Rothesay and Ettrick Bay Light Railway

Rothesay tramway co.
Map of Rothesay tramway
Operation
Locale	Rothesay
Open	19 August 1902
Close	30 September 1936
Status	Closed
Infrastructure
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Propulsion system(s)	Electric originally horse drawn
Depot(s)	Port Bannatyne
Statistics
Route length	4.87 miles (7.84 km)

The Rothesay tramway was a narrow gauge electric tramway on the Isle of Bute, Scotland.

History[]

Former depot in Port Bannatyne now a bus garage used by West Coast Motors

The original tramway was opened in 1882 – a horse-drawn 4 ft (1,219 mm) gauge tramway running from the promenade at Rothesay to Port Bannatyne.^[1]

In 1901 the tramway was bought by British Electric Traction and closed on 2 March 1902 for modernisation. It was regauged to 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) and electrified. Some horse-drawn vehicles were re-gauged and operated a temporary service until the electrification was complete. Electric services started on 13 August 1902.

On 13 July 1905 a 2+1⁄8-mile (3.4-kilometre) extension from Port Bannatyne to Ettrick Bay along a reserved right of way was opened. It had been built by Dick, Kerr & Co.^[2]

On 1 January 1914, control of the company passed to the Scottish General Transport Company.

Fleet[]

• 1-10 Electric Railway and Tramway Carriage Works 1902 Toastracks
• 11-15 Electric Railway and Tramway Carriage Works 1902 Single-deck saloons
• 16-20 Brush Electrical Engineering Company 1903 Toastracks

Closure[]

On 1 June 1932, the company name changed to Western Scottish Motor Traction Company, and the tramway closed on 30 September 1936.^[1]

The depot in Port Bannatyne is still in use as a bus garage.

Bibliography[]

• Twaddle, Graham (2000). Old Bute. Stenlake Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84033-099-1.

References[]