In 1898, a spectacularly ill-fated business venture began in Wales' 2nd city:

• It lasted 2 years
• Made virtually no money
• Cost the equivalent of £600k
• Is widely considered mythical

It was the "Swansea Constitution Hill Incline Tramway."

(Yes, SCHIT)

🚋

THREAD 👇
In 1898, a spectacularly ill-fated business venture began in Wales' 2nd city:• It lasted 2 years• Made virtually no money• Cost the equivalent of £600k• Is widely considered mythicalIt was the "Swansea Constitution Hill Incline Tramway."(Yes, SCHIT)THREAD
In 1898, a spectacularly ill-fated business venture began in Wales' 2nd city:• It lasted 2 years• Made virtually no money• Cost the equivalent of £600k• Is widely considered mythicalIt was the "Swansea Constitution Hill Incline Tramway."(Yes, SCHIT)THREAD
In 1898, a spectacularly ill-fated business venture began in Wales' 2nd city:• It lasted 2 years• Made virtually no money• Cost the equivalent of £600k• Is widely considered mythicalIt was the "Swansea Constitution Hill Incline Tramway."(Yes, SCHIT)THREAD
With a gradient of 20% (or 1:5), Constitution Hill is renowned as one of the steepest residential streets in the UK.
It's also one of the few that's still cobbled.

But at a mere 300m (984ft) long, the rationale for a tramway is not exactly obvious.
With a gradient of 20% (or 1:5), Constitution Hill is renowned as one of the steepest residential streets in the UK.It's also one of the few that's still cobbled.But at a mere 300m (984ft) long, the rationale for a tramway is not exactly obvious.
With a gradient of 20% (or 1:5), Constitution Hill is renowned as one of the steepest residential streets in the UK.It's also one of the few that's still cobbled.But at a mere 300m (984ft) long, the rationale for a tramway is not exactly obvious.
With a gradient of 20% (or 1:5), Constitution Hill is renowned as one of the steepest residential streets in the UK.It's also one of the few that's still cobbled.But at a mere 300m (984ft) long, the rationale for a tramway is not exactly obvious.
With a gradient of 20% (or 1:5), Constitution Hill is renowned as one of the steepest residential streets in the UK.It's also one of the few that's still cobbled.But at a mere 300m (984ft) long, the rationale for a tramway is not exactly obvious.
Work on the SCHIT began in 1896, serving new housing on Townhill, high above Swansea.

Completed in 1898, it immediately failed its Board of Trade inspection on multiple safety grounds, including the fact that the brakes couldn't stop the two tram cars if a cable broke.
Work on the SCHIT began in 1896, serving new housing on Townhill, high above Swansea.Completed in 1898, it immediately failed its Board of Trade inspection on multiple safety grounds, including the fact that the brakes couldn't stop the two tram cars if a cable broke.
Work on the SCHIT began in 1896, serving new housing on Townhill, high above Swansea.Completed in 1898, it immediately failed its Board of Trade inspection on multiple safety grounds, including the fact that the brakes couldn't stop the two tram cars if a cable broke.
The Board of Trade stated that:
"Any ignorant or mischievous person… could push the switches over into the wrong position in the face on an approaching car, and… cause an accident"

After remedial work, it opened for service, but technical problems forced it to close same day.
SCHIT reopened the following week, and over the next 14 months averaged only around 500 passengers a day (200k total).

It took 5 people to run the service:

🚋 1️⃣
• Driver
• Guard

🚋 2️⃣
• Driver
• Guard

⚙️⛓
• Engineer
The service ran from 11am to 11.15pm, taking 2½ minutes per journey at a flat fare of 1d (d = penny, pre-decimal).
——
💷 Pre-decimal explainer 💷
• 12d = 1s (shilling)
• 20s = £1
——
The trouble is, 500 x 1d = £2.1s.8d
In other words, daily passengers couldn't cover staff wages!
The tramway finally closed in early 1902, and in 1903 was offered for sale, but had no takers.

The track was then ripped up, and along with the tram cars, sold for scrap.

The operating company eventually folded in 1905.
The tramway finally closed in early 1902, and in 1903 was offered for sale, but had no takers. The track was then ripped up, and along with the tram cars, sold for scrap.The operating company eventually folded in 1905.
The tramway finally closed in early 1902, and in 1903 was offered for sale, but had no takers. The track was then ripped up, and along with the tram cars, sold for scrap.The operating company eventually folded in 1905.
Given its incredibly short lifespan, and the distinct lack of archive photography, it's little wonder that SCHIT is widely considered to be an urban legend.

More 👉

🚋 https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Tramframe.htm?https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Cards/Postc40.htm
🔧 http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/swan.htm
⛓ https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3348215/3348220/125/mount%20pleasant%20pub%20trecynon
⚙️ https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/life-constitution-hill-one-steepest-14623318
Given its incredibly short lifespan, and the distinct lack of archive photography, it's little wonder that SCHIT is widely considered to be an urban legend.More https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Tramframe.htm?https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Cards/Postc40.htm http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/swan.htm https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3348215/3348220/125/mount%20pleasant%20pub%20trecynon https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/life-constitution-hill-one-steepest-14623318
Given its incredibly short lifespan, and the distinct lack of archive photography, it's little wonder that SCHIT is widely considered to be an urban legend.More https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Tramframe.htm?https://www.tramwayinfo.com/Cards/Postc40.htm http://www.hows.org.uk/personal/rail/swan.htm https://newspapers.library.wales/view/3348215/3348220/125/mount%20pleasant%20pub%20trecynon https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/life-constitution-hill-one-steepest-14623318
If you enjoyed that unexpected tale, I've collated a wide range of "Secrets of Wales," from lost golden treasures to hidden cloud citadels, from a strangely Satanic story to dinosaurs in plain sight 👉 http://bit.ly/SecretsOfWales 
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