Mohamedali Tramways Company
Mohamedali Tramways Company (MTC) was a transport network of rail vehicles in Karachi, Pakistan.
History
The idea of a tramway system for Karachi was conceived and a tender for its construction was first made in 1881. On February 8, 1883 a plan for a tramway was drawn up and permission obtained from the government for the use of steam-powered trams.
In October 1884 construction was started. John Brunton was the Chief Engineer of the project. The tramway was opened on April 20, 1885 employing steam-powered cars. The opening ceremony took place near St Andrew's Church (Abdullah Haroon Road and Sharah-e-Liaquat).[1]
The steam trams were replaced by horse-drawn ones in 1886.[2]
In 1902 the East India Tramways Company Limited was responsible for running the trams in Karachi.
By March 23, 1905 petrol-powered tram were introduced. By 1909 the entire fleet was replaced by petrol-powered trams. Each car had a capacity of 46 passengers and could travel at speeds of up to18 mph. New tracks had to be re-laid for the petrol driven trams. [1] The trams now ran on inverted U-shaped grooved-bridge rail with a four-foot gauge.[2]
The first two petrol-engined tramcars were designed by John Abbott and his son John Dixon Abbott, incorporating the Dixon-Abbott patent gearbox. They were built in England.
By 1914, there were 37 petrol-powered tramcars running.
The tram was a common mode of transport as was the horse drawn carriage. Only the elite had cars. A few young men owned motorcycles. Both men and women went about on bicycles, for this was the most common type of transport.[3]
1945 saw the introduction of the first diesel-powered trams.
In 1949 the whole tramway system was sold to the Mohamedali Tramways Company (MTC) owned by Sheikh Mohammad Ali. [1][2]
According to the nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan who lived in Karachi at the time, the tram fare in the 1950s was one anna (less than one cent).[4]
Until 1955 there were still 64 petrol-powered trams in Karachi numbered from 94 to 157. These were single deck 4-wheeled cars with back-to-back cross benches. They had an 8 ft wheel base, and were 28 feet long, and 6 feet 8 inches wide. These cars were built between 1924 and 1948 with Perkins P.4 Diesel Engines and Simplex (Dixon-Abbott) Gearboxes. Cars number 145 to 157 were built as new diesel cars, while the rest of the cars were converted from petrol to diesel.[1]
Routes and Expansion
The original line which started operating on April 20, 1885 ran from Saddar to Kiamari.
- Between 1891-1900 the Lawrence Road (in 2014 Nishtar Road) route was constructed.
- On September 30, 1911 the line was extended to Frere Street (in 2014 Dr. Daud Pota Road).
- On February 17, 1916 the Soldier Bazaar route was introduced via Mansfield Street (in 2014 Syedna Burhanuddin Road). October 22, 1928 saw the introduction of the Chakiwara route.
- In 1929 the line going to Soldier Bazaar from Mansfield Street was diverted to Bunder Road (in 2014 M.A. Jinnah Road).[1]
Closure
The Karachi Tramway was closed down on April 30, 1975.[1] It is not clear whether the MTC was a victim of the Karachi Circular Railway which started in 1969 with 14 trains or of the transport mafia.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jang 4 April 2010
- 1 2 3 The Friday Times 17 January 2014
- ↑ Mascarenhas, Oswin (2011). The Origin and Evolution of St Lawrence's Parish, Karachi, Pakistan: The Garden Area with the Settlement of the Christian Community (Kindle Locations 809-811). Kindle Edition.
- ↑ The News May 28, 2012
- ↑ Dawn February 8, 2003