Early tramways

Horsedrawn tram which ran between Newtown and St Peters stations, c1894

Sydney's first tram was horse-drawn, running from the old Sydney railway station to Circular Quay along Pitt Street.^[1]

Built in 1861, the design was compromised by the desire to haul railway freight wagons along the line to supply city businesses and return cargo from the docks at Circular Quay with passenger traffic as an afterthought.

This resulted in a track that protruded from the road surface and it caused damage to the wheels of wagons trying to cross it. Hard campaigning by competing Horse Omnibus owners – as well as a fatal accident involving the leading Australian musician Isaac Nathan in 1864 – led to closure in 1866.

Steam tram (1879)

In 1879 a steam tramway was established in conjunction with the upcoming Sydney International Exhibition that was to be held in the Domain/Botanical Gardens area of Sydney.^[2] Originally planned by the government to be removed after the exhibition, the success of the steam tramway led to the system being expanded rapidly through the city and inner suburbs during the 1880s and 1890s.

The Steam Trams in Sydney comprised a Baldwin steam tram motor hauling one or more trailers of either single deck or double deck construction. Unlike the earlier horse tramway, the steam tramway used grooved rail for on-street running.

Preserved Sydney Steam Trams are Motor 1A, owned by the Powerhouse Museum and is usually stored at the "Discovery Centre" at Castle Hill, however it is currently on loan to the Sydney Tramway Museum at Loftus (currently non-operational),^[3] Motor 100A (operational) at the Museum of Transport & Technology, Auckland New Zealand as it was sold to Wanganui Tramways in 1910 and Motor 103A which operates with a former trailer car 93B at Valley Heights Rail Museum after previously being at Parramatta Park.

Cable trams in King Street, Sydney, c.1900.

Two cable tram routes were also built in Sydney. The first route ran from the original Milsons Point ferry wharf in North Sydney to near Falcon Street North Sydney and was later extended to Crows Nest. Construction of a cable line north of harbour was due to the steep terrain involved from Milsons Point to North Sydney.^[4] The second route ran from King Street Wharf on the eastern side of Darling Harbour to Ocean Street Edgecliff. Cable Trailer 23 is preserved at the Sydney Tramway Museum at Loftus.

Additionally, horse trams operated between Newtown and St Peters railway stations in the 1890s and between Manly and North Manly from 1903 to 1907. However these two instances, the operation of horse tram services were acting as replacements for the existing steam trams services on these lines due to the low patronage during the indicated years.

Electrification

C Class trams on George Street near Hunter Street

The Sydney tram power supply system was built using New York City subway electrical equipment that was adapted for tram usage. A generating plant was installed at Ultimo and White Bay Power Stations.^[5]

Electrification started in 1898, and most of the system was converted by 1910. An exception was the privately owned Parramatta line built by Charles Edward Jeanneret in 1881^[6] to Redbank Wharf (Duck River) where the steam tram^[7] remained until 1943 which was operated by Sydney Ferries Ltd.

After experimentation with three trams, built by John Stephenson in New York and fitted rheostatic controllers, on the Waverley extension line and later at North Sydney, the early locally built single-truck were based on US designs, with C-class saloon cars, followed by D-class combination cars. A number of other Australian and New Zealand cities also used similar designs.

Cross-bench "toast rack" trams had proved to be very efficient "crowd swallowers" in Sydney steam tram operation, so the stream tram style was adopted for later locally built electric trams. This resulted in the E-class (that ran in a permanently coupled set), J-class and the K-class, and the more famous O-class, O/P-class, P-class and L/P-class bogie trams that required the conductor to collect fares from the footboard running along the side of the tram, as they had no corridor through the middle connecting each compartment.

Revered though footboard trams were for the number of passengers they could move, they were deathtraps for the conductors working them. On average, each day one conductor fell or was knocked off the footboard by passing motor vehicles as they became more popular. In the three years 1923, 1924, 1925, there were 282, 289, and 233 accidents respectively to conductors on NSW tramways.^[8] The majority suffered a fractured skull. From 1916 to 1932, there were 4,097 accidents to tram employees, and from 1923 to 1931 there were 10,228 accidents to passengers having falls when alighting or boarding. A total of 63 of the falls were fatal.^[9] Of the more than 100 falls reported of conductors, one quarter died from their injuries.^[10]

It was not until 1933 with the introduction of R-class tram 1938 that the drop-centre saloon tram, which had started to adopted elsewhere in Australia, came to Sydney. Even so, footboard trams continued in wide use until the very late 1950s, despite calls as early as 1934 by the tram union for them to be modified.^[9] Four P Class trams were refitted with the same windows, centre door and internal layout as the R1 class, to create the PR1 class, but otherwise there was no modification of footboard trams to a safer corridor tram design.^[11]

Apart from the G, H and M classes, one of every electric tram class (and in some cases two or more) have been preserved by the Sydney Tramway Museum at Loftus NSW.

Demise and closure

Last day of trams, Rural Bank tram stop, corner Martin Place and Elizabeth Street, 25 February 1961

By the 1920s, the system had reached its maximum extent. In many ways, the Sydney tram system was a victim of its own success. The overcrowded and heaving trams running at a high frequency, in competition with growing private motor car and bus use, ended up being blamed for the congestion caused by the latter.

Competition from the private car and unregulated private bus operators created the perception of traffic congestion which began the gradual closure of lines from the late 1930s.

Material shortages and lack of funding caused by the Second World War had caused the system to become rundown from poor maintenance. The perception of the government was that the financial cost of upgrading infrastructure and purchasing new trams would bankrupt the state.

This led to the government's calling on overseas transport experts to advise the city on its post-war transport issues, and this led to the recommendation that closure of the system was the best option for the state of NSW.

