Bombay Horse Trams in the Early 20th Century, 2 Postcards 1905

Bombay Horse Trams in the Early 20th Century, 2 Postcards 1905

Two 1905 postcards offer a fascinating glimpse of Bombay’s (Mumbai’s) horse-drawn tramways. The city’s first organised public transport system introduced in 1874. The first postcard captures a lively street scene with a horse tram passing beneath a towering Singer Sewing Machines billboard, surrounded by colonial-era buildings and bustling pedestrians. The second postcard presents another horse tram travelling with the elegant Church of the Holy Name rising prominently in the background, while the nearby Bombay Tramway Company’s Office and rows of handsome colonial-era buildings reflect the city’s rapid urban growth during the British Raj.

Horse trams remained an essential part of everyday life in Bombay until they were gradually replaced by electric trams from 1907. This ushered in another new era of public transport to the city. These vintage postcards preserve a remarkable visual record of colonial Bombay’s streets, architecture, businesses, and everyday life before the widespread arrival of motor vehicles. Many of these streetscapes have since been transformed beyond recognition. Click image to enlarge. 

Did you know – the Madagascar postage stamp affixed to the first postcard shows that postcards of colonial India were marketed internationally.