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Tramway vehicle; London Tramways Company double deck horse tram No 284, built by John Stephenson & Co New York, 1882

Main details

Main details for this item.
Reference number
1981/533 part 0
Description
Trams were easier to pull than buses, which meant they could be much larger and carry more passengers.This drove down prices, making public transport affordable to the working classes.The London Tramways Company ordered more than 300 from America and shipped them to London.This one, Number 284, arrived in London in 1882. It was sold off in 1910 when lines were electrified and spent most of its later life as a hen house in Kent. It was acquired by LTM in 1975, and was restored in the early 1990s.
Manufacturer
Dates
1882
Collection
Object type
  • Tramway vehicle
Location
Topics
Completeness
100%
  • Physical description

    Dimensions
    AttributeValue
    Height
    3200mm12ft 4in
    Length
    6965mm22ft 8in
    Width
    2130mm7ft 0in
    Weight
    AttributeValue
    Unladen
    2250 kg
    Colour
    AttributeValue
    Colour
    • Light Green
    • Cream
    • Black
    • Dark Green
    • Yellow
  • Build and type

    AttributeValue
    Deck
    Double
    In service
    1882 - 1910
    Fleet number
    284
  • People involved

    RolePerson(s) involved
    Manufacturer
    John Stephenson & Co, New York, USA, 1882
  • Associated companies, people and places

    Company
    AttributeValue
    Operated by
    London Tramways Company,
    Places
    Route
    Waterloo - Greenwich,

More about trams

The Stephenson horse tram in our collection was built in the USA. Read more about tramways and Stephenson's who were considered the most experienced tramcar builders in the world.

London Tramways Company double deck horse tram No 284, built by John Stephenson & Co New York, 1882

During Queen Victoria's reign (1837-1901), London's population grew at an astonishing rate. London’s centre became increasingly congested. Read more about public transport in Victorian London – on the surface.

Print; newspaper cartoon called Modern Improvements or Omnibus Conveniences, 1831
Blog category
  •  Posters

Celebrating London's tramways past and present

By Georgia Morley, 3 January 2020, 1 minute read

We are starting the new year with a celebration of London’s tramways in our new Poster Parade on display at the Museum from 10 January to 26 March 2020. Find out more in this blog by Curator Georgia Morley.

Poster depicting a trolleybus to Kingston