In 1948 Premier McGirr imported three London experts to advise on road transport systems. They produced a major report in 1949 which proposed a systematic phasing out of trams by 1960. They recommended the acquisition of double-decked buses to ease traffic congestion and yield substantial financial benefits. They also suggested that buses would be more efficient at handling racecourse and showground traffic. The government accepted the principle in the report. Probably as a result of the extent of popular affection for the trams, the conversion program proceeded more slowly than the report had proposed. The prestigious Ebasco group of American transit consultants had strongly endorsed the policy in a memorandum of May, 1957. An examination of election policy speeches does not reveal political motives in the tram/bus question. The Labor Party was genuinely concerned for the travelling public's interests.^[12]

The closure was supported by the NRMA^[13] (who stood to gain from increased membership), but generally went against public opinion as most of the patronage were those who could not afford to purchase private transportation.

Nevertheless, closure became government policy in the early 1950s and the system was wound down in stages, with withdrawal of the services completed on 25 February 1961 when R1 class tram 1995 returned from La Perouse to Randwick Workshops just before 4:40pm on 25 February 1961, which was driven by Jerry Valek, a Czechoslovakian man from Annandale.^{[14][15][16][17][18]}

It was alleged after the tramways were closed that there were many other influences on the government to close down the system. These allegedly came from the rubber and petrol industries, motor vehicle (bus) manufacturers and those opposed to increased public expenditure. The allegations had some elements based on the General Motors streetcar conspiracy that occurred in the USA due to the use of "overseas experts".

Circular Quay to Central Station

The approach to Central station, about 1912 with a coupled set of E class trams climbing to the colonnade, Pitt sStreet lines are to the right

This was an extremely busy service for passengers transferring from suburban trains at Central, particularly prior to the opening of the city underground railway lines in 1926. Trams operated from Central station across Eddy Avenue, along Castlereagh Street via Bligh, Bent and Loftus Streets to Alfred Street, Circular Quay and returned via Pitt Street in a large anti-clockwise loop. The tram lines down Pitt and Castlereagh streets closed on 27 September 1957.

These tracks were also used as the city route for some eastern and south-western routes during busy periods as opposed to Elizabeth Street. The services could also be short worked via Bent and Spring Streets at times when Circular Quay was busy or unavailable.

The sandstone viaduct onto the colonnade at Central station were built across Eddy Avenue for this service, and are being used again today by trams of a sort in the form of the Inner West Light Rail system, however they are operating in the opposite direction.

Watsons Bay line

The Rushcutters Bay Tram Depot, which served this line, was located on New South Head Road at Rushcutters Bay on the north side of the road.

This line, which was first laid down as a cable tramway, began at a loop at the corner of Erskine and Day Streets near Wynyard station then proceeded south down Day Street, turning left into King Street and operated as an isolated electric tramway from October 1898 until January 1905 when electric services were extended to the Erskine Street terminus and the cable tramway was closed.

Rose Bay electric tram, New South Head Road

After 1905, the line was extended along Dover Road to the Signal Station at Vaucluse. From the signal station a single track passed through the parkland area known as "The Gap" through narrow rock cuttings, low cliffs and rugged back-drops, twisting and turning its way down to the terminus at Watsons Bay.

The line reached Edgecliff in 1894, and Watsons Bay in 1909.^[19] In 1949 the line from Rose Bay to Watsons Bay closed, but reopened in 1950 due to public protest. This then led to policy being adopted that when a line was closed, infrastructure such as overhead wires and tracks had to be removed within 24 hours after the last tram to prevent services being reinstated.

In 1950, the line down King Street to Erskine Street closed and a new terminus constructed at Queens Square. The remainder of the line closed in July 1960. This line had its own depot and city terminus and operated independently, although was connected to the main system. The tram line followed the present-day Transdev John Holland route 324,^[20]

Woolloomooloo line

This line branched off from Park Street near College Street and ran north along Haig Avenue, Lincoln Crescent (renamed Sir John Young Crescent), Cowper Street, Forbes Street, Challis Steps Woolloomooloo. Through service ran from Circular Quay via Elizabeth and Park Street. The line opened in stages between 1915 and 1918.

The last extension of the line in 1918 was constructed during the First World War to assist in troop movements to and from overseas battle. C-Class trams 31 and 44 were specially fitted with stretcher bearers to assist with the troop movements and were used on this extension.

The line was an early closure when on 28 January 1935, the line was replaced by a bus service from Pyrmont which avoided the previous line through the city.

North Bondi via Bondi Junction and Bondi Beach line

Services operated from either Circular Quay (via Bridge and Elizabeth Streets) or Railway Square (via Elizabeth and Liverpool Streets), to Oxford Street. The line then passed down Oxford Street to Bondi Junction, where it branched off from Bronte services, to run down Bondi Road to Fletcher Street, Campbell Parade and then to the North Bondi tram terminus.

A feature of this line was the large three track terminus cut into a hillside at North Bondi, which opened in 1946. The line opened in 1884 as a steam tramway to Bondi, then to Bondi Beach in 1894, and to North Bondi in 1929.^[21] Electric services commenced in 1902. The line closed in the early hours of 28 February 1960. The tram line followed the current route of bus route 333 as far as North Bondi.

North Bondi via Paddington and Bellevue Hill line

Circular Quay early 1920s. E, O and P class trams can be seen. The trams on the left were for the Western Suburbs via George Street, while trams on the right were for the Eastern Suburbs via Elizabeth Street.

Heading south down Elizabeth Street from Circular Quay, the line turned left into Park Street, then wound through East Sydney via a right turn into Yurong Street, a left turn into Stanley Street, a right turn into Bourke Street, then a left turn into Burton Street.

