OLD PLYMOUTH . UK
Including Old Devonport UK  and Old East Stonehouse UK and beyond.
www.oldplymouth.uk
 

TRAMWAY SERVICES IN OLD PLYMOUTH  |  PLYMOUTH CORPORATION

TRAMWAY SERVICE "8" - MORICE SQUARE to SAINT BUDEAUX SQUARE

Commencement (see note A below)

Wednesday June 26th 1901.  Cut back from Saltash Passage to Saint Budeaux Square on Saturday January 16th 1909.  Became Plymouth Corporation's route "8" on Monday October 23rd 1916, following the amalgamation of the tramways of Devonport and Plymouth.  Not affected by the Unification of the Tramway Network in 1922. 

Original Route (see note B below)

Morice Square, New Passage Hill, William Street, South Keyham Gate, Keyham Road, North Keyham Gate (fare from Morice Square, 1d), Saltash Road, Royal Naval Barracks, Wolseley Road, Camel's Head, Wolseley Road, Saint Budeaux Square (1½d).

Subsequent development (see note C below)

---

Replacement by Motor Buses, Monday July 27th 1930

Tram service "8" was completely withdrawn as from Monday October 27th 1930.  Alderman W A Miller told Plymouth Borough Council that 'for a long time  past a sum of £100 a week had been lost on the number "8" tram service, and no undertaking could continue to stand such a loss.  The cause of the deficit had been explored and consideration given to those routes on which so considerable an amount of money was being lost.  "My own opinion", he said, "is that there has been another form of transport which has been operating in the area, and providing a cheaper and quicker service, and that is is our duty to meet that competition".'  The competition was the Great Western Railway Company's suburban railmotor service between Plymouth Station and Saltash Station.

Note A:  Wherever possible an exact date of commencement of a service is shown.  However, in a lot of cases no precise date has been recorded so reference will be made to official returns to the Council or other documentary evidence to narrow the date down as much as possible.

Note B:  This gives the roads and streets the service passed through.  A road or street name in brackets indicates that it has not been confirmed beyond doubt that the road or street was used by buses on this route but it is a "best guess" based on the author's knowledge of the practice at the time.  If it is subsequently confirmed by either documentary or photographic evidence that the road or street was traversed by this service then the brackets will be deleted.

Note C:  Where deviations to the original route are shown they will be from and to a road or street named in the "Original Route" section so that the alteration in route can be easily followed.