Dublin tram system
Encyclopedia
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s in Dublin, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
which commenced line-laying in 1871, and began service in 1872, following trials in the mid-1860s.
Established by a number of companies, the majority of the system was eventually operated by forms of the Dublin United Tramways Company
Dublin United Transport Company
The Dublin United Transport Company operated trams and buses in Dublin, Ireland until 1945. Following legislation in the Oireachtas , the DUTC and the Great Southern Railways were vested in the newly formed Coras Iompair Éireann in 1945.-Formation:The DUTC was formed by the merging of several of...
(DUTC), dominated for many years by William Martin Murphy
William Martin Murphy
William Martin Murphy was an Irish nationalist journalist, businessman and politician. A Member of Parliament representing Dublin from 1885 to 1892, he was dubbed 'William Murder Murphy' among Dublin workers and the press due to the Dublin Lockout of 1913...
. Most of the services ran within the city centre and near suburbs, with the majority of major suburbs served (and many of the remainder handled by mainline rail). Additionally, there were two longer-range services, one reaching the "excursion" destination of Poulaphouca Falls
Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca , is a townland in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the border with County Kildare. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lake...
, and two services concerning Howth
Howth
Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
.
At its peak, with over 60 miles (96.6 km) of active line, the system was heavily-used, profitable and advanced in technology and passenger facilities, with near-full electrification complete from 1901. Heavy usage lasted from the late 19th century into the 1920s. The tram system was also central to the Dublin Lockout
Dublin Lockout
The Dublin Lock-out was a major industrial dispute between approximately 20,000 workers and 300 employers which took place in Ireland's capital city of Dublin. The dispute lasted from 26 August 1913 to 18 January 1914, and is often viewed as the most severe and significant industrial dispute in...
, which caused major distress within the city.
Elements of the system went out of service from the mid-1920s, in part overtaken by the bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
. The decline of the trams accelerated in the 1940s and the last trams ran on 9 July 1949 in Dublin city and in 1959 on Howth Head, near Dublin.
Background and legislation
The tram concept arrived in Ireland in the early years of railway development, and the first related projects concerned attempts to link major city train stations with a light railway. The legislation on this topic was the model for the first of the Irish Tramways Acts (which differed somewhat from those of England and Wales, or Scotland), the Tramways (Ireland) Act, 1860 (c. 152). One feature of this law was that each establishment of a tramway operation required approvals including those of the Irish Privy Council, and an Act of the Imperial ParliamentParliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, onerous and expensive provisions. This and other provisions argued to be impractical led to modification by the Tramways (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1861 (c. 102).
The next relevant legislation was the Special Act, the Dublin Tramways Company Act of 1871, setting up the first company to actually deliver service, and the associated similarly named act of 1872, finalising initial routes and other rules. In parallel the main legislation was modified by the Tramways (Ireland) Amendment Act of 1871 (c. 114). A further Dublin Tramways Act followed in 1876 (c. 65), and the Tramways (Ireland) Amendment Act of 1881 (c. 17), provided for the formation of tramway ventures by way of simplified procedures. In the meantime, the Relief of Distress Act of 1880 allowed for local authority support of tramway ventures (previously some provisions existed for such support for railways only).
From 1889, a new focus came to legislation on this topic, beginning with the Light Railways Act of 1889, also known as "Balfour's Act", which aimed to encourage tram-like or light rail systems in poorer areas, and increased the potential for government to support such projects. With more guarantees from local authorities, more light rail systems were developed, with Dublin's extensive network just part of a total of 581 miles (935 km) by 1906.
Formation
The first Dublin trams were horse drawn. In the early years, there were several operators, including (with the abbreviations by which they were often known):- The Dublin Tramways Company (DTC), which acquired the rights of the City of Dublin Tramways Co. and the Rathmines omnibuses, and started laying lines in 1871, commencing service to TerenureTerenureTerenure is a mainly residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, largely in the administrative area of Dublin City Council but with parts in the administrative county of South Dublin County .-Location and transport:...
on 1 February 1872; notably, in the run-up to launch and for some time after, there were concerted objections to the placing of rails in or on the road, with fears about carriage accidents (a similar process occurred later when steam trams were proposed), and some of these objections were continued during and after construction - The North Dublin Street Tramways Company (NDST), formed 1875, with a line from Nelson's PillarNelson's PillarThe Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin...
to DrumcondraDrumcondra, DublinDrumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:...
commencing in 1877 - The Dublin Central Tramways Company (DCT), formed 1878, with authority to build a line from College Green to RathfarnhamRathfarnhamRathfarnham or Rathfarnam is a Southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and 16. It is within the administrative areas of both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils.The area of Rathfarnham...
with branches to RanelaghRanelaghRanelagh is a residential area and urban village on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the postal district of Dublin 6. It is in the local government electoral area of Rathmines and the Dáil Constituency of Dublin South-East.-History:...
, RathgarRathgarRathgar is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, lying about 3 kilometres south of the city centre.-Amenities:Rathgar is largely a quiet suburb with good amenities, including primary and secondary schools, nursing homes, child-care and sports facilities, and good public transport to the city centre...
