Seaton Tramway were running open-top trams on a pleasant sunny September afternoon, bringing an unusual perspective to Colyford level crossing. I normally experience level crossings as a road user, and even from trains it’s usually only audible at one side.
XY recording, Olympus LS14
It’s a great way to overlook the Seaton Wetlands nature reserve. The driver pointed out this Kestrel on the tram power poles. We saw little egrets, grey herons, cormorants and some Curlew. They run occasional birdwatching trips on the tramway too.
The tramway makes an interesting sound running past – there must be a gearbox between the motor and wheels. The control system is quite rudimentary, you only have about four positions.
You can hear this under load when the driver runs slowly, pulsing the power on and off.
The next recording is taken from the Colyton terminus, with a tram passing the platform to the terminus.
XY recording, Olympus LS14
Seaton Tramway has an interesting history. It uses some of the old trackway from Seaton Junction to Seaton. This branch line was taken out in the Beeching axe. Claude Lane was looking for a permanent site; Claude had run trams at Rhyl then at Eastbourne. He bought the trackway fron British Rail and he and an assistant moved the tram from Eastbourne. This took 36 lorry round trips from September 1969. The first passenger service at Seaton ran on the August Bank Holiday of 1970.
The system voltage is 120V DC, with battery stations along the lines, presumably to minimise line losses at such a low voltage.