Number 8 to Dalkey
Dublin's last tram ran in 1949 on the lengthy route as far as the now upmarket suburb of Dalkey. A mix of large bogie cars and two axle trams rumbled through the very narrow streets of Dalkey all the way from the imposing city centre terminus opposite the GPO. Here they entered through an equally narrow gate on curving track into a depot track fan with three seperate structures.
Amazingly the depot remains intact although the interiors have had concrete flooring added and stripped bare of any residual tramway infrastructure. Outside however the tracks and points remain much as they were set in cobbles and bearing the manufacturers marks. I was informed by knowledgeable locals that a preservation order had been placed on the structures and tramtracks to ensure their historic relevance is kept in perpetuity. The former use as a cafe and social arts centre was ended a few years ago due to health and safety issues but otherwise the site is more or less frozen in time to 1949. Even the iron depot gates with inset curving track from the street are part of this memorial to the first generation of Dublin's famous trams (wide gauge). One example from the Dalkey service has been restored and can be seen at the National Transport Museum in Howth Castle Demesne (more on this later).
Surviving Dublin Bogie Car 253 at Howth Museum - Closeup
Dalkey Depot Forecourt and Depot Structures (Both)
Point Blade Detail - US origin ?
Depot Interiors - track concreted over or lifted All Images : John Woodman
