Tram line cleaner - 1890

[Lorraine Katherine]

Dear Family History UK

On Violet Alice Louise's birth certificate in 1890 her 'father' Alfred Jezard is described as a tram line cleaner. Please could you tell me what this job would involve, was it a dangerous profession?

Thank you
Lorraine, Orpington, Kent

 

[davelambert271]

hi

in 1890 trams were pulled by horses.

dave

 

[dochines]

Trams ran on rails which were inset in the roads a bit like railway lines. These lines tended to run in the middle of the road. either side of the rail there would be a small (say 5cm) gap and about 15cm deep in which mud, horse manure and other rubbish could collect. I can only assume a cleaner walked the lines removing the rubbish. If it was not cleared there was a risk of the tram being derailed.

I remember travelling on trams in London, not the horse drawn ones! and my grandmother was once injured falling off her bike when a wheel got stuck in the gap I mentioned above. The Tram lines were quite a hazard. The old highway codes used to include a section about undertaking trams on the near side when you wished to pass them

dochines

 

[Robesur]

When I was a small boy there was a joke doing the rounds that someone had the occupation of polishing the tram lines and was paid three farthings a mile.

 

[Lorraine Katherine]

Thank you all - interesting to hear the Victorian history and slightly later history - this would be forgotten about if it wasn't for sites such as this.
Kind regards
Lorraine

 

[leefer]

Here is an early Horse Train or tram....this particular one is at The Mumbles near Swansea....would have been hard work with lots of walking....desperate in the winter but a good job in the summer months...any job that kept you above ground and not in the local coal pits was very sought after.

 

[Lorraine Katherine]

Thanks once again - very interesting!
Kind regards
Lorraine