Early Days of the First Tram System
The success of the Croydon Tramlink System has prompted consideration of extending the system north to Streatham.
This is not the first time that the matter has been under examination. Just over a century ago Croydon Corporation decided to extend their original tram service to the Streatham parish boundary. On September 25th 1901 the Corporation opened a terminal to the south of Hermitage Bridge on the London Road, Norbury.
Image: Picture shows the lines being laid in Norbury.
It was hoped that the new service would attract the wealthy residents of Streatham to shop in Croydon and assist those inhabitants of Croydon who wished to journey to the northern part of the borough.
A horse-drawn bus service operated from the bridge to take passengers into streatham town where tram another terminal was established outside the library in 1895 by the London County Council. It was here that passengers could catch a tram travelling towards northwards to Brixton and on into London. It was not until 1909 that the tram lines were established from Streatham Library to Hermitage Bridge, enabling travellers a more convenient through service.
As the tram services were run by different operators, there was a six inch gap separating the tracks at the bridge, and passengers had to change trams at the Croydon & Streatham boundary. This inconvenience was not resolved until February 7th 1926, when both tracks were finally connected and for the first time passengers could travel from Purley to the River Thames in Central London.
Today it is difficult to see how trams could have run along the road at Norbury as todays heavy traffic is often bumper to bumper along the road.
The service ended in the 1950's to the approval of the residents who look forward to the improved services of the busses, which were then forecast the solve the transport problems of the area. It is odd that there are now suggestions that the trams will now be better than the busses.
Some fascinating old photographs of the tram line under construction in Norbury can be seen in the "Images of Norbury, Thornton Heath and Broad Green".
Picture shows passengers waiting for the tram in Norbury by Hermitage Bridge in 1902.