Christchurch Tramway Board (1902-1954)
Dates
- Existence: 1902 - 1954
Biography
The Christchurch Tramway Board was established by statute in 1902, the Bill also providing for a loan of up to £250,000 for electrification of the obsolete horse drawn system. Tenders for the work were called in 1904 and the contract granted to a Christchurch organised syndicate funded by the formation of the New Zealand Electrical Construction Company. The Board secured the stock of the Christchurch Tramway Company and on 14 May 1905 when the Company handed over to the Board, horse drawn trams disappeared.
On 6 June 1905 the changeover to electric trams was celebrated with free rides and due ceremony. The service was later extended to New Brighton, St Albans, Riccarton, Lancaster Park, Sumner, Fendalton and Opawa. In its hey day, in the 1920’s, the Christchurch electric tramway system was the largest in the country. During the 1930's patronage was affected by the depression and in particular by the increased use of private motorcars and trolley and petrol buses.
By the end of WWII the tramway system was worn out and the decision was ultimately made to close it down and replace trams with an all diesel bus fleet. The last trams ran in 1954 and the Tramway Board's successor, the Christchurch Transport Board, continued to operate the City bus system until deregulation in 1991.
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Christchurch Tramway Board: Records
Records of the Christchurch Tramway Board including minute books, reports, specifications for tenders, newspaper cuttings, statements of income and expenditure and depreciation enquiries.
Christchurch Tramway Board/Christchurch Transport Board: Files
Records of the operational activities of Christchurch Tramway Board and the Christchurch Transport Board. Includes minute books, transport reports, correspondence, traffic returns, ephemera, staff cards in index boxes, registers of property and plant and social activity club records.