A spur line existed linking Burton Street to the prisoners' entrance on Forbes Street at the rear of the Darlinghurst Courthouse. This was to allow prisoners to be transferred from Long Bay Gaol or elsewhere by tram to Darlinghurst Courthouse.^[22] Tram 948 was especially built on a N class frame for this purpose and survives at the Sydney Tramway Museum.

A feature was the tram only viaduct over Barcom Avenue and Boundary Street in Darlinghurst as the line headed into MacDonald Street. This viaduct is now a road bridge.

The line then twisted down Glenmore, Gurner and Hargrave Streets in Paddington, then Moncur and Queen Streets in Woollahra. Here, a connection to Oxford Street allowed access to Waverley Tram Depot.

The line then travelled down Edgecliff and Victoria Roads, then wound along Birriga Road in Bellevue Hill, finally running down Curlewis Street in Bondi to join the Bondi Beach via Bondi Junction line on Campbell Parade, to the North Bondi terminus.

The line was double track throughout with numerous points to allow short working. Services operated from Circular Quay via Elizabeth Street and Park Street. The line opened to Bellevue Hill in 1909, and to Bondi Beach in 1914. The line was cut back to Ocean Street, Woollahra in 1955; the remainder closed on 27 June 1959. The line followed approximately the current route of Transit Systems route 389 between the city and Woollahra and route X84 between Woollahra and Bondi Beach.

Bronte line

This line branched from the North Bondi via Bondi Junction line at Bondi Junction, running down Bronte Road and MacPherson Street to Bronte Beach. A feature of this line was the final approach to Bronte Beach in a rock cutting parallel to the Pacific Ocean.

The line opened to Waverley in 1890, then to Bronte in 1911. Electric services started to Waverley in 1902, then Bronte in 1911. Through services ran from Circular Quay or Railway Square. The line was closed in the early hours of 28 February 1960, the same day as the Bondi via Oxford Street line, and replaced by a bus service, with Bondi Junction route 379 following the route.

Clovelly line

The line branched from the line to Coogee at Darley Road in Randwick. It ran north along Darley Road, then turned right into Clovelly Road to run down to its terminus at Clovelly Beach.

The line opened from Darley Road to the intersection of Clovelly and Carrington Roads in 1912, then to Clovelly in 1913. Though services ran from Circular Quay and from Railway Square (from 1923). The line closed on 27 September 1957 in conjunction with the closure of the Pitt and Castlereagh street lines on the same day as the Clovelly trams used these streets in the city. The tram line followed the current route of Transdev John Holland route 339.

Coogee line

This line branched from Anzac Parade at Alison Road, and ran on its own tram reservation beside Centennial Park as far as Darley Road.

It then ran, first alongside, then later along King Street beside the Randwick Tramway Workshops, then ran in its own reservation to Belmore Road.

It then ran down Perouse Road, St Pauls Street, Carr Street and Arden Street before terminating in a balloon loop in Dolphin Street, Coogee Beach.

It ran through several small tram reservations on its way down from Randwick to the beach. The line from the city to Randwick Racecourse opened in 1880, the first suburban extension of the system.

It was extended to High Street, Randwick in 1881 (in which year the Randwick Tramway Workshops also opened) and to Coogee in 1883, and electric services were introduced in 1902.

The line closed in October 1960. It follows the current route of Transdev John Holland route 373.

La Perouse line

Kings Cross 1950 with an R1 class tram returning from Watson's Bay to Queens Square

The La Perouse line was the second longest of the Sydney system (when at maximum extent) and was the last line (along with the Maroubra line) to close.

This line branched from Oxford Street at Taylor Square in Darlinghurst to run south along Flinders Street, then onto its own tram reservation along the eastern side of Anzac Parade beside Moore Park. The section of this line from the city as far as Alison Road began life in 1880 as the first suburban extension to Randwick (see Coogee Line). It contained what was probably the world's first use of a balloon loop for tramways, built in Moore Park in 1881. The Sydney system made extensive use of loops.

From Alison Road, the La Perouse Line proceeded down the centre of Anzac Parade through Maroubra Junction, and Malabar to its balloon loop terminus at La Perouse. At Malabar, a single line branched off to serve Long Bay Gaol. The line was double track throughout.

The line was built in stages from 1900 to 1902. It was the final line to close on 25 February 1961. The line followed the current route of Transdev John Holland route 394.

Maroubra line

This line branched off the line to La Perouse at the intersection of Anzac Parade and Maroubra Road, travelling east along Maroubra Road, Cooper Street (now Mons Avenue), French Street and Mons Avenue before terminating in a balloon loop in Marine Parade, Maroubra Beach.

The line was double track throughout and passed through several tram reservations on its descent down to the beach. Direct services operated from Circular Quay and Railway Square.

The line opened from Anzac Parade to Maroubra Beach in 1921 and was the second last line to close on 25 February 1961 (followed by the La Perouse line). The line followed the current route of Transdev John Holland route 397.

Cross-country line (Bondi Junction to Coogee)

This line branched off Bronte Road at Waverley and travelled south down Albion Street and Frenchmans Road, then via Frances and Cook Streets to join the Coogee line at Belmore Road in Randwick, at the location then known as Randwick Junction. The old route between Cowper St and Frances St progressed through what are now the grounds of Randwick Public School.

The line was single track throughout, with a passing loop on Frenchmans Road. Initially, services ran from the junction at Albion Street in Wavelery to Randwick only, this was later extended to Coogee in 1907.

From 1910, through services operated from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach, and later additionally from Waverley Tram Depot to Coogee Beach.

The line opened as a steam tramway in 1887, and was electrified in 1902. It closed in 1954, replaced by bus route 314.