, RathminesRathminesRathmines is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. It effectively begins at the south side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranelagh to the east and Harold's Cross to the west.Rathmines has...
and ClonskeaghClonskeaghClonskeagh or Clonskea , is a southern suburb of Dublin, Ireland. The district straddles the River Dodder.-Location and access:Whilst located fully within the traditional County Dublin, Clonskeagh lies partially within the administrative area of Dublin City Council but mostly in that of Dun...
, and with a line commencing 22 June 1879, from Nelson's PillarNelson's PillarThe Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin...
to TerenureTerenureTerenure is a mainly residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, largely in the administrative area of Dublin City Council but with parts in the administrative county of South Dublin County .-Location and transport:...
via Harold's Cross
By 1880, with many of the major districts of Dublin being served by the above three tram companies, William Martin Murphy
William Martin Murphy
William Martin Murphy was an Irish nationalist journalist, businessman and politician. A Member of Parliament representing Dublin from 1885 to 1892, he was dubbed 'William Murder Murphy' among Dublin workers and the press due to the Dublin Lockout of 1913...
, a founding shareholder of the Dublin Central Tramways Company, founded the Dublin United Tramways Company (DUTC) in January 1881, with himself as manager, and his father-in-law as chairman, and arranged the merger of the three companies, uniting 32 "route miles" under DUTC control.
- The Dublin Southern Districts Tramways Company (DSDTC), formed 1878
- The Blackrock and Kingstown Tramway (BKT), formed 1883
In 1878, the DSDTC was acquired by the Imperial Tramways Company
Imperial Tramways Company
The Imperial Tramways Company Ltd was created to bring under common management a number of street tramways. Originally based in London, its headquarters moved to Bristol in 1892 and from then on it shared its senior management with Bristol Tramways under the chairmanship of George...
, who in 1893 secured an Act of Parliament allowing them to purchase the BKT, and to use electrical and mechanical power. In mid-1896, the combined operation of these two companies, including the recently-acquired legal authority to use electricity, was sold to the British Thomson-Houston Company
British Thomson-Houston
British Thomson-Houston was a British engineering and heavy industrial company, based at Rugby, Warwickshire, England. They were known primarily for their electrical systems and steam turbines. They were merged with the similar Metropolitan-Vickers company in 1928, but the two maintained their own...
, which almost immediately in turn sold it to the DUTC
Electrification and peak operation
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation , known by generations of Dubliners simply as The Corpo, is the former name given to the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin between 1661 and 1 January 2002...
among others. An American panel also opposed the overhead line in densely populated areas
The Dublin United Tramways Company, with the acquisition of the Dublin Southern Tramways, which had earlier the same year started the first electrical tram line in Ireland, reversed long-standing policy favouring horse-drawn trams, and, having reorganised as the Dublin United Tramways Company (1896) Ltd., proceeded with a rapid electrification. As part of a deal with Dublin Corporation, the DUTC agreed to pay them £500 per route mile for 40 years and a minimum of £10,000 per year when the system was fully electrified. Also included as part of the deal, the DUTC agreed not to charge more than 1 penny from the Pillar to any city boundary less than 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away.
By January 1901 the entire city system, which covered about 60 miles (96.6 km) to 66 miles (106.2 km), was electrified while the system has 280 trams, including a special Directors tram, which was used by William Martin Murphy
William Martin Murphy
William Martin Murphy was an Irish nationalist journalist, businessman and politician. A Member of Parliament representing Dublin from 1885 to 1892, he was dubbed 'William Murder Murphy' among Dublin workers and the press due to the Dublin Lockout of 1913...
among others to inspect the system . In 1911 the system had 330 trams
At its peak the system was known as technically innovative, and was described in 1904 as "one of the most impressive in the world", so that representatives of other cities from around the world would come to inspect it and its electric operation.
The Lockout
In 1913 the Dublin tram system was central to the Dublin lockoutDublin Lockout
The Dublin Lock-out was a major industrial dispute between approximately 20,000 workers and 300 employers which took place in Ireland's capital city of Dublin. The dispute lasted from 26 August 1913 to 18 January 1914, and is often viewed as the most severe and significant industrial dispute in...
when DUTC members walked off the job over the refusal of then DUTC chairman (and leading shareholder) William Martin Murphy
William Martin Murphy
William Martin Murphy was an Irish nationalist journalist, businessman and politician. A Member of Parliament representing Dublin from 1885 to 1892, he was dubbed 'William Murder Murphy' among Dublin workers and the press due to the Dublin Lockout of 1913...
to allow some workers to join the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union
Irish Transport and General Workers' Union
The Irish Transport and General Workers Union, an Irish trade union, was founded by James Larkin in 1908 as a general union. Initially drawing its membership from branches of the Liverpool-based National Union of Dock Labourers, from which Larkin had been expelled, it grew to include workers in a...
Decline and closure
The DUTC opened its first bus route in 1925, progressively replacing the trams until the closure of their last route, the No. 8 to Dalkey, on 10 July 1949. According to then Minister for Justice Seán Mac EoinSeán Mac Eoin
Seán Mac Eoin was an Irish Fine Gael politician and soldier. He was commonly referred to as the "Blacksmith of Ballinalee".-Early life:...
