About Worcestershire

The first electric trams in Worcester were open top cars with a livery of holly green and cream.

From the start there were 15 cars in all covering almost six miles of 3 ft 6 in gauge track.

Routes were opened to Barbourne, Astwood Cemetery (via Rainbow Hill), Shrub Hill station, London Road, Bath Road and St Johns.

The system was owned by the Worcester Electric Traction Co Ltd.

City chaos

Despite Council promises, from June 1903 until the opening day, havoc had reigned.

Tram in Broad Street copyright L Oppitz

All the main streets in the city centre were dug up for the removal of the old lines used by the former horse-drawn tramcars and for the installation of wider lines and overhead power cables for the new electric trams.

The city was cast into total chaos and the whole operation led to what became known locally and nationally as "The Tramway Siege of Worcester 1903-4".

Citizens had to get around the central area entirely on foot to shop or to do their business, some pushing prams or other makeshift two-wheeled trolleys to carry their goods.

The Council remained optimistic claiming: "What is in view is cheapness - a welcome penny fare to each boundary of the city, a more frequent service, and trams to and fro on every route every ten minutes’.

1904 tram - copyright Leslie Oppitz

All cars were fitted with slipper brakes because of gradients in Rainbow Hill and London Road.

In 1921 two further cars were purchased, but Worcester's trams lasted only another seven years, until May 1928.

The Corporation had power to buy the tramways, and proposed to replace them with municipal trolleybuses, but instead accepted an offer by Midland Red to provide the city with bus services.

The Corporation did buy the tramways, but only to dismantle them!

Leslie Oppitz has written numerous railway and tramway books. His book 'Lost Railways of Herefordshire and Worcestershire' is available at all good bookshops.