West Kensington via Surry Hills line

This line branched from the tramlines in Oxford Street and ran down Crown Street to Cleveland Street in Surry Hills, then south along Baptist Street to Phillip Street, where it swung left into Crescent Street before running south along Dowling Street.

It passed the Dowling Street Tram Depot, then turned left into Todman Avenue where it terminated at West Kensington. Services operated full-time from Circular Quay, and to Railway Square in peak hours.

The line opened in 1881 down Crown Street as far as Cleveland Street as a steam tramway.

It was extended to Phillip Street in 1909, Todman Avenue in 1912, and then to its final terminus down Todman Avenue in 1937.

The line down Crown Street closed in 1957, the remainder stayed open until 1961 to allow access to the Dowling Street Depot.

Transdev John Holland route 304 generally follow the route down Crown and Baptist Streets as far as Phillip Street.

Botany via Railway Square Line

Railway Square tram interchange circa 1930. L, N and O Class trams can be seen. The waiting shed in this photo has been preserved by the Sydney Tramway Museum

Services operated from Circular Quay initially via Elizabeth, Chalmers and Redfern streets (from 1902), then in 1933 via Pitt and Castlereagh Streets, and Eddy Avenue, Lee and Regent Streets, to Botany Street in Waterloo.

A single-track connection along Bourke and O'Dea Streets joined at the present day Green Square, allowing access to the Dowling Street Tram Depot.

The line then passed down the entire length of Botany Road to Botany. In Mascot, a branch led to the former Ascot Racecourse at the site of Sydney Airport.

Points were provided at Bay Street on Botany Road in Botany for short working. The line was double track throughout.

From Botany, a single-track line crossed the Botany Goods railway at Beauchamp Road, then passed along Perry Street and Bunnerong Road, past the former Bunnerong Power Station to join the La Perouse line at Yarra Junction. Generally a shuttle service operated on this single track section between Botany and La Perouse.

This single-track line was cut back to Military Road in 1935. The line opened in 1882 as a steam tramway to Botany, and electric services commenced in 1903.

The line from the junctions at Cleveland Street to Botany closed in 1960. Transdev John Holland route 309 generally follows the route.

Alexandria line

This line branched from the Botany line at the junction of Henderson and Botany Roads in Alexandria.

The line proceeded down Erskineville Oval for short working. The line turned right into the present day Sydney Park Road (then known as an extension of Mitchell Road) before terminating at the junction with the Cook's River line at the Princes Highway near St Peters railway station.

Services operated from Circular Quay in a route similar to the Botany line as far as the Henderson Road junction.

The line opened in 1902 as a single-track electric line, duplicated in 1910. It was closed in 1959. Transit Systems route 308 generally follows the route as far as St Peters station.

Henderson Road (Erskineville) line

Botany Road, Mascot, collision between a truck and an O-class tram. The gas pump and women's fashions suggest the early-mid 1940s

This short line branched from the Alexandria line tracks at the corner of Henderson and Mitchell Roads in Alexandria and passed along Henderson Road to Park Street in Erskineville, and later to Bridge Street adjacent to Erskineville railway station. Services operated from Circular Quay.

The line was an electrified single track throughout. The line opened to Park Street in 1906 and to Bridge Street in 1909. The line was an early closure, in 1933. It was replaced by a private bus service that no longer operates.

Rosebery line

This line opened in 1902 initially via Chalmers and Redfern streets and south along Elizabeth Street to Zetland. In 1924, the line was extended to Epsom Road in Rosebery.

In 1948, to facilitate construction of the Eastern Suburbs railway line, a new line was constructed down Elizabeth Street between Devonshire Street and Redfern Street and the route was deviated to run down this new section.

The line was electrified double track throughout. The line was closed in 1957.

Daceyville line

This line branched from the Botany Road line at Gardners Road, and passed east along Gardners Road to join the lines at Anzac Parade at what was known as Daceyville Junction. It included a large collection of sidings at the former Rosebery Racecourse, now the site of The Lakes Golf Course. The full line opened in 1913, with services from Circular Quay via Waterloo. Some services were extended to Maroubra Beach via the Anzac Parade lines. The line closed in 1957.

Abbotsford via Leichhardt and Five Dock

Rozelle Tram Depot, 1919. Upon closure of the Ultimo Tram Depot on 27 June 1953 the Rozelle received additional trams to run the Darling Street wharf to Canterbury route

Trams to Abbotsford via Leichhardt and Five Dock left the city via Parramatta Road and Norton Street. Trams to Leichhardt then continued down Norton Street to the original terminus at Darley Road Leichardt.

The Abbotsford line branched off the Leichhardt line at Marion Street, Leichhardt opposite the Leichardt Town Hall. The line followed Marion Street, Ramsay Street, Haberfield, and then turned right onto Great North Road, travelling through Five Dock and Abbotsford before terminating near The Terrace, connecting with ferry services at Abbotsford wharf.^[23]

The line was closed between Five Dock and Abbotsford in 1954, Haberfield and Five Dock in 1956, and closed from Leichardt to Haberfield in 1958 with the closure of the "George Street lines".

Lilyfield

The Lilyfield line branched off the Balmain line at Epping Junction (adjacent to Harold Park Paceway and the Rozelle Tram Depot) and then went via reserved track to Taylor Street and then right into Booth Street, Annandale. The tram line turned right into Catherine Street and terminated at the intersection of Abattoir Road and Grove Street, on the bridge over the railway goods yard.^[24] This was the only tram terminus in Sydney located on a bridge. The Lilyfield line was closed in November 1958.

The current stop of the Inner West Light Rail (numbered L1 and also known as the Inner West Light Rail) of Lilyfield is located underneath the bridge of the former terminus.

