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{{Short description|Tram and trolleybuse operator in western and southern London}}
'''London United Tramways Company Limited''' was an operator of trams and trolleybuses in the western and southern suburbs of London from [[1894]] to [[1933]], when it passed to the [[London Passenger Transport Board]]. The company had been formed in [[1894]] to take over the assets of the '''West Metropolitan Tramways Company''', which had gone into receivership, and who had operated a horse-drawn tram service from [[Shepherd's Bush]] to [[Acton]] and [[Chiswick]] and from [[Hammersmith]] to [[Kew Bridge]] via Chiswick. A further short route ran from [[Kew]] Green to [[Richmond upon Thames|Richmond]].
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
[[File:London United Tramways Map.JPG|thumb|Map of the London United Tramways on the depot wall at the [[National Tramway Museum]]]]


'''London United Tramways Company Limited''' was an operator of trams and trolleybuses in the western and southern suburbs of London, UK, from 1894 to 1933, when it passed to the [[London Passenger Transport Board]].
==West London Electrification==


==Origins==
LUT relaid the existing track, which was in a poor state of repair, and then extended and electrified the system. Electric trams first ran on three routes on [[April 4]], [[1901]] between Hammersmith and Kew Bridge, between Shepherd's Bush and Kew Bridge (via Chiswick), and between Shepherd's Bush and Acton - making this London's first electric service.
The company was formed in 1894 by the [[Imperial Tramways Company]] under the leadership of [[Sir George White, 1st Baronet|George White]] and [[Clifton Robinson]] to take over the assets of the '''West Metropolitan Tramways Company''', which had gone into receivership and had operated a horse-drawn tram service from [[Shepherd's Bush]] to [[Acton, London|Acton]] and [[Chiswick]], and from [[Hammersmith]] to the north side of [[Kew Bridge]] via Chiswick. A short route ran from the south side of Kew Bridge to [[Richmond, London|Richmond]].


==Richmond Branch==
==Electrification==
[[File:Electricity and Locomotion on The Power House, Chiswick (cropped).jpg|thumb|'Electricity' and 'Locomotion' sculpture on London United Electrical Tramway Company's [[Power House, Chiswick|Chiswick electricity generating station]] ]]
[[Image:Tramshed.jpg|thumb|right|One of Richmond's trams outside the tram-shed. [http://www.wikimapia.org/#y=51465710&x=-298959&z=19&l=0&m=s]]]
The track never ran across Kew Bridge - the second (stone) bridge, built in the 1780s, was far too narrow for this, and very steep on the approach from Brentford - so there was another isolated length of single track of 1.53 miles, with passing loops, running from [[Kew Green]] south along the [[Kew Road]] and terminating at the Orange Tree Public House in Richmond.


{{further|Power House, Chiswick}}
LUT made repeated attempts to cross Kew Bridge (which was again rebuilt in 1903) but was resisted by Richmond Corporation, and this branch continued to be horse-drawn (cars ran every quarter hour and the full journey cost 2d) until [[April 20]], [[1912]] after which it was abandoned and replaced by part of a London General ([[LGOC]]) motor-bus route.


LUT relaid the existing track, which was in a poor state of repair, and extended and electrified the system. Electric trams first ran on three routes on 4 April 1901 between Hammersmith and Kew Bridge, between Shepherd's Bush and Kew Bridge (via Chiswick), and between Shepherd's Bush and Acton, London's first electric tram service.
Richmond's tram-shed still exists as the Shaftesbury Centre in Kew Road just north of the [[A316 road|A316]].