"A force of 60 guards
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
, including 2 superintendents, 1 inspector, 8 sergeants and 3 motor-cyclists were placed on duty over the route." were unable to protect the last tram from damage by souvenir hunters Notably the "Royal Commission on Transport, 1930" actively advised against trams and for their replacement with buses.
Following the Transport Act 1944, control of the DUTC was vested in the newly formed Coras Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann
Córas Iompair Éireann , or CIÉ, is a statutory corporation of the Irish state, answerable to the Irish Government and responsible for most public transport in the Republic of Ireland and, jointly with its Northern Ireland counterpart, the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, between the...
(CIÉ). At the time the DUTC had 113 trams remaining
The Hill of Howth Tramway
Hill of Howth Tramway
Colloquially known as the Howth Tram, this tramway operated from June 1901 to June 1959 and served Howth Head, near Dublin, Ireland. The service was run by the Great Northern Railway , which viewed it as a way to bring more customers to its railway stations at Sutton and Howth.-Route:Electric...
was transferred to CIÉ in 1958 and closed on 31 May 1959. It was the last tram to run in Ireland until the Luas
Luas
Luas , also promoted in the development stage as the Dublin Light Rail System, is a tram or light rail system serving Dublin, the first such system in the decades since the closure of the last of the Dublin tramways. In 2007, the system carried 28.4 million passengers, a growth of 10% since...
tram system opened in 2004..
Reasons for decline
A number of factors combined in the decline of Dublin's tram system. The advent of buses and large scale competition meant that buses often ran the same routes as the trams and would jump in front in order to "grab" customers, while buses were able to move into Dublin's expanding hinterlandHinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
quicker and at less cost that the trams, and the belief that trams were outdated and old technology all lead to declining use. Meanwhile, the DUTC's takeover of many bus operators left the DUTC with a large number of buses which were used and expanded to areas of Dublin with no tram service, and buses eventually became the DUTC's core business. There was a belief that buses were cheaper to run than trams and that the system was in a poor state of repair.
After closure
After closure the system was still being discussed in the Dáil until at least 1960 when the issue of removal of the old tram tracks was raised .Lines and companies
The original tram-related legislation identified proposed lines by number, with a detailed route description, but these numbers were not widely used.Dublin United Tramways Company
| Number | Route | Original operator | Opened | Electrified | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Ringsend Ringsend Ringsend is a southside inner suburb of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. It is located on the south bank of the River Liffey, about two kilometres east of the city centre, and is the southern terminus of the East Link Toll Bridge.... (Thomas St). |
DUTC | 18 March 1901 | 18 March 1901 | 26 March 1940 |
| 2 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Sandymount Sandymount Sandymount is a coastal seaside suburb in Dublin 4 on the Southside of Dublin in Ireland. It is in the Dublin South East Dáil constituency and the East Pembroke Ward. It was once part of Pembroke Township, which took its name from the fact that this area was part of the estate of the Earl of... (Sandymount Rd) via Ringsend Ringsend Ringsend is a southside inner suburb of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. It is located on the south bank of the River Liffey, about two kilometres east of the city centre, and is the southern terminus of the East Link Toll Bridge.... |
DUTC | 18 March 1901 | 18 March 1901 | 26 March 1940 |
| 3 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Sandymount Sandymount Sandymount is a coastal seaside suburb in Dublin 4 on the Southside of Dublin in Ireland. It is in the Dublin South East Dáil constituency and the East Pembroke Ward. It was once part of Pembroke Township, which took its name from the fact that this area was part of the estate of the Earl of... (Strand Rd) via Ringsend Ringsend Ringsend is a southside inner suburb of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. It is located on the south bank of the River Liffey, about two kilometres east of the city centre, and is the southern terminus of the East Link Toll Bridge.... |
DUTC | 18 March 1901 | 18 March 1901 | 26 March 1940 |
| 4 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Sandymount Sandymount Sandymount is a coastal seaside suburb in Dublin 4 on the Southside of Dublin in Ireland. It is in the Dublin South East Dáil constituency and the East Pembroke Ward. It was once part of Pembroke Township, which took its name from the fact that this area was part of the estate of the Earl of... (Strand Rd) via Bath Avenue |
DTC | 1 October 1872 | 14 January 1901 | 31 July 1932 |
| 5 | Phoenix Park Phoenix Park Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth... and Pembroke Pembroke Township Pembroke Township was an area adjoining the City of Dublin, Ireland formed for local government purposes by private Act of Parliament in 1863. The township took its name from the fact that most of the area was part of the estate of the Earl of Pembroke. The township was governed by commissioners... (Ballsbridge Ballsbridge Ballsbridge is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, named for the bridge spanning the River Dodder on the south side of the city. The sign on the bridge still proclaims it as "Ball's Bridge" in recognition of the fact that the original bridge in this location was built and owned by a Mr... ) |
1930 | |||
| 6 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Blackrock |