Balmain

The first steam tram to service Darling Street was in 1892. Ten years later the service was electrified.^[25] Services left the CBD via George Street and ran via George Street West (Now Broadway), Catherine Street, St Johns Road, Ross Street, in reservation to Crescent Street (now part of The Crescent). The line then crossed Johnstone Creek on a dedicated bridge before being on its own reservation where it rejoined street running along The Crescent. The line then traveled Commercial Road to Barnes Street and then Weston Road. The line turned into Darling Street to the terminus at Darling Street Wharf.

R1 2010 at Darling Street wharf.

A feature of this line was a counterweight dummy system that controlled and assisted trams on a steep single-line section of track near the terminus at Darling Street wharf. Due to the very steep incline at the bottom of the street, the trams used a complex 'dummy' / counterweight system constructed under the road surface. A 4-wheel 'dummy' car sat on the single-track at the top of the hill, connected via a large sheave under the track to the counterweight running on a narrow-gauge track in a tunnel under the road. A tram destined for the wharf would close-up to the dummy and push it down the steep hill (gradient 1 in 8), thus raising the counterweight and being assisted in braking. The tram was then assisted up the hill by the weight of the descending counterweight via the dummy.^[26] The dummy is behind car 2010 in the photograph at right, and is on display at the Sydney Tramway Museum. The slot through which the dummy was fixed to the cable can be seen in that photograph.

Circular Quay to Balmain tram services terminated at Gladstone Park for most of the life of the system. Darling Street wharf was the terminus for the cross suburban route to Canterbury. The Canterbury to Darling Street wharf service ceased in 1954. Until 1955, City to Balmain services continued to the wharf, when buses replaced trams between Gladstone Park and the wharf. Balmain services were closed with other western line services in November 1958. Transit Systems route 442 has since replaced the tram route.

Birchgrove

Services branched off from the mainline on Darling Street, turning left into Rowntree Street, then another left into Cameron Street, before turning right into Grove Street and terminating at Wharf Road, Birchgrove. This route follows the contemporary 441 bus route.^[27] Service to Birchgrove was terminated in 1954.

Glebe Point

This line travelling from the city branched off onto Glebe Point Road from Parramatta Road, terminating near the corner of Pendrill Street.^[28]

Ryde and Drummoyne

The line to West Ryde railway station was the longest line of the Sydney system. When cut back to Drummoyne the La Perouse line took over the title.

Ryde services ran the full length of George Street and turned into Harris Street just after Railway Square following the same route as today's Busways operated route 501 bus service. Trams went along Harris Street and crossed the Glebe Island Bridge. From White Bay junction until the Darling Street junction, Ryde trams shared tracks in Victoria Road with the Balmain and Birchgrove lines. The tram then crossed the Iron Cove Bridge and the former Gladesville Bridge before turning right onto Blaxland Road. It then wound its way along Blaxland Road, behind the site of the now-demolished council chambers, terminating near the intersection of Pope and Devlin Street in Ryde.^[29]

There was a peak hour service to Drummoyne via Forest Lodge. At Forest Lodge the line swung right into Ross Street before entering onto its own reserved track, now known as Minogue Crescent, passing Rozelle Tram Depot. This joined the main Victoria Road Ryde line at White Bay junction.

It was initially a single line, later duplicated from Rozelle to Ryde between 1906 and 1936. The tram terminus was established at the western end of Blaxland Road, located near the current Top Ryde City shopping centre, and extended down Victoria Road through Gladesville, where it eventually terminated at Fort Macquarie (present site of the Sydney Opera House). The entire trip took approximately 61 minutes to complete, and was the single longest route on the Sydney tram network, measuring 10 miles 61 chains (17.3 km) via Pyrmont.

In 1914 a single tram line was added between Ryde Post Office (corner of Church Street and Parkes Street) and West Ryde railway station. The Sydney to Ryde service became very popular, particularly at weekends when Sydney residents would travel to the orchards of the Ryde District to buy produce.^[30]

The tram service from Ryde to the city was cut back to Drummoyne on 19 December 1949 and replaced by buses.^[31] The service to Drummoyne was terminated in 1953.

Balmain via Pyrmont

Services commenced at Railway Square, travelling south-west on Broadway, turning right onto Harris Street, passing the former Darling Harbour goods yard. At Pyrmont a separate line branched off from the main line on Harris Street, turning left into Miller Street, turning right into Bank Street, crossing the former Glebe Island Bridge. It then travelled along Commercial Road turning right onto Victoria Road, then right onto Darling Street, terminating at the Darling Street wharf.^[32]

Annandale and Forest Lodge

Lines ran along Booth Street, Parramatta Road, Ross Street, St Johns Road, Mt Vernon Street and Catherine Street, as well as Taylor Street. Current Transit Systems route 470 follows this tramline.^[28]

Cooks River line

This line ran south-west along City Road from Broadway, then along King Street, Newtown, past Newtown and St Peters railway stations to the Princes Highway.

It then proceeded down the Princes Highway to its terminus at the Cooks River. At Tempe, a connection lead to the Tempe Tram Depot, on the corner of the Princes Highway and Gannon Street.

Past the terminus at the Cooks River, a single line led over the river to the Wolli Creek Perway Yard. The line reached St Peters as a steam tramway in 1891, then to Cooks River in 1900 when electric services commenced.

The line closed on 27 September 1957 with today's Transit Systems Sydney route 422 parallelling the former line, with occasional extensions to Kogarah.

Dulwich Hill line

This line branched from the line to Cooks River at Newtown, and travelled down Enmore Road through Enmore, then along Victoria Road to Marrickville Road before tuning right along Marrickville Road through Marrickville and Dulwich Hill to New Canterbury Road. At the New Canterbury Road terminus, a tram turning loop was provided, this is currently used as a layover area for buses. Current Transit Systems Sydney route 426 follows this tramline. The line closed on 27 September 1957.

