OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
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TRAMWAYS IN OLD PLYMOUTH  |  PLYMOUTH, DEVONPORT AND DISTRICT TRAMWAYS COMPANY LIMITED

BOARD OF TRADE INSPECTION

Work evidently progressed slowly for it was not until 1884 that a much-reduced system was ready for the Board of Trade inspector.  Only the lines from West Hoe to Russell Street and from there out to Compton, and part of Line 4, from Princess Square to outside the Yarmouth Inn at the junction of Notte Street with Southside Street, a length of about 3 miles, were finished at a cost of about £3,000 per mile.

At 10.30am on Friday July 11th 1884 an engine and one passenger car left the depot in Millbay Road and made its way to a point near Mutley Railway Station where the Board of Trade inspector, Major-General C S Hutchinson RE, commenced his inspection of the line.   At 11.15 he set off, accompanied by Mr W Derry, Chairman of the Tramway Company; Mr Bluett, the Secretary; Mr Freeman, the contractor; Mr Burke, the Resident Engineer; Mr King, representing Messrs Quicke & Sons, the Company's engineers; and Mr Laxton, the newly appointed manager of the Tramway Company; plus several Aldermen, Councillors and Officers of the Borough.  Mr C Whiteford, Chairman of the Compton Gifford Local Board, and Mr Edward Bennett, the Clerk, were also present.

The locomotive was in the charge of Mr Wilkinson, the inventor and manufacturer of the vehicle, assisted by a driver, stoker and another attendant.  The train proceeded at a steady pace up the slope to Mutley Plain and ascended with ease the steep incline up Townsend Hill, where the engine's ability to restart on a gradient was tested several times.  At the terminus the engine changed ends using the siding provided.  (It should be pointed out that the term “siding” was used instead of what we would today call a “loop”).  On the return journey the braking power was also tested.  The maximum speed permitted by the Board of Trade was 10mph.

Thousands of people watched the trial run, especially in Richmond Street and George Street.  Upon arrival at Princess Square, the train went down the branch to the Yarmouth Inn in Notte Street, where the engine ran round in order to go back to the Square and on towards West Hoe.  Everything worked satisfactory except for one unidentified set of points and the party retreated to the depot at Millbay to toast the undertaking with a glass of champagne.    Major-General Hutchinson, however, had not finished his inspection and during the afternoon walked the whole of the line.  The engine was also run over a part of the system.  Services were expected to start at the end of July.

Incidentally, it was commented at this time that the line to Plympton was unlikely to be allowed to run through Exeter Street as is was too narrow and it was thought that it would have to be laid from Notte Street 'round the quays'.

A week later everybody's hopes were shattered.  Major-General Hutchinson made his Report and he had not liked what he had seen.