DTC (Haddington Rd.), DSDT (Blackrock) |
16 July 1879 | 16 May 1879 (from Haddington Rd.), 12 July 1896 (entire line) |
9 July 1949 |
| 7 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Kingstown Dún Laoghaire Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain... |
DTC (Haddington Rd.), DSDT (Blackrock), Kingstown (BKT) |
August 1885 | 16 May 1879 (from Haddington Rd.), 12 July 1896 (entire line) |
9 July 1949 |
| 8 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Dalkey Dalkey Dalkey is suburb of Dublin and seaside resort in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County, Ireland. It was founded as a Viking settlement and became an important port during the Middle Ages. According to John Clyn, it was one of the ports through which the plague entered Ireland in the mid-14th century... |
DTC (Haddington Rd.), DSDT (Blackrock), Kingstown (BKT), Dalkey (DSDT) |
19 March 1879 (originally gauge Kingstown / Dalkey) | 16 May 1879 (from Haddington Rd.), 12 July 1896 (entire line) |
9 July 1949 |
| 9 | Donnybrook Donnybrook, Dublin Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township... and Phoenix Park Phoenix Park Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth... via Merrion Square Merrion Square Merrion Square is a Georgian square on the southside of Dublin city centre. It was laid out after 1762 and was largely complete by the beginning of the 19th century. It is considered one of the city's finest surviving squares... |
DTC (Donnybrook), NDST (Phoenix Park) |
14 March 1873 (Donnybrook), 10 December 1876 (Phoenix Park) |
22 November 1898 (Phoenix Park), 23 January 1899 (Donnybrook) |
6 June 1940 |
| 10 | Donnybrook Donnybrook, Dublin Donnybrook is a district of Dublin, Ireland. It is situated on the southside of the city, in the Dublin 4 postal district, and is home to the Irish state broadcaster RTÉ. It was once part of the Pembroke Township... and Phoenix Park Phoenix Park Phoenix Park is an urban park in Dublin, Ireland, lying 2–4 km west of the city centre, north of the River Liffey. Its 16 km perimeter wall encloses , one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and since the seventeenth... via Stephen's Green |
DUTC | 14 May 1906 | 14 May 1906 | 6 June 1940 |
| 11 | Whitehall Whitehall, Dublin Whitehall is a Northside suburb of Dublin City, Ireland.Whitehall is on the northern outskirts of Dublin's inner city, located on the N1 road leading to Dublin Airport, Swords and Belfast, between Santry and Drumcondra. North of Whitehall, the N1 becomes a motorway, the M1... and Clonskea via Leeson Street Leeson Street Leeson Street is a thoroughfare near central Dublin, Ireland.Originally known as Suesey Street, it was renamed in 1728 after the Leesons, a family of local brewers, who branched into property development and subsequently became Earls of Milltown.... |
DCT (Ranelagh Ranelagh Ranelagh is a residential area and urban village on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the postal district of Dublin 6. It is in the local government electoral area of Rathmines and the Dáil Constituency of Dublin South-East.-History:... to Clonskea), NDST (Drumcondra Drumcondra, Dublin Drumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:... ), DUTC (full route) |
17 March 1879 (DCT), 1877 (NDST), 1903 (DUTC) |
1 December 1899 (Clonskea), 9 November 1899 (Drumcondra), 7 September 1903 (Whitehall) |
1939 |
| 12 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Palmerston Park Palmerston Park, Dublin Palmerston Park is a park in Dartry, an affluent suburban area of Dublin, Ireland.... (Cnr Dartry Rd). |
DCT (from College Green College Green College Green is a three-sided "square" in the centre of Dublin. On its northern side is a building known today as the Bank of Ireland which until 1800 was Ireland's Parliament House. To its east stands Trinity College Dublin, the only constituent college of the University of Dublin. To its south... ) |
3 May 1879 | 24 October 1899 | 1 January 1939 |
| 13 | Clontarf Rd. Clontarf, Dublin Clontarf is a coastal suburb on the northside of Dublin, in Ireland. It is most famous for giving the name to the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, in which Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, defeated the Vikings of Dublin and their allies, the Irish of Leinster. This battle, which extended to districts... (cnr St. Lawrence's Rd.) and Westland Row railway station Dublin Pearse railway station Dublin Pearse, also known as Pearse Station , located on Westland Row in the Southside in Dublin, Ireland, is Ireland's busiest railway station and an important commuter terminus for the Dublin area.-Services:... |
DUTC | 17 February 1918 | 21 March 1918 | |
| 14 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Dartry Road (Cnr Orwell Pk) via upper Rathmines Rathmines Rathmines is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. It effectively begins at the south side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranelagh to the east and Harold's Cross to the west.Rathmines has... |
DUTC | 27 January 1905 | 27 January 1905 | 31 October 1948 |
| 15 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Terenure Terenure Terenure is a mainly residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, largely in the administrative area of Dublin City Council but with parts in the administrative county of South Dublin County .-Location and transport:... via Rathmines Rathmines Rathmines is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. It effectively begins at the south side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranelagh to the east and Harold's Cross to the west.Rathmines has... |
DTC | 1 February 1872 | 28 August 1899 | 31 October 1948 |
| 16 & 17 | Rathfarnham Rathfarnham Rathfarnham or Rathfarnam is a Southside suburb of Dublin, Ireland. It is south of Terenure, east of Templeogue, and is in the postal districts of Dublin 14 and 16. It is within the administrative areas of both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin County Councils.The area of Rathfarnham... and Drumcondra Drumcondra, Dublin Drumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:... via Harold's Cross |