Canterbury line to Darling Street wharf

R1923 at Sydenham station in November 1954

Re-laying tracks outside Newtown Tram Depot in 1927

A cross-country connection between the Canterbury line at New Canterbury Road to Petersham and the Western Suburbs lines on Parramatta Road allowed a cross-country service to operate between Canterbury and Balmain. From Crystal Street, Fort Street (single-line loops), Parramatta Road, this route continued via Norton Street, Leichhardt to Balmain Road, Rozelle where it crossed Victoria Road to Darling Street wharf. It now forms the basis of Transit Systems route 445.

From Circular Quay trams reached Newtown via Castlereagh Street (Pitt Street on inbound services), Broadway, City Road, King Street, then headed south on Enmore Road the tram turned right into Addison Road, before turning right into Livingstone Road and then left onto New Canterbury Road in Petersham. The line then travelled down New Canterbury Road through Dulwich Hill and Hurlstone Park to a terminus adjacent to Canterbury railway station in Broughton Street.^[33] Transit Systems Sydney route 428 follows the route of this line.

Earlwood line

This line branched from the line to Dulwich Hill at Illawarra Road at Marrickville Road. It travelled south-west along Illawarra Road, crossing the Cooks River, followed by a steep ascent up Homer Street to the Earlwood shopping district. The line terminated in Homer Street at the intersection of William Street and Hartill Law Avenue.^[34] Transit Systems Sydney route 423 follows the former tram line, although this bus route now extends to Kingsgrove. The line closed on 27 September 1957, along with all the 'Green line' tram lines.

Cooks River to Dulwich Hill line

A cross-country line connected the Cooks River and Dulwich Hill lines via Sydenham, operating along Railway Road and Sydenham Road in Sydenham. A cross-country service operated between Cooks River and Dulwich Hill. Transit Systems Sydney route 425 follows this route, but now terminates 400m up the road at Tempe Depot. The line closed on 27 September 1957.

Hurlstone Park to Summer Hill line

A short-lived single track line operated from the Canterbury line at Hurlstone Park along Old Canterbury Road and Prospect Road to Summer Hill railway station. Services operated between Canterbury and Summer Hill from 1915 however low patronage and competition from motor buses saw the line close in 1933. The disused track and overhead remained in place until the 1950s. This line was in use in the early 1950s. There were double tracks opposite Trinity Grammar School in Prospect Road.

Erskineville line

This line branched from tracks at Regent Street in Chippendale, and passed west along Meagher Street, then south into Abercombie Street, across the junction with Cleveland Street through Golden Grove, before swinging south into Golden Grove Street then right into Wilson Street.

The line then passed under the railway lines at Burren Street, adjacent to the entrance to Macdonaldtown railway station.

The line then became a single track loop passing up Burren Street to Erskineville Road, then west to Septimus Street, then Albert Street before rejoining the tracks at Burren Street. Services operated from Circular Quay using the Pitt and Castlereagh Street lines.

The line opened as an electric double track tramway in 1909. The line south of Cleveland Street closed in 1940, with the northern section used by other services until its closure in 1958.

Rockdale to Brighton-Le-Sands line

Southern Sydney tramways map

This line opened as a private steam tramway in 1885. It was electrified in 1900, and moved into government ownership in 1914.

Kogarah to Sans Souci line

This steam tramway opened in 1887^[36] using small railway locomotives and carriages.

In 1891 two conventional steam tram motors were built for the line by Henry Vale. Six C1 type trailers replaced the railway carriages around the same period.

The tramway operated for 50 years until it was replaced by an electric trolleybus service in 1937.

It connected with trains at Kogarah station by way of a large balloon loop through the streets, then passed south down Rocky Point Road to Sans Souci, Sandringham and Dolls Point.

Small depots at Sandringham and Kogarah serviced the line. The line was single track at each end with a double-track middle section down Rocky Point Road.^[37] Track on the line was laid to railway standards to allow railway trucks to haul goods over the line. Although laid as double track along Rocky Point Road, the trams only used the most eastern track. The western track being laid to enable electric trams to be used, however this never happened as trolleybuses took over operation.

Wilson's 1917 map shows the route leaving Kogarah Station (no loop), then Gray Street, across Kogarah Road, and thence by a ROW to Rocky Point Road, entering near Herman Street, thence along Russell Avenue, Clareville Street to the foreshore, then along the foreshore (now Cook Park) to Sans Souci/Rocky Point Road, then north along that road, rejoining the line at Russell Avenue.^[38]

Arncliffe to Bexley line

This steam tramway opened in 1908 and closed in 1926. It connected with trains at Arncliffe station, and ran down Wollongong Road, then Forest Road through Bexley before terminating at the corner of Forest and Preddys Roads, Bexley. The line was single track, with a passing loop midway. A small car shed at Arncliffe maintained the trams.

Sutherland to Cronulla line

This line opened as a steam tramway between Sutherland railway station and Cronulla's Shelley Beach, in 1911. It closed to passengers and was replaced by a bus service in 1931, and closed completely in 1932. It pre-dated the Cronulla railway line, which took over its role.^[39]

First period 1886–1909

Opening ceremony for the Spit Junction tram line 3 November 1900 showing C and D class electric trams and cable trailer cars.

In the initial years of the North Sydney tramways, services operated from Milsons Point wharf to:

• Ridge Street Tram Depot was originally a cable tram depot which opened in May 1886. Services were extended to Crows Nest in July 1893. Upon conversion to electric operation in February 1900 the depot was extensively rebuilt in 1902 to enlarge the 12 road tram shed. Upon closure in the 1920s the shed was converted into a cinema, now the Independent Theatre.

