Manchester TRAMS 1880s - 1900, what were the routes

[guest259648]

Seeking details of Manchester's TRAM SYSTEM in the late 19th century.

In particular - if you got off a train at Manchester Piccadilly Train Station in about 1890, and then got a tram in the Stretford direction, which areas of Manchester would it take you through?

Presumably the 19th century trams went along roads, and were not the train-like things which are there now?

Thank you.

[Girl Guide]

I wonder if this might be of interest?

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/before-metrolink-manchesters-lost-great-15670070

Scroll down the page a bit and there is a map that looks like the routes it covered.  Not sure what dates it relates to.

[mazi]

It seems Manchester’s trams were horse drawn until 1901.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Carriage_and_Tramways_Company.

The horse drawn network was huge.

Mike

[guest259648]

I wonder if this might be of interest?

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/before-metrolink-manchesters-lost-great-15670070

Scroll down the page a bit and there is a map that looks like the routes it covered.  Not sure what dates it relates to.

Great site, thank you :-) All new to me, and interesting.

It's suggesting that there were trams more or less on every street, and that your route wasn't limited by having to use the major arteries of the city... and the trams stopped every 100 yards (brilliant!)

So may I rephrase my question: if you got off at Manchester Piccadilly in the 1880s or 1890s, how best would you make your way towards Stretford (using a tram)? I'm not local to Manchester, and so I'm wondering what a 19th century lady would choose to do?

Which old maps could I consult, to assess her possible route?
D

[guest259648]

It seems Manchester’s trams were horse drawn until 1901.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Carriage_and_Tramways_Company.

The horse drawn network was huge.

Mike

Thanks a lot Mike, I didn't know that.
But presumably the pre-1901 trams would still need the rails, even if horse drawn? (Teach me, I'm an artist not an engineer!)

A huge network, you think. Was there a terminus at Stretford? How would I find out?

D

[KGarrad]

The Wikipedia article mentioned should be read!

Tells you in there, that a depot existed at Stretford

[mazi]

Manchester transport museum may be able to help.

https://motgm.uk/collections-documents.html#maps


Mike

[guest259648]

The Wikipedia article mentioned should be read!

Tells you in there, that a depot existed at Stretford

Indeed it does! bravo.
I read the history but didn't scan the depots.
Good news. xx

[guest259648]

Manchester transport museum may be able to help.

https://motgm.uk/collections-documents.html#maps


Mike

And they say:" We have virtually every published book on local transport history, technical workshop manuals, around 200 periodical titles, over 2,000 time and fare tables, annual reports and accounts, commemorative brochures, Acts of Parliament, and examples of tickets from all the Greater Manchester operators."

Fabulous resource, thank you so much. Timetables included!
I will have a good explore and report back, bless you.
D