Dublin Central Tramways Company (Rathfarnham), NDST (Drumcondra) |
22 June 1879 | 9 November 1899 | 1 May 1939 |
| 18 | Kenilworth Road and Lansdowne Road Lansdowne Road Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts... |
DUTC | 22 August 1898 (Rathmines to Ballsbridge horse tram) | 12 October 1899 | 1 December 1940 |
| 19 | Rialto Rialto (Dublin) Rialto is a suburb of Dublin's southside. It is located along the abandoned extension from the Grand Canal to James Street Basin which was once again built to serve the Guinness Brewery.... and Glasnevin Glasnevin Glasnevin is a largely residential neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland.-Geography:A mainly residential neighbourhood, it is located on the Northside of the city of Dublin . It was originally established on the northern bank of the River Tolka... |
NDST (Glasnevin), DUTC (Rialto) | 10 December 1876 (Glasnevin), 20 May 1905 (Rialto) |
4 December 1899 | 1939 |
| 20 | Rialto Rialto (Dublin) Rialto is a suburb of Dublin's southside. It is located along the abandoned extension from the Grand Canal to James Street Basin which was once again built to serve the Guinness Brewery.... and Glasnevin Glasnevin Glasnevin is a largely residential neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland.-Geography:A mainly residential neighbourhood, it is located on the Northside of the city of Dublin . It was originally established on the northern bank of the River Tolka... via Harcourt St. |
NDST (Glasnevin), DUTC (Rialto) |
10 December 1876 (Glasnevin), 20 May 1905 (Rialto) |
4 December 1899 | 1939 |
| 21 | Inchicore Inchicore -Location and access:Located five kilometres due west of the city centre, Inchicore lies south of the River Liffey, west of Kilmainham, north of Drimnagh and east of Ballyfermot. The majority of Inchicore is in the Dublin 8 postal district... and Westland Row railway station Dublin Pearse railway station Dublin Pearse, also known as Pearse Station , located on Westland Row in the Southside in Dublin, Ireland, is Ireland's busiest railway station and an important commuter terminus for the Dublin area.-Services:... |
NDST | July 1878 | 4 September 1899 | 4 February 1940 |
| 22 | Kingsbridge railway station Dublin Heuston railway station Dublin Heuston , commonly called Heuston Station , is one of Ireland's main railway stations, serving the south, southwest and west. It is operated by Iarnród Éireann , the national railway operator... and Harcourt St. railway station (corner of Hatch Street) via southern quays and Westland Row railway station Dublin Pearse railway station Dublin Pearse, also known as Pearse Station , located on Westland Row in the Southside in Dublin, Ireland, is Ireland's busiest railway station and an important commuter terminus for the Dublin area.-Services:... |
DTC | 3 June 1872 | 16 January 1900 | 4 February 1940 |
| 23 | Park Gate (the entrance to the Phoenix Park) and Ballybough Ballybough Ballybough is a district of north Dublin, Ireland situated northeast of Summerhill, between the Royal Canal and the River Tolka. Adjacent areas are North Strand, Fairview and Drumcondra/Clonliffe. The name derives from the Irish baile "town" and bocht "poor"... |
DUTC | 1 October 1900 | 1 October 1900 | 16 April 1938 |
| 24 | O'Connell Bridge O'Connell Bridge O'Connell Bridge is a road bridge spanning the River Liffey in Dublin, and joining O'Connell Street to D'Olier Street, Westmoreland Street and the south quays.-History:... and Park Gate via northern quays |
DTC | 16 April 1874 | 18 October 1899 | 16 April 1938 |
| 25 | Bachelor’s Walk and Lucan | DUTC | 14 May 1928 | 14 May 1928 | 12 April 1940 |
| 26 | Bachelor’s Walk and Chapelizod Chapelizod Chapelizod is a picturesque Irish village preserved within the city of Dublin, Ireland. It lies in the verdant wooded valley of the River Liffey, on the way to the slopes of the Strawberry Beds, below the Phoenix Park. The village is associated with Iseult of Ireland and the location of Iseault's... |
DUTC | 27May 1928 | 27 May 1928 | 12 April 1940 |
| 27 | College Green College Green College Green is a three-sided "square" in the centre of Dublin. On its northern side is a building known today as the Bank of Ireland which until 1800 was Ireland's Parliament House. To its east stands Trinity College Dublin, the only constituent college of the University of Dublin. To its south... and Drumcondra Drumcondra, Dublin Drumcondra is a residential area and inner suburb on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland. It is administered by Dublin City Council.The River Tolka and the Royal Canal flow through the area.-History:... via Capel Street |
NDST | 1877 | 5 January 1900 | 21 March 1918, briefly reinstated in 1922 as route no. 27 |
| 28, 29, 30 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Dollymount Dollymount Dollymount is a coastal suburban area on the north coast of Dublin Bay, within Clontarf, on the northside of Dublin, Ireland, just East of St Anne's Park.-Dollymount Strand:... |
DTC | 1873 | 20 March 1898 | 1939 |
| 31 | Nelson's Pillar Nelson's Pillar The Nelson Pillar , known locally as Nelson's Pillar or simply The Pillar, was a large granite pillar topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson in the middle of O'Connell Street, Dublin... and Howth Howth Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only... |
DTC (Dollymount), C&HoHT (Howth) | 26 July 1900 (Howth) | 29 March 1941 | |
Non-DUTC operations
The Dublin region had six other tram companies in the early 20th century, two operating back-to-back lines to Lucan and LeixlipLeixlip
-Politics:Since 1988 Leixlip has had a nine member Town Council , headed by a Cathaoirleach , which has control over many local matters, although it is limited in that it is not also a planning authority...
