Remembering the Second-to-Last Howth Tram 31st May 1959 | Season 4 - Episode 39

Remembering the Second-to-Last Howth Tram 31st May 1959 | Season 4 - Episode 39

On this day on 31st May 1959, The Sutton and Howth Electric Tramway carried its last passenger having served visitors to the Hill of Howth for 57 years.

CÓRAS IOMPAIR ÉIREANN
Despite being esteemed by Howth residents, Dublin citizens, and tourists, the Sutton and Howth tramways fate was sealed on January 1, 1945, with the formation of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). CIÉ, a statutory corporation of the Republic of Ireland, took over Great Northern Railway Ireland operations, including the tramway. An audit deemed the tramway loss-making, recommending its closure and replacement by a bus service.

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KEVIN FINGER
With the 65th anniversary of the tramway closure approaching we were contacted several months ago by Rathfarnham native, Kevin Finger who wanted to share his memories of travelling on the second-to-last tram to the Hill of Howth on 31st May 1959 with his father, Gunter and sister Maureen.

MEMORIES OF HOWTH
In our interview with Kevin, he reminisced on his childhood memories of Howth, “My father Gunter Finger was a Chef with the old Jury's on Dame Street then. He liked to see firsthand the product when it came to the hotel. From memory the fishmonger at the time was Hanlon’s of Howth, who are still in business today. My father was German and his command of English wasn't the best, so he always checked everything that came in to his kitchen. As he didn’t read the papers (at that time) his suppliers would tell him of interesting things happening in and around Howth”.

SECOND-TO-LAST TRAM TO HOWTH
One of the fish suppliers had mentioned to Kevin’s father the closure of the Howth Tramway. On Sunday 31st May 1959, Kevin and his sister Maureen where loaded aboard the family’s black split-screen Morris Minor and they drove to the terminus in Sutton, determined to travel on the last of the Howth trams.

Kevin’s father brought his 1950 Agfa folding 120 roll film camera everywhere with him and snapped a lovely photograph of thirteen year old Kevin and eleven and a half year old Maureen standing on the step of No. 2, the second-to-last Howth tram on 31st May 1959.

THE TRAMWAY
The Sutton and Howth Electric Tramway, replacing a horse bus service from 1867, aimed to attract more customers to Sutton and Howth railway stations. The five and a quarter mile (8.4 km) route reached 365 feet above sea level at Summit Station, three miles from Sutton.

TRAM FLEET
The Hill of Howth Tramway, opened in June 1901, had a standard track gauge of 5 ft, 3 in, and featured eight open-top 67-seater trams built by Brush of Loughborough. These trams (numbers 1–8) ran on eight wheels, with each Brill 22E bogie having two large and two small wheels.

By 1902, the fleet expanded with two additional trams, Nos. 9 and 10, which were 73-seaters built by Milnes. These had 41 upstairs seats and 32 downstairs seats, with half arranged back-to-back in a knife-board style for better views.

The Sutton and Howth Electric Tramway Specifications:
Route length: 5.44 miles (8.4kms)
Height above sea level: 365 ft (111.2m)
Gauge: 5 ft, 3 in (1,600mm)
Traction current: 550 volts DC
Tram builders: Brush and Milnes
Seating: Trams 1 – 9 had 67 seats & Nos. 9 – 10 had 73 seats

THE LAST TRAM TO HOWTH
Driven by Christy Hanway and with Conductor Alfie Reilly, No. 9 was the last tram to run in public service on the Hill of Howth on 31st May 1959. No. 9 is now exhibited at the National Transport Museum of Ireland, Heritage Depot, Howth Castle Demesne, nearby the former tramway terminus at Howth railway station.

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Every week the Ireland Made team brings you two new Irish transport videos.
Subscribe at IrelandMade.ie or become a supporter on Facebook at   / irlmade  .
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Our thanks to Kevin Finger for his assistance with this story

If you have a story to share, please email Kevin Reid [email protected]

Sources of information and photo credits:
Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ)
Dublin City Public Libraries
Irish Film Institute
Lorcan Film Unit
National Transport Museum
Old Howth Photos Facebook Group - Caira Lorenzo, Dermot Kane, Eamon J. Martin, Hugh Walsh, John Maguire, Liam McLoughlin
Roger Farnworth

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