Using steam to power the tramcars began in September 1880 but came with lots of problems and issues.
Three steam locomotives had been loaned to Sunderland for the trials by local company R & W Hawthorn of Gateshead . Two had been built by R & W Hawthorn whilst one was Swiss built by Winterthur. The Swiss locomotive weighed 7 tons.
Firstly, they failed to pull the expected two or three carriages and when initially tried on the Southwick Line the curves and gradients were too difficult to overcome. Having then been transferred to the Christ Church to Roker route things were not much better. Parts of the road were too narrow so they interfered with other traffic and they were frequently breaking down. As a consequence the use of steam powered trams was eventually discarded and another alternative sought having been tested for approx 40 weeks.
Three steam locomotives had been loaned to Sunderland for the trials by local company R & W Hawthorn of Gateshead . Two had been built by R & W Hawthorn whilst one was Swiss built by Winterthur. The Swiss locomotive weighed 7 tons.
Firstly, they failed to pull the expected two or three carriages and when initially tried on the Southwick Line the curves and gradients were too difficult to overcome. Having then been transferred to the Christ Church to Roker route things were not much better. Parts of the road were too narrow so they interfered with other traffic and they were frequently breaking down. As a consequence the use of steam powered trams was eventually discarded and another alternative sought having been tested for approx 40 weeks.