Mosman wharf line

• Mosman wharf: opened as an electric line from Miller and Ridge streets, along Miller Street, Falcon Street, and then Military Road as far as Spit Junction in September 1893 and extended to Mosman wharf in March 1897. Services initially connected with the cable trams at Ridge Street and shared the cable tracks as far as Miller and Falcon Streets.

Chatswood line

• Chatswood: also opened initially as an electric line from Crows Nest with services connecting with the cable trams at Ridge Street and sharing the cable tracks as far as Crows Nest. It opened as far as Victoria Avenue, Willoughby in April 1898 and extended to Chatswood station in July 1908. Through electric services from Milsons Point began when the original cable tramway was electrified in February 1900.

Lane Cove line

• Lane Cove: opened as an electric line from Crows Nest in February 1900, with trams connecting with other electric services at Ridge Street. It was initially opened as far as Gore Hill and extended to Lane Cove in March 1909. Some through services operated to and from Milsons Point.

South Spit line

• The Spit: opened from Spit Junction in October 1900.

Northbridge line

• Northbridge: opened from Miller and Falcons Streets as far as Suspension Bridge Cammeray in May 1909, to Marana Road, Northbridge in February 1914, and to Northbridge terminus in March 1914

Georges Heights line

• Georges Heights: opened from Mosman Junction along Middle Head Road to Cobbittee Street in August 1919, for the military hospital, closed beyond the junction with the Balmoral line at Gordon Street in 1925.^[40]

Balmoral line

• Balmoral: opened as a branch of the Georges Heights line in May, 1922.

During this first period, some North Sydney tramway services did not operate to and from Milsons Point. These were:

Taronga Zoo Park line

• Ridge Street, North Sydney–Taronga Zoo: introduced over the Mosman line and the new Taronga Zoo line opened in conjunction with the relocation of the zoo from Moore Park to Mosman in October 1916.

Neutral Bay line

• Neutral Bay wharf – Neutral Bay Junction: opened in June 1900. This line had a combination of long, steep grades and only trams fitted with track brakes (which were not otherwise used on the Sydney tramways) were permitted to operate this line.

Cremorne wharf line

• Cremorne Point wharf–the Spit: opened December 1911.

Athol wharf line

• Athol wharf–Balmoral: introduced December 1923. the service operated over the Athol Wharf line, opened in October 1917, the Taronga Zoo line, a new connection in King Max Street, Mosman opened in December 1923 and the Georges Heights/Balmoral line.

Taronga Zoo to Lane Cove, Gore Hill and Chatswood line

• Taronga Zoo–Gore Hill and (later) Lane Cove and to Chatswood: operated via the Taronga Zoo and Mosman lines, Falcon Street to Crows Nest, then as for the services from McMahons Point.^[41]

Second period 1909–1932

In September 1909, a new line was opened from McMahons Point to Victoria Cross, North Sydney and a new direct route was opened via what is now the Pacific Highway from Victoria Cross to Crows Nest. The Milsons Point line was deviated at North Sydney via Walker and Mount Streets to avoid congestion at Victoria Cross. The McMahons Point line was opened to relieve the load on the Milsons Point wharf and connecting tramway. Services to Lane Cove and Chatswood were altered to operate to and from McMahons Point via the new direct route to Crows Nest. In conjunction with the construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Milsons Point line was diverted to a new terminus in Glen Street in July 1924. Escalators were provided to carry tram passengers to the new ferry wharf below. Otherwise, services operated as during the first period.

Third period 1932–1958

D117 on Parriwi Road approaching The Spit. The single track and contact pole at the side indicate early 1900s.

In March 1932 the Sydney Harbour Bridge with its associated railway and tramway tracks was opened and all of the above services to and from Milsons Point/McMahons Point (except the Georges Heights service, which had closed in 1925) were diverted to operate to and from Wynyard. The Milsons Point and McMahons Point lines were then closed.

From Wynyard services operated to:

Lane Cove line

• Lane Cove: Travelling along the Pacific Highway via Gore Hill, turning left into Longueville Road, terminating near the intersection of Rothwell Avenue (now Central Avenue), opposite the council chambers.^[42]

Chatswood line

• Chatswood station: Turning right off either Falcon Street or the Pacific Highway in Crows Nest, heading north along Willoughby Road, turning left onto Mowbray Road followed by a sharp right onto Penshurst Street before turning left on Victoria Avenue, where the line terminated at Chatswood station.^[43]

Northbridge line

• Northbridge: closed beyond Cammeray in May 1936 and beyond Falcon Street, North Sydney in January 1948

The Spit

• The Spit and Spit Junction line travelled north-east along Military Road passing through Neutral Bay Junction, Cremorne Junction, and Spit Junction, veering to the left (north) onto Spit Road at Spit Junction, before diverting onto Parriwi Road and terminating near the foot of the Spit Bridge.^[44]

Balmoral line

• Balmoral: reduced to limited services outside ferry operating hours following the introduction of the co-ordinated tram/ferry scheme in May 1952. This scheme was brought in following the government's purchase of Sydney Ferries Limited, and was designed to encourage greater use of ferries.

Taronga Zoo Park–Wynyard line

Wynyard-bound tram on Harbour Bridge, 1930–1939, Ted Hood

• Taronga Park: reduced to limited services outside ferry operating hours as stated in relation to the Wynyard–Balmoral service.

All of these lines remained open until the general closure of the North Sydney tramways in June 1958, except for the Northbridge / Suspension Bridge line, and the withdrawal of full-time services from Wynyard to Balmoral and Taronga Zoo as stated above.

