be less difficulty in\u00a0getting men to drive the motor cars than there is in securing men acquainted with horses. For\u00a0the most part the latter are taken from the\u00a0country, whereas any man of ordinary intelligence\u00a0in the city would be quite capable of mastering\u00a0the duties required of him in a few days. When\u00a0the\u00a0electric cars come into use about 60 horses will be set free, and will be sold.\u00a0The introduction of the new system will necessitate considerable changes at Woodside Depot.\u00a0The shed is to be extended to accommodate from\u00a020 to 30 cars, and this will enable the Tramway Committee to effect a considerable saving, as the one depot will be sufficient to contain the cars to be used both in Woodside and Torry\u00a0routes. It may be mentioned that the committee\u00a0are to provide the whole of the tramway drivers and conductors with neat overcoats, with buttons\u00a0bearing the city arms and the designation of the\u00a0department. In the first instance, however, the\u00a0coats will be served out to the men in the Woodside section, and they will appear in their new\u00a0dress on the opening day. The coats are dark\u00a0grey in colour, with red edging and bright\u00a0buttons with the corporation arms, and the men\u00a0will look very smart in them. The uniforms\u00a0for the two inspectors and collector are navy\u00a0blue, with silver edging and silver buttons. They were all supplied by Messrs Henderson Brothers,\u00a0clothiers, 35 1\/2 Broad Street, Aberdeen.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Author: Alan Johnstone<\/strong>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Woodside tram line was the first to be electrified in Aberdeen and opened to the<\/p>\n