1905: The “Steady Progress” of Tramways and Railways is on Display at an International Exhition in London

July 3, 1905

In the northern part of London, an international electric tramway and railway exhibition was opened in the Royal Agricultural Hall in the inner-city area of Islington. This event, which would continue until July 14, was the third of its kind to be held at that location. The first of these exhibitions took place from June 30 to July 11, 1900, while the second one was held between July 1 and 12, 1902.

The Third International Electric Tramway and Railway Exhibition was formally inaugurated by Frederick Stanley (1841-1908), 16^th Earl of Derby. (He is best known today as the person for whom the Stanley Cup, the National Hockey League championship trophy, was named.) The London-based Times reported that, after the opening-day festivities, there was a luncheon. Those attending this luncheon included “the mayors of several provincial towns and chairmen of tramway committees, as well as a large number of general managers and engineers of tramway systems from all parts of the country.”

Over the next several days, the latest technological advances for tramways and railways were showcased in the Royal Agricultural Hall. The July 8 edition of the Formby Times highlighted a few of these innovations. This newspaper reported, “Although no striking change in electric tramway systems has taken place since the last exhibition several interesting developments are to be seen, notably the shunt motor appliances, by which energy can be returned to the line when a car is descending a gradient.” The Formby Times further noted, “There are in addition many improvements in design, and the exhibition as a whole shows the steady progress which is being made on this most important branch of industry.”

The Street Railway Journal, in an article appearing in one of its issues that August, likewise underscored the significance of the exhibition. This article asserted, “Perhaps the chief new feature which stands out boldest is the motor car, or more correctly, the motor omnibus, to this exhibition, as represented by Wolsey, of Birmingham, and the Peebles street car. Three years ago no motor omnibuses were in evidence.”

The Street Railway Journal also stated, “While some of the largest electrical manufacturing companies did not find it in their interests to exhibit this year, yet the exhibits of the smaller companies, especially those handling the auxiliary apparatus, were better than usual, and the exhibition, while it lasted, was well attended throughout and proved entirely successful.”

Photo Credit: Street Railway Journal (5 August 1905)

For more information on the Third International Electric Tramway and Railway Exhibition, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_International_Electric_Tramway_and_Railway_Exhibition and https://libraryarchives.metro.net/dpgtl/ERJ/srj-street-railway-journal/1905-srj-volume-26-no-06-august-05.pdf