==Richmond branch==
==Extensions to the System==
[[File:London United Tramways tram in front of its tram-shed, Kew Road, Richmond, UK - c 1900.jpg|thumb|One of Richmond's trams outside the tram-shed. {{Coord|51.465525|-0.298530|region:GB_type:landmark_scale:2000_source:wikimapia}}]]


Trams never ran across Kew Bridge – the second (stone) bridge, built in the 1780s, was far too narrow, and very steep on the approach from Brentford – which meant that there was an isolated length of single track of 1.53 miles, with passing loops, from the south side of the bridge, across [[Kew Green]], then south along the [[Kew Road]] to the Orange Tree public house {{Coord|51.464228|-0.301534|region:GB_type:landmark_scale:2000_source:wikimapia}} in Richmond.
*[[1901]]: Extended from Chiswick to [[Brentford]] and [[Hounslow]] and from Acton to [[Ealing]], [[Southall]] and [[Uxbridge]]
*[[1902]]: Extended from Hounslow to [[Hounslow Heath]], and from Brentford to Richmond and [[Twickenham]].
*[[1903]]: Extended from Twickenham to [[Hampton, London|Hampton]], [[Hampton Court]] [[Richmond Bridge]] and [[Teddington]].
*[[1906]]: Extended from Richmond Bridge to Ham Common, [[Long Ditton]], [[Malden]], [[Richmond Park]] Gates, [[Surbiton]] and [[Tolworth]].
*[[1907]]: Extended from Malden to [[Raynes Park]] and [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]].


LUT made repeated attempts to cross Kew Bridge after it was rebuilt in 1903 but these continued to be resisted by the [[Municipal Borough of Richmond (Surrey)|Richmond Corporation]] Tramways Committee. Kew Road residents opposed two attempts in 1897 and 1898 to install a second track – which would have necessitated road widening – and any subsequent electrification using unsightly overhead wires seemed out of the question, locals favouring the underground [[Conduit current collection|conduit]] system. [[Kew Observatory]] had concerns about the introduction of electric trams.
The LUT system was connected to the [[London County Council]] tram network at Hammersmith in [[1908]], [[Tooting]] in [[1922]] and [[Wandsworth]] in [[1931]]; and to the [[Metropolitan Electric Tramways]] (MET) at Acton in [[1909]].


So whilst the rest of London went electric, this little branch continued to use horse-drawn cars until well into the twentieth century – the interiors had red velvet seat cushions and were described as "comfortable, if not luxurious", and ran every quarter-hour (the full "end to end" journey costing 2d) – until 20 April 1912 after which it was replaced by part of a London General ([[LGOC]]) motor-bus route.
==The LUT Company==


Richmond's tram-shed still exists as the former [[Richmond Adult Community College|RACC Shaftesbury Centre]] in Kew Road, now part of The Falcons School for Boys, just north of the [[A316 road|A316]].
The company's headquarters, depot and power station were in Chiswick. From [[January 1]], [[1913]], LUT became a subsidiary of the [[London and Suburban Traction Company]] (LSTC), jointly owned by the [[Underground Group]] and [[British Electric Traction]]. LSTC also owned the other two tramway companies in the London area - Metropolitan Electric Tramways and [[South Metropolitan Electric Tramways]].


==Extensions to the system==
IN [[1930]] the company succeeded in having the '''London United Tramways Act''' passed. This gave the company powers to replace trams with trolleybuses. London's first trolleybus service started on LUT's Twickenham to Teddington section on [[May 16]], [[1931]].
[[File:First Tram on Kingston Bridge.jpg|thumb|1 March 1906. The Mayor of Kingston upon Thames is about to drive number 320 onto Kingston Bridge. Clifton Robinson the Managing Director of London United Tramways is on the upper deck.]]
[[File:Tram in hanwell boston road.JPG|thumb|Tramcar 13 in Boston Road on a Hanwell to Brentford journey]]


*1901: Chiswick to [[Brentford]] and [[Hounslow]], Acton to [[Ealing]], [[Southall]] and [[Uxbridge]]
On takeover by the LPTB on [[July 1]], [[1933]], London United had approximately 29 miles of tram tracks and 18 of trolleybus routes.
*1902: Hounslow to [[Hounslow Heath]], Brentford to Richmond and [[Twickenham]].
*1903: Twickenham to [[Hampton, London|Hampton]], [[Hampton Court]], East Twickenham (just west of [[Richmond Bridge, London|Richmond Bridge]]) and [[Teddington]].
*1906: Richmond Bridge to Ham Common, [[Long Ditton]], [[Old Malden|Malden]], [[Richmond Park]] Gates, [[Surbiton]] and [[Tolworth]].
*1907: Malden to [[Raynes Park]] and [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]].


