Reading Corporation Tramways

Reading Corporation Tramways began operations in 1901, taking over from the horse-drawn trams operated by the Reading Tramway Company. The company operated a network that stretched for nearly twelve kilometres, and was to 1, 219mm gauge (the gauge used by the horse trams [2]). The network began to decline in the 1930s as the company struggled to maintain it's network and renew the track. The network was gradually replaced by buses and trolleybuses with the final trams operating in 1939.

A Reading Corporation tram [1]

Information for single bogie cars
Number built:	30
Built:	1901
Builder:	Dick, Kerr Ltd.
Motor:	2 DK25A electric motors (DC OHLE)
Power:	50 hp (37 kW)

All of the Reading trams were built by Dick, Kerr of Preston. Most of the fleet consisted of thirty four-wheeled Brill truck trams with some more powerful double bogie cars added in 1904 [3]. A water car was also bought for maintaining the network.

The tram car fleet was rebuilt in the 1920s with improved facilities for passengers including more windows. However due to the low railway bridge on Oxford Road no Reading tram car received a covered top deck.

Oxford Road [1]

Bath Road [1]

Aboard a Reading tram [1]

[1] Walter Jackson, "The Zone Fare in Practice: Reading", Electric Railway Journal (June 28, 1919) Vol. 53 No. 26 p. 1258
[2] E. Jackson-Stevens, British Electric Tramways (David & Charles, 1971) p. 72 
[3] Ibid. p. 74