Khartoum Trams

[rogerfarnworth]

Khartoum, Sudan Again – The Modern Tramway, Vol. 13 No. 156 – December 1950.

The Modern Tramway reported in December 1950 on the purchase by the Sudan Light & Power Company of the new 4-motor bogie tramcars. The bogies and equipment were being “supplied by the English Electric Company and the underframes and bodies by Charles Roberts and Company Ltd., under sub-contract to the English Electric Company. All motor tramcars and trailers [were to] be fitted with air brakes. As will be seen from the drawing reproduced, the body design [was] a pleasing example of modern British practice. The trailer cars [were] of similar outline.” [1: p270]

Sudan – Khartoum Again – The Modern Tramway, Vol. 13 No. 156 – December 1950.

The Modern Tramway reported in December 1950 on the purchase by the Sudan Light & Power Company of the new 4-motor bogie tramcars. The bogies and equipment were being “supplied by the Eng…

rogerfarnworth.com

“Electric tramway operation in Khartoum began on 16th January, 1928 when the line from Khartoum North to Omdurman via Khartoum and the White Nile Bridge was opened. The Khartoum Tramways were the first electric tramways in the Sudan and transport in the city and outskirts had been previously provided by two steam tramway lines, which were closed on the opening of the electric line.” [1: p270]

 

[Calthrop]

The quote: [my bolding] "Electric tramway operation in Khartoum began on 16th January, 1928 when the line from Khartoum North to Omdurman via Khartoum and the White Nile Bridge was opened. The Khartoum Tramways were the first electric tramways in the Sudan and transport in the city and outskirts had been previously provided by two steam tramway lines, which were closed on the opening of the electric line."

Yah boo sucks, is what I'd have said if I'd been around at the time .

 

[rogerfarnworth]

Hi Calthrop,

Mmm!

My original post about Khartoum and Sudan can be found here:

The Railways of Sudan

The latest issue of "The Narrow Gauge", the journal of the Narrow Gauge Society, carried an article by Iain Logie about the trams of Khartoum. The city was served by a narrow gauge steam tram network which was later replaced by Electric tram network. This prompted some research into the...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Calthrop]

Thanks -- fascinating stuff. If memory serves me rightly, Sudan's railways kept some steam in regular service until relatively late (late 70s / early 80s ?) -- "To Europe [and beyond] For Steam" and maybe others, ran a trip or two thereto.

Foolish musings, maybe -- but it occurs to me that anyone far enough into childhood then, to have witnessed Khartoum's steam trams in their last days, and to have now coherent memories of same: would have now to be a bit over a hundred years old. One would expect there are now, yet one or two people -- who still "have their marbles" and are accurate in their memories -- to whom that applies. Likewise re our Southwold Railway, closed in spring 1929...