The LUT system was connected to the [[London County Council Tramways|London County Council]] tram network at Hammersmith in 1908, [[Tooting]] in 1922 and [[Wandsworth]] in 1931; and to the [[Metropolitan Electric Tramways]] (MET) at Acton in 1909.
==Full Circle==
[[Image:Lublogo.jpg|thumb|right|London United logo on a Routemaster bus]]
Almost a century later the [[London United]] name was revived with the creation of [[London United|London United Busways]] in [[1989]] as part of the break up of [[London Regional Transport|London Buses Limited]] into separate companies in preparation for privatisation. Sadly, this title had a shorter life the second time around - the London United logo being replaced on vehicles in 2006 with the [[Transdev]] name.


==Sources==
==The LUT Company==
The company's headquarters, depot and power station were in Chiswick. On 1 January 1913, LUT became a subsidiary of the [[London and Suburban Traction Company]] (LSTC), jointly owned by the [[Underground Group]] and [[British Electric Traction]]. LSTC also owned the other two tramway companies in the London area, [[Metropolitan Electric Tramways]] and South Metropolitan Electric Tramways.<ref>[http://www.tramwaybadgesandbuttons.com/page148/page152/page183/page183.html History]</ref>
''London's Trams and Trolleybuses'', John R Day, published by London Transport in 1979


{{anchor|London United Tramways Act 1930}}
''The History of British Bus Services'', Second Edition, John Hibbs, Newton Abbot, 1979
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = London United Tramways Act 1930
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act to authorise the London United Tramways Limited to provide services of trolley vehicles and to abandon their tramways and light railways to confer upon them additional powers and for other purposes.
| year = 1930
| citation = [[20 & 21 Geo. 5]]. c. clxxxvii
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 1 August 1930
| commencement =
| expiry_date =
| repeal_date =
| amends =
| replaces =
| amendments =
| repealing_legislation =
| related_legislation =
| status =
| legislation_history =
| theyworkforyou =
| millbankhansard =
| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo5/20-21/187/pdfs/ukla_19300187_en.pdf
| revised_text =
| use_new_UK-LEG =
| UK-LEG_title =
| collapsed = yes
}}
The '''London United Tramways Act 1930''' ([[20 & 21 Geo. 5]]. c. clxxxvii) gave it powers to replace loss-making tram routes with trolleybuses. London's first trolleybus service started on LUT's Twickenham to Teddington section on 16 May 1931 and then to Wimbledon, working from Fulwell Garage. These first trolleybuses, nicknamed "Diddlers", which lasted until replaced in 1948, bore a striking frontal resemblance to the 'Feltham' trams, also built around this period.


On takeover by the LPTB on 1 July 1933, London United had approximately 29 miles of tram track, 18 of trolleybus route.
''The London United Tramways - Origins to 1912'', Volume One, C.S. Smeeton, LRTA & TLRS, 1994


==External links==
==Preservation==
[[File:London United Tramways Number 159.jpg|thumb|Preserved tramcar 159 in the depot at Crich]]
LUT Car 135 at Shepherd's Bush [http://www.tramways.freeserve.co.uk/Cards/Postc30.htm]


Only one LUT tramcar survives to the present day: no. 159, which has been restored to original condition and operates at the [[National Tramway Museum]], [[Crich]], [[Derbyshire]].
West Metropolitan Tramways at Kew [http://www.tramways.freeserve.co.uk/Cards/Postc31.htm]


