Rare Old Photos of Madras Electric Trams (1902 & 1930)
These are two rare old negatives of the Madras Electric Trams, capturing contrasting moments in Madras (now Chennai) transport history. One negative from 1902 shows an early tram resting at a depot. While the other from 1930 depicts a working tram likely at Mylapore, taking in passengers. These glimpses highlight the evolution of public transport in South India during the early 20th century.
Out of India’s five historic electric tramways — Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata), Kanpur, Delhi, and Madras — only the Calcutta tram system seems to survive today.
The story of trams in Madras began even earlier. Horse-drawn trams were introduced in 1874, with nearly 18 km of laid tracks. However, by 1888, the system was struggling and was on the verge of being scrapped. In 1891, the Madras Electric Tramways Company Ltd (MET) was promoted, and by 1895, the first electric tram trial run was successfully carried out.
By the 1920s, trams had become an integral part of Madras city life, connecting busy routes such as:
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Purasawalkam – Madras Central via Walltax Road
Running at a modest speed of just 7 km/hr, the trams allowed passengers to easily hop on and hop off along the route, making them a practical and affordable urban transport option.
Sadly, despite their popularity, the Madras trams were discontinued in 1953, marking the end of an iconic chapter in the city’s public transport history. Click first photo to enlarge.
Did you know – the tram’s car bodies were built at the Perambur Railway Workshop, near the city.
From the collection – Raja Ravi Varma’s Portrait Photo – Old Postcard 1904., Great City of Kolkata, Old Postcard 1918., Last Effort And Fall of Tipu Sultan, Old Print 1877., Bombay to Calcutta Train & Tiger Hunting – Old Postcard 1900.