, and two similarly in the direction of Blessington
Blessington
Blessington, historically known as Ballycomeen , is a town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on the N81 road, which connects Dublin to Tullow.- History :...
and Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca , is a townland in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the border with County Kildare. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lake...
. The remaining two operated lines relating to Howth, one circuiting Howth Head
Howth Head
Howth Head is a headland north east of Dublin City in Ireland. Howth falls under the local governance of fingal county council. Entry to the headland is at Sutton while village of Howth and the harbour are on the northern shore. Baily Lighthouse is on the southeastern part of Howth Head...
and one connecting the DUTC system to Howth village and harbour. The Lucan and Leixlip lines were absorbed by the DUTC in 1927, and the coastal service to Howth was part-DUTC for many years.
Clontarf and Hill of Howth Tramroad
The Clontarf and Hill of Howth TramroadClontarf and Hill of Howth Tramroad
The Clontarf and Hill of Howth Tramroad Company operated a tram service from central Dublin via Dollymount in Clontarf to Howth Harbour in the Dublin area of Ireland from 1900 to 1941...
(C&HoHT), incorporated by a Private Local Act, having considered both a coastal route and one via Raheny
Raheny
Raheny is a northern suburb of Dublin, the capital city of Ireland. It is an old area, centred around an old village, and is referenced back to 570 AD but after years of light settlement, with a main village and a coastal hamlet, grew rapidly in the 20th century, and is now a mid-density...
, had a single line, from Dollymount
Dollymount
Dollymount is a coastal suburban area on the north coast of Dublin Bay, within Clontarf, on the northside of Dublin, Ireland, just East of St Anne's Park.-Dollymount Strand:...
to Howth Harbour
Howth
Howth is an area in Fingal County near Dublin city in Ireland. Originally just a small fishing village, Howth with its surrounding rural district is now a busy suburb of Dublin, with a mix of dense residential development and wild hillside, all on the peninsula of Howth Head. The only...
, which opened on 26 July 1900. It operated as an extension of the DUTC lines and shared operation with the DUTC, providing a route from Nelson's Pillar to Howth. It remained legally independent until closure, being wound-up on 1 July 1941, but was operationally integrated with the DUTC, at least from the second decade of the century.
Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway
The Dublin and Blessington Steam TramwayDublin and Blessington Steam Tramway
The Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway , later the Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway, operated steam-powered trams between Terenure in Dublin and Blessington in Co. Wicklow from 1888 until 1932.-History:...
(DBST), (1888–1932), which ran from Terenure
Terenure
Terenure is a mainly residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, largely in the administrative area of Dublin City Council but with parts in the administrative county of South Dublin County .-Location and transport:...
to Blessington
Blessington
Blessington, historically known as Ballycomeen , is a town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on the N81 road, which connects Dublin to Tullow.- History :...
, at a length of 15.5 miles (24.9 km) and with a total journey time of 1 hour and 25 minutes. Although the DBST connected with the DUTC system at Terenure, through-running was not allowed, as Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation
Dublin Corporation , known by generations of Dubliners simply as The Corpo, is the former name given to the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin between 1661 and 1 January 2002...
prohibited the operation of steam trams within the city.
The line was actually one of the first proposed in Ireland, as the Dublin and Baltinglass Tramway, but the costs of setting up operation under the early legislation were deemed prohibitive, and it was only after its promoters obtained the Dublin Tramways Act, 1881 (c. 17 of that year) that work really started.
Dublin
Dublin County Council
Dublin County Council was a local authority for the administrative county of County Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1898....
and Wicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council
Wicklow County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Wicklow in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The head of the council has the title of...
s guaranteed this line, Kildare
Kildare County Council
Kildare County Council is the local authority which is responsible for County Kildare in Ireland. The Council is responsible for Housing and Community, Roads and Transportation, Urban planning and Development, Amenity and Culture, and Environment. The council is governed by the Local Government...
however, despite usage from the direction of Harristown (and Kilcullen
Kilcullen
Kilcullen , formally Kilcullen Bridge, is a small town on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. Its population of 2,985 makes it the 12th largest settlement in County Kildare and the fastest growing in the county, having doubled in population from 1,483 in the census of 2002...
and Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace is a small town situated in County Kildare in Ireland, although until 1836 it lay within a "pocket" of County Dublin...
