Infastructure for Tram services began as far back as 1878 when the Sunderland Tramway Company was authorised to lay and run tramways from the Town to Roker, the Docks, Christ Church and Tatham Street. At this time Fulwell and Southwick was outside of borough boundaries and would not have been considered.
Wheatsheaf - Monkwearmouth - Sunderland
Within 12 months on 28th April 1879, Sunderland (with a then population of around 100,00 residents) saw the tramservice take its first passengers when horse drawn trams started to run between the Royal Hotel and Roker. These single deck, 19 seat, horse drawn trams, took in Monkwearmouth as they made their journey to and from the sea front. The 15 minute service operated from 9am to 9pm for which passengers were charge 2d.
South of the river , tracks were being laid in Fawcett Street along to Christ Church, then heading East along Gray Road to Tatham Street , making there way back to the Town Centre via Borough Road.
The journey to the dock terminus at Adelaide Street started from the junction of Borough Road and Tatham Street.
Left: Single deck Tram in Ryhope Road.
Although twin tracks were built in Bridge Street and Fawcett Street the rest of the system used " passing loops". Although covering a distance of just over three and a half miles, proposals were being made to extend the service through High Street , up Hylton Road and along to Pallion. as well as others including a service from the Wheatsheaf to Stoney Lane in Southwick were being considered.
Track re-laying - Wheatsheaf around 1932
When the new services opened the company quickly realised that on the High Street - Peacock Street Line the 1-14 gradient up Silksworth Row would cause problems. A additional horse , known as a trace horse would assist the trams up the bank to overcome this.
In 1881 the track was twinned for 410 feet at Millfield on the Hylton Road Line and a loop put in at North Bridge Street around Dundas Street.
In 1881 the track was twinned for 410 feet at Millfield on the Hylton Road Line and a loop put in at North Bridge Street around Dundas Street.
