Track construction for the Maori Hill Electric Trams
The actual date of these photographs was somewhat confusing at first as I thought they must have been the construction in 1882. However, the ones at Roslyn shopping area appear to be before 1908 when the Roslyn Post Office was built. They show a Chemist shop behind the workers (appears to be Wm Elder), then a space where the Roslyn Post Office was built in 1908, and D. Ross, Watchmaker/Jeweller on the right. (Both Chemist and Jeweller shops are listed in the 1909 street directories). The 1902 street directories do not show either of these shop owners, yet the tram tracks would have been laid for the horse drawn trams in 1882. Horse drawn trams were used from 23-12-1882 till 22-10-1900, and the electric trams ran from 23-10-1900 but were eventually replaced by diesel buses on the 1st July 1936.
After some searching an article was found in the Otago Witness newspaper of 25 July 1906 under the heading: "Laying the New Rails for the Roslyn Electric Tramway." It shows these exact photographs which indicates it is replacement rails being fitting rather than the initial laying of the tracks. Problem solved!
The comments under each photograph below were on the back of them when I scanned them and correspond to those in the Otago Witness issue.
Photograph K223
Commencement of work at Ross Street Junction with cable car, Town Belt.
Area viewed from Ross Street with Roslyn cable car lines in foreground.
Photograph K222
Excavating for new track: View on Town Belt, near Leven Street.
For today views of the first two photographs go to [Views] section.
Photograph K221
Group of hands employed in laying the concrete
Photograph K219
Group of plate layers - shows Roslyn shops before P.O. was built in 1908.
Photograph K220
Another group of concrete workers.
Photograph K218
Group of navvies clearing the permanent way, High Street.
Photograph K217
Clearing High Street, Roslyn, preparatory to laying new rails.
NOTE: High Street, Roslyn is now called Highgate.
High Street to the south of the Roslyn shopping area changed to be Highgate in 1913, however it was not until 1916 that the section to Maori Hill also changed name to Highgate.
Maori Hill Trams Index or Next Page
After some searching an article was found in the Otago Witness newspaper of 25 July 1906 under the heading: "Laying the New Rails for the Roslyn Electric Tramway." It shows these exact photographs which indicates it is replacement rails being fitting rather than the initial laying of the tracks. Problem solved!
The comments under each photograph below were on the back of them when I scanned them and correspond to those in the Otago Witness issue.
Photograph K223
Commencement of work at Ross Street Junction with cable car, Town Belt.
Area viewed from Ross Street with Roslyn cable car lines in foreground.
Photograph K222
Excavating for new track: View on Town Belt, near Leven Street.
For today views of the first two photographs go to [Views] section.
Photograph K221
Group of hands employed in laying the concrete
Photograph K219
Group of plate layers - shows Roslyn shops before P.O. was built in 1908.
Photograph K220
Another group of concrete workers.
Photograph K218
Group of navvies clearing the permanent way, High Street.
Photograph K217
Clearing High Street, Roslyn, preparatory to laying new rails.
NOTE: High Street, Roslyn is now called Highgate.
High Street to the south of the Roslyn shopping area changed to be Highgate in 1913, however it was not until 1916 that the section to Maori Hill also changed name to Highgate.