Image right: 'O' class tram 1051 at Enfield, last day of service, 21 August 1948. Courtesy State Library of NSW
Established in 1891, the Enfield Tram Service ceased operation 78 years ago on 21 August 1948. Passengers were given just five days’ notice that trams would be replaced with buses.
When the tram service from Enfield to Ashfield began, Enfield was still a sparsely-settled district, due largely to the lack of public transport. In 1901 the route was extended to Burwood, Concord and Mortlake, with a branch line to Cabarita added in 1907. Trams ran along Liverpool Road and Coronation Parade to the tram depot in Tangarra Street. The first trams were steam-powered but it became an electrified service in 1912.
A shortage of coal in mid-1948 led to widespread disruption in electricity supply and blackouts. Transport was also affected. On 22 July, Mr M. O’Sullivan, Minister for Transport stated that the government needed 53,000 tons of coal a week to maintain a full service of trams and trains. The problem was that it was only receiving 25,000 tons a week.[1] During July and August, the government was forced to suspend the entire Sunday tram service throughout Sydney. Skeleton bus services were provided in some areas but were inadequate to cope with demand.
Interestingly, the NRMA seized on the lack of traffic accidents on Sunday 11 July (the first Sunday without trams) as proof that trams were to blame for the majority of road accidents, arguing that scrapping trams completely would save many lives.[2]
By October 1948 there had been only one Sunday with trams running in Sydney for 13 weeks. ‘When the Department planned to resume with a modified service to conserve coal the tramwaymen refused to work on Sundays claiming that overloading would be dangerous to conductors and passengers.’[3]
The tramways were also under-staffed by about 1000 workers which led to overcrowding dangers.[4] By late September the Tram Employees’ Union was refusing to man Sunday trams unless a full service was provided.[5]
With ongoing maintenance issues also affecting trams, the government decided to discontinue the Enfield tram service and replace it with buses, even though the department was still waiting for 650 new buses on order.[6]
'O' Class tram 1051 outside tram depot in Tangarra Street, Enfield (now Croydon Park) on the last day, 21 August 1948. Courtesy City of Sydney Archives. Vic Solomons Collection.
An electrical storm during the afternoon peak hour on 20 August caused chaos for trains while a lightning strike to the overhead tram wires in Enfield delayed tram services on their second-last day.[7]
On their final day, 21 August 1948, tram workers decorated their trams with laurel wreaths.
‘All day … trams on the route were decked with floral tributes, and the last one had so many wreaths on board that there was hardly room to swing a tram ticket.’ [8]
Last day of Enfield trams, Tangarra Street, 21 August 1948. Courtesy State Library of NSW
Hundreds of people gathered to cheer the last tram which was driven by Mr F. Raynor of Portland Street Enfield, with 30 years’ experience on the Enfield trains. ‘…with a wreath on the front and billycans tied to the back, the tram made most of the journey in darkness, followed by 20 motor-cycles and 50 cars. Several passengers fell from the footboard, and the tram stopped while they were picked up.’ [9]
‘About 50 tramwaymen wearing large white mourning lillies in the lapels of their coats, joined the tram at the Enfield depot. On the way to Cabarita the tram passengers sang songs, [and] booed at passing double-decker buses…’ [10]
The last tram arrived back at the tram depot in Tangarra Street, Enfield soon after 1am on Sunday 22 August. A lively wake attended by about 300 people was then held in the Greenwood Hall, Enfield. ‘Beer and gin helped to make the “wake” a merry one.’ [11]
Enfield tram depot, last day of service, 21 August 1948. Courtesy State Library of NSW
Tramway staff were transferred to buses or other tram routes.
Stay tuned for more transport stories in the Ironbark Gallery’s exhibition Next Stop, Strathfield: Travel Through History from 15 October.
By J.J. MacRitchie
Local Studies Advisor
References
[1] Sydney Morning Herald 23 July 1948 p.1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18078817
[2] The Burrowa News 23 July 1948 p.7 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/102807795
[3] Tweed Daily (Murwillumbah) 9 October 1948 p.1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/194402670
[4] Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate 16 August 1948 p.1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/140346913
[5] Daily Mirror 28 September 1948 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/274460194
[6] Sydney Morning Herald 18 August 1948 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/18081766
[7] Daily Telegraph 21 August 1948 p.5 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/248384229
[8] Truth 22 August 1948 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169372899
[9] The Sun 22 August 1948 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/229004295
[10] Daily Telegraph 22 August 1948 p.2 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/248391372
[11] Barrier Daily Truth 23 August 1948 p.3 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/141193440