Cross-country services

Neutral Bay wharf line

• Neutral Bay wharf – Neutral Bay Junction: closed in May 1956. As mentioned above, this line had a combination of long, steep grades and windy track, and only trams fitted with track brakes (which were not otherwise used on the Sydney tramways) or dynamic (rheostatic) brakes were permitted. The single track down Hayes Street was the steepest unassisted in Sydney.

Cremorne wharf line

• Cremorne Point wharf–The Spit: the Cremorne Wharf line closed in April 1956.

Mosman wharf Line

• Mosman wharf – Cremorne Junction: The Mosman Wharf line closed in November 1955.

Athol wharf–Balmoral line

• Athol Wharf–Balmoral: A feature of this line was the steep grade down to the wharf at the terminus. Runaway trams plunged into the harbour in 1942, 1952 and 1958.

Taronga Zoo Park–Lane Cove and Chatswood line

• Taronga Zoo–Lane Cove and Chatswood station: operated via Taronga Zoo and Military lines, Falcon Street to Crows Nest, then as for the services from Wynyard

Services also operated as follows

A coupled set of E class trams to Balmoral 29 May 1922

The former tram cutting to Balmoral Beach

• Balmoral–Lane Cove and Chatswood: The line from Balmoral opened as a branch of the Georges Heights line in May, 1922 and was one of the last tram lines to be opened in Sydney. It was a difficult route to construct on account of the height above sea level and the short distance to be traversed. Apart from the direct city service to Wynyard via the Sydney Harbour Bridge, cross regional services ran to Lane Cove, Athol Wharf, Northbrdge and Chatswood, making it one of the busiest lines on the North Sydney system.^[41][45]
• Upon departure from the Esplanade terminus, at the corner of Mandalong Road, trams travelled south-East along The Esplanade. After passing Botanic Road the line swung right onto Henry Plunkett Reserve. From this point the line went off-road and ascended uphill onto its own reservation, travelling through a narrow rock cutting, now public walking track (pictured). After a steep ascent through the reserve the line crossed several small residential streets along the way, such as; Mulbring, Gordon, Plunkett and Beaconsfield Street, before once again entering onto Gordon Street where the line swung right onto Middle Head Road. The tram then joined the mainline at the point where Bradleys Head Road, Military Road and Middle Head Road meet.^[46] Travelling along Military Road and then Falcon Street, services to Chatswood turned right onto Willoughby Road, and eventually terminated at Chatswood railway station, Victoria Avenue Terminus, while services to Lane Cove travelled along the Pacific Highway, terminating at the Lane Cove council chambers. Services to Wynyard via North Sydney swung left into Miller street before crossing the Pacific Highway and entering onto the on ramp that led to the steel arch bridge that once crossed over the Bradfield Highway and thence to the eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.^[47][48]

Manly to The Spit

This line commenced at the Spit Bridge (north side) with a balloon loop. From the balloon loop, in a reservation, the line ascended in a Right of way beside Sydney Road, Heaton avenue, crossed Ethel Street, still in a Right of way alongside Whittle Street, joining Sydney Road there.

At Parkview street there was a semi-circular deviation south, out of Sydney Road (to gain height for Spit-bound trams). At Park Avenue a Right of way took the tram north, then east alongside Raglan Street, eventually joining Raglan Street at Kangaroo Road.

From there, which was a junction for the Narrabeen line, the line turned south, finishing at a large loop at The Esplanade (Manly).^[52] The Manly to Spit section opened on 9 January 1911.^[53]

Manly to Harbord

This line commenced at Manly (The Esplanade), proceeded north along Belgrave Street, past the turnoff for The Spit, at Raglan Street, then along Pittwater Road.

Between Queenscliff and Harbord roads, the line turned into a Right of way and crossed Dalley Street, and joined Cavill Street near Lawrence Street. The line turned into Lawrence Street, then proceeded along Albert Street and Moore Road until the terminus at The Esplanade, Freshwater Beach.^[54] The single-track branch to Harbord was opened on 21 December 1926.^[55]

Manly to Narrabeen

This line commenced at Manly (The Esplanade), proceeded north along Belgrave Street, past the turnoff at Raglan Street for the Spit, and on to Pittwater Road.

It proceeded past the turnoff to Harbord and continued along Pittwater Road, all the way to Narrabeen at a bridge just north of Waterloo Road. This point was exactly 16 miles from Sydney.^[56]

The line to Narrabeen opened on 8 December 1913. It was always single track from Brookvale to Narrabeen terminus.^[57]

The line was wired with a catenary overhead, so apparently some high-speed running was anticipated, consistent with the light railway legislation for the line. Evidence of the catenary overhead is to be found in photographs in McCarthy's book.^[58]

Castle Hill

A steam tramway opened between Parramatta and Baulkham Hills in 1902, and was extended to Castle Hill in 1910, carrying passengers and produce to and from the area.

This tramway commenced at Argyle Street in Parramatta and tracked north along Church Street to Northmead, then along Windsor Road and Old Northern Road to Castle Hill.

In 1919, the NSW government decided to convert the tramway into a railway to encourage the subdivision of estates for residential use. This involved a new connection to the Main Western Railway at Westmead and a new line to Northmead.

The section from Argyle Street Parramatta to Northmead became an isolated line before closing not long after the railway began operations.

The railway line was later extended to Rogans Hill in 1924. The new line proved to be unsuccessful and was closed on 31 January 1932 and was seen by members of the public as turning a perfect tramway into an underperforming railway.

Parramatta Park to Redbank wharf

This was a steam tramway that headed between Parramatta Park and Redbank wharf, with a major stop at Parramatta city centre, the point where it met Route 101. This route was owned by the ferry companies as a way to get all the way down the Parramatta River and deliver passengers and goods. It would follow along the Sandown railway line from Camellia onwards, and serve the industries along the line.