) refused to be involved. It came under the administration of the Dublin County Surveyor in 1916, after years of profitable operation ended in 1914, and later under a Committee of Management. The potential inclusion of the line into the new Great Southern Railways
Great Southern Railways
The Great Southern Railways Company was an Irish company that from 1925 until 1945 owned and operated all railways that lay wholly within the Irish Free State .-Formation:...
entity was debated in the Dáil in 1924, but the government successfully opposed the idea. The DBST was closed by the Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway (Abandonment) Act, 1932, after years of being a burden on ratepayers, especially in the much more sparsely-populated Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
.
Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway
The Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway (BPST), (1895–1927), was a 4.5 miles (7.2 km) extension of the DBST from Blessington
Blessington
Blessington, historically known as Ballycomeen , is a town in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on the N81 road, which connects Dublin to Tullow.- History :...
to Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca
Poulaphouca, officially Pollaphuca , is a townland in County Wicklow, Ireland, on the border with County Kildare. It is primarily known for its hydroelectric generating station and artificial lake, known as Poulaphouca Reservoir, Poulaphouca Lake, or Blessington Lake...
, built and operated by a separate company.
Dublin and Lucan Steam Tramway
Chapelizod
Chapelizod is a picturesque Irish village preserved within the city of Dublin, Ireland. It lies in the verdant wooded valley of the River Liffey, on the way to the slopes of the Strawberry Beds, below the Phoenix Park. The village is associated with Iseult of Ireland and the location of Iseault's...
in June 1881, Palmerstown
Palmerstown
Palmerstown , occasionally referred to as Palmerston, is a suburb of Dublin,Ireland. It is located about 8km west of the city centre, in the administrative county of South Dublin. The area is bordered to the north by the River Liffey, to the west by Lucan, to the south by Ballyfermot and to theeast...
in November 1881, and to Lucan in 1883.
One of the steam trams they purchased was from the Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
company of Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd.
Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd.
Manlove, Alliott & Co. Ltd. was an engineering company based in Nottingham, England. It was also for a time known as Manlove, Alliott, Fryer & Co. Ltd.-History:...
.
In 1900, under a new Order in Council, the DLST was electrified and regauged
Gauge conversion
In rail transport, gauge conversion is the process of converting a railway from one rail gauge to another, through the alteration of the railway tracks...
from to and renamed the Dublin and Lucan Electric Railway Company (D&LER).
Legally a railway, it was taken over and supported by the government during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
under the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA). However, this ended in 1921 and facing increasing competition from the Tower Bus Co., the D&LER's financial position deteriorated.
In 1925, after their failure to be amalgamated into the GSR under the Railways Act 1924, the line was closed, going into liquidation. Following discussions, and enabled by two acts of Saorstat Eireann, the D&LER was bought up by the DUTC. The lines were regauged to Dublin's 5 foot gauge only as far as Lucan, a new line was fitted in Chapelizod, and it reopened as a DUTC route in 1928.
Extensions beyond Lucan
Lucan and Leixlip Steam Tramway
The Lucan, Leixlip and Celbridge Steam Tramway Company was established to build lines from the Lucan terminus to Leixlip and Celbridge
Celbridge
Celbridge is a town and townland on the River Liffey in County Kildare, Ireland. It is west of Dublin. As a town within the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the Greater Dublin Area, it is located at the intersection of the R403 and R405 regional roads....
(branching off just outside Leixlip). The Lucan and Leixlip Steam Tramway (L&LST) extension was built, and operated between 1890 and 1898. After it went into liquidation, its assets were sold at auction on 1 August 1899, including around 6160 yards of rails, two bogie passenger carriages, two other passenger carriages, two goods wagons, a locomotive engine, a water ram in the River Liffey and much other material
Lucan and Leixlip Electric Railway
A new line was laid close to the original steam line, over a decade later, under an Order in Council, the Lucan and Leixlip Electric Railway Order, 1910, by a completely new company. Despite the name, this does not seem to have followed the full distance to Leixlip but rather only the 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) to the Spa Hotel at Doddsborough. This was opened as an electric line in 1910, and was leased to the (D&LER) in August 1911.
When the DUTC bought up the insolvent D&LER, they also purchased the L&LER from its shareholders, and although required to refit and reopen it in like manner, following objections from Dublin County Council the extension beyond Lucan was not reopened.
Interconnection of the Lucan / Leixlip and city trams
Hill of Howth Tramway
Operated by the Great Northern RailwayGreat Northern Railway (Ireland)
The Great Northern Railway was an Irish gauge railway company in Ireland.The Great Northern was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway , Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The Ulster Railway was the GNRI's oldest constituent, having opened between Belfast and...
