Waggonway Research Circle

Plateways/tramways - overview and list of some available resources. (Updated 20 May 2010)

The English Plateway was a development of the C18 when iron plates began to be added to the wooden rails in use on waggonways.  The key development which differentiated a plateway from a waggonway was the use of an L shaped rail for guidance with smooth wheels on the vehicle.  This was the complete oppoSite of the waggonway, and later tramway, systems which were built using flanged wheels on edge rail.  A notable builder of plateways was Benjamin Outram and notable plateway lines included the Peak Forest Tramway and the Little Eaton Gangway amongst others. The plateway was further enhanced when John Curr introduced a system of modular track pieces. 

The most noteworthy plateway to be built was the English Surrey Iron Railway.  Opened on 26th July 1803 the Surrey Iron Railway ran south from the Thames at Wandsworth (South London) towards the Wandle Valley industrial area. It was later extended further south. It was the first public railway in Britain, and probably the world.  It was therefore a significant milestone in railway history.  Another notable English plateway was the Little Eaton Gangway in Derbyshire.  Surviving plateway vehicles can be seen at Coalbrookedale (Museum of the Gorge) and in the National Railway Museum collection.    Significant sections of the Haytor Granite tramway also survive in situ and can be viSited on those parts on of the Site on "open access" moorland.

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