THE MULE TRAMS

The first appearance of trams in Trinidad was in 1883, when on Thursday, December 27 of that year, Port-of-Spain saw the start of such a service. A large holiday crowd came to railway headquarters on South Quay to witness the event and to see what a tram was like.

The tram consisted of a small bus-like carriage drawn by two mules. These tram-cars ran on rails that were buried flush with the streets. Everything seemed to be ready except the mules. The mules, stubborn and restive, needed some time to practice, but the Tramway Company had concluded its arrangement late and there was a clause in its contract stating that it was imperative that the service start before the end of 1883. Therefore, the company began the service on the latest date possible - December 27. However, the mules must have felt themselves ready and above reproof, for one of the reporters looking at their work said they performed “in excellent style.”

However, it was the next day that the service was put to the test because December 28 happened to be the first day of the Christmas race meeting at the Queen’s Park Savannah. The great crowds of people who had come in to Port-of-Spain by train and who had for weeks been reading of the coming of the mule tram wanted nothing else but to be taken up to the Queen’s Park Savannah - and in excellent style too! But the company’s four tram-cars could hardly cope. So some persons would certainly have been disappointed.

Those who did not reach the race track in time missed a great treat seeing the horse Wyanoke win the Governor’s Cup. Especially since it was the first time that a cup was offered by any governor. Unfortunately, in early 1883, the Governor, Sir Sanford Freeling, was recalled to England as a result of the Canboulay Riots. He was never to return to see any horse win his cup.

But back to the mule-trams. The next day must have been even more difficult for race-goers for it was a rainy Saturday, and a Saturday with more people in town because of the New Year week-end. On this the third day of the Queen’s Park Savannah races only the fortunate would have been able to see the horse Ruth Howard dominate the day, and may have wondered where was Wyanoke. The rumour was that Wyanoke was being hidden from Ruth Howard.

But the trams were not hidden - far from that. The Belmont Tramway Company ensured that they were in the full light of day. Since they were the first form of public transport in Port-of-Spain people would naturally have wanted to know the routes and the schedules.

There were two routes, the red and the blue. Trams painted red plied one section of the town and those painted blue plied the other.

The time-table was as follows:

From the railway station to Saint Ann’s Road (via Frederick Street) every 20 minutes.

From the railway station to Saint Ann’s Road (via Saint Vincent Street) every 20 minutes.

To Newtown (via Frederick Street) every 20 minutes.

To Newtown (via Saint Vincent Street and Tranquility) every 20 minutes.

These trams lasted for 12 years from December, 1883 to what seems to be May, 1895.

One might ask, why? What happened in 1895? Well, 1895 was the year Edgar Tripp introduced electricity, and the tramway mules may no longer have been showing their excellent style but may have returned to their stubborn ways, for it appears that as soon as Edgar Tripp introduced electricity in March, 1895, the tramway company decided to use the traction power that worked with electricity to draw their tram-cars.

The formal opening of the electric tram service was held on June 26, 1895, and the ceremony was performed by Lady Broome, wife of Governor Frederick Napier Broome. Crowds lined Saint Ann’s Road to watch the event and all the prominent members of society were among the guests of honour. At four o’clock the Company’s three cars were drawn up at the tramway terminus, at the junction of the Saint Ann’s and Belmont roads. The trams were draped with flags and buntings and adorned with a bouquet of flowers. Referring to the performance of the trams the report said: “The rate of speed was fairly high, fully fifteen miles an hour, but there was no motion of any unpleasant character and all were delighted with the ease with which the cars sped along.”

It is correct to say that that all were delighted with the electric tram in Trinidad throughout its “career.” The Belmont Tramway Company seems to have become part of the Electric Company and early in the new century additional lines were established.

For example, there was a line from the railway station right along Tragarete Road and the Western Main Road to Four Roads, Diego Martin. There was one from the railway station into Saint Ann’s, and there was the early-established Belmont line. But the glamour line, the line for relaxation and pleasure and perhaps “showing-off” was the Belt Line, which was a line that went around the Queen’s Park Savannah - around and around! It was the favourite line for those who wanted to get nowhere urgently!

The tram came to the end of the line on March 31, 1950, and this was mainly due to a long battle between the Port-of-Spain City Corporation and the Government for the Electric Company. During the battle, the Electric Company, which saw it was going to lose (and lost eventually), neglected the tramlines. They were almost useless when the City Corporation took over the service.