==Archives==
History of LUT Fulwell Depot (Twickenham Museum website) [http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.asp?ContentID=302]
Records related to London United Tramways can be found at [[Bristol Archives]] within the papers of [[Sir George White, 1st Baronet|George White]] (Ref. 35810/LUT) ([http://archives.bristol.gov.uk/TreeBrowse.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&field=RefNo&key=35810%2fLUT online catalogue]). Further records can be found at [[London Metropolitan Archives]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/N13536545|title=National Archives Discovery catalogue, LUT page|access-date=7 June 2016}}</ref> and the [[National Tramway Museum]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/rd/N13703819|title=National Archives Discovery catalogue, LUT page|access-date=7 June 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Fulwell bus garage#History|Fulwell Tram Depot]]
*[[London United Busways#Fulwell (FW)|Fulwell Tram Depot&nbsp;– now Transdev's Fulwell Bus Garage]] [[Bus garages in London#F|(FW)]]
*[[London United Busways#Stamford Brook (V)|Chiswick Tram Depot&nbsp;– now Stamford Brook Bus Garage]] [[Bus garages in London#V|(V)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*''London's Trams and Trolleybuses'', John R. Day, published by London Transport in 1979
*''The History of British Bus Services'', Second Edition, John Hibbs, Newton Abbot, 1979
*''The London United Tramways&nbsp;– Origins to 1912'', Volume One, C.S. Smeeton, LRTA & TLRS, 1994
*''A Scientific Workshop Threatened by Applied Science: Kew Observatory to Be Removed Owing to the Disturbance Caused by Electric Traction'', The Illustrated London News, 8 August 1903

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060927150238/http://www.tramways.freeserve.co.uk/Cards/Postc30.htm LUT Car 135 at Shepherd's Bush]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060927150740/http://www.tramways.freeserve.co.uk/Cards/Postc31.htm West Metropolitan Tramways at Kew]
*[http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/ London's Transport History 1901–1913, LT Museum]
*[http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.asp?ContentID=302 History of LUT Fulwell Depot (Twickenham Museum website)]
*[https://archive.today/20090523153258/http://www.themaidenheadstory.co.uk/2009/04/observations-on-the-trams-of-chiswick/ The Maidenhead Story article on Chiswick's Trams]
*[http://www.risksandrewards.org.uk/sources_13.html Prospectus, proposal and maps courtesy of the Baring archive]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNfqXL_0usg/Video - London's Diddler Trolleybus in Action]


{{Transport in London}}
{{Historic UK Trams}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:Transport in London]]
[[Category:Trams in London]]
[[Category:Trolleybus transport in the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 14:00, 4 May 2024

Map of the London United Tramways on the depot wall at the National Tramway Museum

London United Tramways Company Limited was an operator of trams and trolleybuses in the western and southern suburbs of London, UK, from 1894 to 1933, when it passed to the London Passenger Transport Board.

Origins[edit]

The company was formed in 1894 by the Imperial Tramways Company under the leadership of George White and Clifton Robinson to take over the assets of the West Metropolitan Tramways Company, which had gone into receivership and had operated a horse-drawn tram service from Shepherd's Bush to Acton and Chiswick, and from Hammersmith to the north side of Kew Bridge via Chiswick. A short route ran from the south side of Kew Bridge to Richmond.

Electrification[edit]

'Electricity' and 'Locomotion' sculpture on London United Electrical Tramway Company's Chiswick electricity generating station
Further information: Power House, Chiswick

LUT relaid the existing track, which was in a poor state of repair, and extended and electrified the system. Electric trams first ran on three routes on 4 April 1901 between Hammersmith and Kew Bridge, between Shepherd's Bush and Kew Bridge (via Chiswick), and between Shepherd's Bush and Acton, London's first electric tram service.

Richmond branch[edit]

One of Richmond's trams outside the tram-shed. 51°27′56″N 0°17′55″W / 51.465525°N 0.298530°W / 51.465525; -0.298530

Trams never ran across Kew Bridge – the second (stone) bridge, built in the 1780s, was far too narrow, and very steep on the approach from Brentford – which meant that there was an isolated length of single track of 1.53 miles, with passing loops, from the south side of the bridge, across Kew Green, then south along the Kew Road to the Orange Tree public house 51°27′51″N 0°18′06″W / 51.464228°N 0.301534°W / 51.464228; -0.301534 in Richmond.

