TECHNOLOGY THROUGH HISTORY

Trams

Introduction

A tram is a passenger rail vehicle that normally runs on tracks on the street of a urban settlement or in the cities. It usually transports people to various places in the city or maybe between another town in the in the city as well. Trams are different from standards trains and other rapid transit trains because of its lightweight and short features. Trams are also called streetcar commonly as in the United States of America. Trams mostly runs in tracks like trains so there are no clear difference between them. Most modern trams are operated using electricity but there are also ones that were old have been using petrol, diesel or horse. The electric trams were really famous for its noise as people said it was annoying. Since then, trams have been changing throughout the years and also helped various people transporting from here and there in a very convenience way even though it only lasted several decades.

History

Trams started a way back in the early of 18th century. But then, trams were once a very popular mode of transportation back in the 19th century. Firstly, it seems that idea of trams were used to ease to ease the transport of goods and raw materials from quarries and mines using horses. But then, appear the first passenger tram in the United Kingdom by the Swansea and Mumbles Railway. It was a horse drawn type tram started in the year 1807. Most countries like United Kingdom and United States started off their trams with this horse drawn type and thus become on of the major transportation mode. But then, this horse drawn type trams were discontinued due to the introduction of steam and electrical trams  in late 18th century because it is much more costly and several limitations due to the use of horses.

The first horse drawn tram at London in 1860  (Source: http://www.bookdrum.com/books/tipping-the-velvet/12832/bookmark/94659.html )

Later on, new technology have been introduced to be integrated in trams. It is said  by Taplin (1998) that there are more mechanical operations on trams and new steam engine were developed. But  then, it is not very suitable for urban and rural operations. Other than that, new type of trams had also been introduced such as petrol and diesel driven trams. But its all were not very effective compared to the electric ones because this alternatives doesn't require much maintenance and less expensive.

Since then, more and more electric trams were developed until the first one came into operations in 1881. It was the year for Werner Von Siemens as he introduced the first electric operated trams in Lichterfede near Berlin, Germany ( Wikipedia, n.d., para 18)

The first electric tram going up in Queen Street, Auckland. 17 November 1902 ( Source:  Museum  of Transport and Technology, Auckland )

After that, electric trams largely replace the old horse drawn and other types of trams and start to evolve with various design and operation method. Firstly, the electrified running rails were developed. But after various study and experiment, it was stated by Taplin (1998) that this is not suitable for a street environment in the safety aspect of other street users. Later on, the overhead cable design that is largely acceptable were introduced by Siemens & Halke in 1881. Then, right after the year 1888 many cities turn into electric powered trams. To get the electricity onto the trams, an overhead wires is installed all over city streets and then patch it to the poles on top of the trams. It will generate electricity for the trams to move by using a large big steam engine to run down the generator and generate electricity for the lines from the powerhouse.

An example of tram rails and overhead wires in MOTAT. ( Source: Museum of  Transport and Technology, Auckland )

Lastly, trams saw the declining of it services after years and years of excellence. Trams were slowly being replaced by buses as it is more reliable and a very cost effective alternative. Most of the tram service in the world halted around the 1960's like the first UK city of Manchester to abandon their trams service in January 1949 as new mode of transportation like cars and motorcycles begin to rise. Many countries shut down their trams service due to maintenance problem as well as lack of competitors for other public transports manufacturers. The second World War had also leave an impact to the tram industry as postwar buses provides better and smoother ride for passengers compared to trams.

Societal Impacts

The video above is a brief explanation of how trams being revolutionised throughout the years and how big its affect towards human social life back in the 18th to the 19th century. The trams have become the most prominent public transport in the UK at that time and mainly shaping the social life of the people there. Trams would allow many people regardless age and background to travel and create opportunities for themselves. This would add more diversity in the social structures in a certain town or city.

Based on the videos above, its clearly addressing how is that it changes the social structure on people at the time. Firstly, trams is a mode of transportation. It transports people to various places around towns or cities. This would open up opportunities from people from the rural areas to come to the city and meet up people from various background thus become an inter-social medium between them.

Tram on a busy street of Istanbul, Turkey. ( Source:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheeni/6967478803/  )

Besides that, trams have been a real connection between city and rural areas thus expanding the area and create urbanization. City would expand in a really fast pace development and this would affect the people lives by bringing resources closer to them such as clothes, foods and even homes. This somehow would improve people's lifestyles and allow easy commuting and the road between suburbs and city are more accessible.

Tram in a disreputable suburb of Wan Chai, Hong Kong ( Source:  http://mellorview.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/downtime-in-the-up-place/ )

Last but not least, trams would increase the population and also create more employment. The job opportunity would bring more people to the city from the suburb or outskirts and also help to improve the economic side of the country. Trams aid more people to improve their lives by provide mobility as well as open up more and more jobs than before.

References

Bellis. M (n.d.). Street Cars - Cable Cars. Retrieved August 28, 2012 from http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blstreetcars.htm

Taplin. M. (1998). The History of Tramways and Evolution of Light Rail. Retrieved August 28, 2012 from http://www.lrta.org/mrthistory.html

The Winton Community Forum. (n.d.). Public Transport - Trams to Yellow Buses. Retrieved August 29, 2012 from http://www.wintonforum.co.uk/busesandtrams.html

Wikipedia. (n.d.). History of trams. Retrieved August 28, 2012 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_trams#cite_note-14