(GNR), the Hill of Howth Tramway
Hill of Howth Tramway
Colloquially known as the Howth Tram, this tramway operated from June 1901 to June 1959 and served Howth Head, near Dublin, Ireland. The service was run by the Great Northern Railway , which viewed it as a way to bring more customers to its railway stations at Sutton and Howth.-Route:Electric...
comprised a single route, from Sutton railway station
Sutton railway station, Republic of Ireland
Sutton railway station serves the village and district of Sutton, and is also accessible from Baldoyle in County Dublin. The station opened on 30 July 1846. The Howth tram ran between here and Howth railway station until 1959.It is on the coastal road from Sutton to Baldoyle, near Sutton Golf...
to Howth railway station
Howth railway station
Howth DART station , opened on 30 May 1847, serves Howth Head and the harbour town of Howth in County Dublin, Ireland, in the administration of Fingal...
over Howth Head
Howth Head
Howth Head is a headland north east of Dublin City in Ireland. Howth falls under the local governance of fingal county council. Entry to the headland is at Sutton while village of Howth and the harbour are on the northern shore. Baily Lighthouse is on the southeastern part of Howth Head...
by way of the Summit. The tramway was opened under the Great Northern Railway (Ireland) Act of 1897 (and the Tramways Acts), the first line segment, from Sutton to the Summit, on 17 July 1901, the remainder to Howth on 1 August 1901.
Guinness Brewery tramways
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
Brewery tramways was a system of industrial tramways that operated on and around the site of St. James's Gate Brewery
St. James's Gate Brewery
St. James's Gate Brewery is a brewery founded in 1759 in Dublin, Ireland by Arthur Guinness. The company is now a part of Diageo, a company formed via the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan in 1997. The main product produced at the brewery is Guinness Draft.Leased for 9,000 years in 1759 by...
Two different gauges were used; a minimum gauge tramway
Minimum gauge railway
Minimum gauge railways have a gauge of less than or , most commonly , , or . The notion of minimum gauge railways was originally developed by estate railways and by the French company of Decauville for industrial railways....
and a broad gauge line. Neither were for public use.
The minimum gauge tramway
The broad gauge tramway
The broad gauge tramway connected the brewery with the goods yards of Heuston Station. The system began circa 1880 and had a gauge of and was horse drawn but they were replaced by the minimum gauge tramway's locomotives on a special haulage wagon.. The broad gauge system closed on 15 May 1965.
Dublin tramways in popular culture
Dublin tramways, routes, tracks and the DUTC are mentioned several times in UlyseesUlysses (novel)
Ulysses is a novel by the Irish author James Joyce. It was first serialised in parts in the American journal The Little Review from March 1918 to December 1920, and then published in its entirety by Sylvia Beach on 2 February 1922, in Paris. One of the most important works of Modernist literature,...
by James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
Today
Around the city it is still possible to see buildings associated with the system such as the Blackrock Depot (later the Mazda Europa Centre, now facing demolition), Dartry Depot, Clonskeagh Depot, Donnybrook Depot (now part of Donnybrook Bus Garage), Dalkey Yard (some track still in-situ), the Sandymount Depot, the Marlborough StreetMarlborough Street
Marlborough Street or Marlboro Street can refer to the following streets:*Great Marlborough Street in London, England, often called Marlborough Street*V8 Marlborough Street in Milton Keynes, England, formally Marlborough Street...
Depot which still features the lettering DUTC or the Power House in Ringsend
Ringsend
Ringsend is a southside inner suburb of Dublin, the capital of Ireland. It is located on the south bank of the River Liffey, about two kilometres east of the city centre, and is the southern terminus of the East Link Toll Bridge....
, and other reminders of the system also exist. Meanwhile some trams are preserved in the National Museum of Ireland
National Museum of Ireland
The National Museum of Ireland is the national museum in Ireland. It has three branches in Dublin and one in County Mayo, with a strong emphasis on Irish art, culture and natural history.-Archaeology:...
and the National Transport Museum of Ireland (at Howth Castle
Howth Castle
Howth Castle lies close to the village of Howth, Fingal County in Ireland. It is the ancestral home of the line of the St Lawrence family that died out in 1909. From 1425 to 1767 the title had been Lord Howth, holding the area since the Norman invasion of 1180. It is now held by their heirs, the...
) and at the National Tramway Museum
National Tramway Museum
The National Tramway Museum, at Crich, in Derbyshire, England, is situated within Crich Tramway Village, a period village containing a pub, cafe, old-style sweetshop, including the tram depots. The village is also home to the Eagle Press, a small museum dedicated to Letterpress Printing including...
in the UK.
See also
- Dublin United Transport CompanyDublin United Transport CompanyThe Dublin United Transport Company operated trams and buses in Dublin, Ireland until 1945. Following legislation in the Oireachtas , the DUTC and the Great Southern Railways were vested in the newly formed Coras Iompair Éireann in 1945.-Formation:The DUTC was formed by the merging of several of...
- Hill of Howth TramwayHill of Howth TramwayColloquially known as the Howth Tram, this tramway operated from June 1901 to June 1959 and served Howth Head, near Dublin, Ireland. The service was run by the Great Northern Railway , which viewed it as a way to bring more customers to its railway stations at Sutton and Howth.-Route:Electric...
- Dublin and Blessington Steam TramwayDublin and Blessington Steam TramwayThe Dublin and Blessington Steam Tramway , later the Blessington and Poulaphouca Steam Tramway, operated steam-powered trams between Terenure in Dublin and Blessington in Co. Wicklow from 1888 until 1932.-History:...