FROM THE ARCHIVES:A columnist calling himself Civis couldn't wait for the closure of the remaining trams in Dublin in 1940. – JOE JOYCE
When the last cars leave Nelson Pillar to-night for Donnybrook and Phoenix Park a further five or six miles will be added to Dublin’s many miles of disused tramway tracks, and some hundreds of tons of extra iron and copper overhead equipment will be available to meet exigent foundry requirements.
With the disappearance of the track from Nelson Pillar to the North Circular road only two main tramcar routes will remain - the services to Rathmines and Dalkey areas. From College Green westwards, and from the Nelson Pillar northwards, Dublin traffic will be clear of track-bound vehicles with the exception of the line from Nelson Pillar to Howth. Why the fourth remaining route – from Rathmines to Ballsbridge – continues to obstruct the flow of traffic is a secret of the Tramway Company, but its early demise may be taken for granted.
Now the interesting question is which of the services – Rathmines and Dalkey – that remain to obstruct traffic in the Grafton street and Nassau street “bottlenecks” will be the next to disappear? Will Rathmines, the first suburb to acquire tramcar services in the early “seventies,” be the last resort of Dublin’s tramcars? Having regard to the frequency and efficiency of ’bus services on the Dun Laoghaire and Dalkey route, and to the number of new vehicles that will be required to deal with traffic in the thickly-populated Rathmines area, it seems to be probable that the last car to leave Nelson Pillar will soon thread its way through College Green to somewhere in the vicinity of Terenure.
When, then, is the last car likely to pass over O’Connell Bridge? A year ago The Irish Times hazarded the forecast that the tramcar would have passed into history before next New Year’s Day. A forecast that appeared to be set at naught by the eventualities of war. Yet, thanks to the enterprise and resourcefulness of the Tramways Company, a forecast that may even yet prove justified!
When, three years or so ago, The Irish Times prophesied and advocated the abandonment of tramway services the opposition of large bodies of citizens, and, incidentally, of traffic authorities and shareholders, was strenuous. Eloquent pleas were entered for the steel-track vehicle, because of its superior comfort and carrying capacity. Slowly but surely such doubts were dissipated. To-day, while some critics of the change remain, the double-deck ’bus has won its way among both passengers and vehicle owners; and shareholders who saw nothing but disaster in the demise of the tramcar have discovered that The Irish Times was right.
Other than vehicles owners and passengers and shareholders have also room to rejoice. As tracks and overhead equipments take their departure our streets present a new sense of spaciousness and of freedom. From whatever aspect the change may be regarded, be it utilitarian or aesthetic, the rubber-shod vehicle has won the day.
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