LUT made repeated attempts to cross Kew Bridge after it was rebuilt in 1903 but these continued to be resisted by the Richmond Corporation Tramways Committee. Kew Road residents opposed two attempts in 1897 and 1898 to install a second track – which would have necessitated road widening – and any subsequent electrification using unsightly overhead wires seemed out of the question, locals favouring the underground conduit system. Kew Observatory had concerns about the introduction of electric trams.

So whilst the rest of London went electric, this little branch continued to use horse-drawn cars until well into the twentieth century – the interiors had red velvet seat cushions and were described as "comfortable, if not luxurious", and ran every quarter-hour (the full "end to end" journey costing 2d) – until 20 April 1912 after which it was replaced by part of a London General (LGOC) motor-bus route.

Richmond's tram-shed still exists as the former RACC Shaftesbury Centre in Kew Road, now part of The Falcons School for Boys, just north of the A316.

Extensions to the system[edit]

1 March 1906. The Mayor of Kingston upon Thames is about to drive number 320 onto Kingston Bridge. Clifton Robinson the Managing Director of London United Tramways is on the upper deck.
Tramcar 13 in Boston Road on a Hanwell to Brentford journey

The LUT system was connected to the London County Council tram network at Hammersmith in 1908, Tooting in 1922 and Wandsworth in 1931; and to the Metropolitan Electric Tramways (MET) at Acton in 1909.

The LUT Company[edit]

The company's headquarters, depot and power station were in Chiswick. On 1 January 1913, LUT became a subsidiary of the London and Suburban Traction Company (LSTC), jointly owned by the Underground Group and British Electric Traction. LSTC also owned the other two tramway companies in the London area, Metropolitan Electric Tramways and South Metropolitan Electric Tramways.[1]

London United Tramways Act 1930
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long titleAn Act to authorise the London United Tramways Limited to provide services of trolley vehicles and to abandon their tramways and light railways to confer upon them additional powers and for other purposes.
Citation20 & 21 Geo. 5. c. clxxxvii
Dates
Royal assent1 August 1930
Text of statute as originally enacted

The London United Tramways Act 1930 (20 & 21 Geo. 5. c. clxxxvii) gave it powers to replace loss-making tram routes with trolleybuses. London's first trolleybus service started on LUT's Twickenham to Teddington section on 16 May 1931 and then to Wimbledon, working from Fulwell Garage. These first trolleybuses, nicknamed "Diddlers", which lasted until replaced in 1948, bore a striking frontal resemblance to the 'Feltham' trams, also built around this period.

On takeover by the LPTB on 1 July 1933, London United had approximately 29 miles of tram track, 18 of trolleybus route.

Preservation[edit]

Preserved tramcar 159 in the depot at Crich

Only one LUT tramcar survives to the present day: no. 159, which has been restored to original condition and operates at the National Tramway Museum, Crich, Derbyshire.

Archives[edit]

Records related to London United Tramways can be found at Bristol Archives within the papers of George White (Ref. 35810/LUT) (online catalogue). Further records can be found at London Metropolitan Archives[2] and the National Tramway Museum[3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ History
  2. ^ "National Archives Discovery catalogue, LUT page". Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  3. ^ "National Archives Discovery catalogue, LUT page". Retrieved 7 June 2016.

Sources[edit]

  • London's Trams and Trolleybuses, John R. Day, published by London Transport in 1979
  • The History of British Bus Services, Second Edition, John Hibbs, Newton Abbot, 1979
  • The London United Tramways – Origins to 1912, Volume One, C.S. Smeeton, LRTA & TLRS, 1994
  • A Scientific Workshop Threatened by Applied Science: Kew Observatory to Be Removed Owing to the Disturbance Caused by Electric Traction, The Illustrated London News, 8 August 1903

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=London_United_Tramways&oldid=1222193605"