One of the most beautiful cities, in my opinion is San Francisco, located on the Eastern Californian seaboard in the USA. San Francisco has many iconic features such as the Golden Gate Bridge, the picturesque bay area, hills and terraces, the stunning city skyline architecture, the fort dwarfed by the GG Bridge, Alcatraz and the Alamo Victorian Homes. However the one thing that leaves a lasting impression in everyone’s mind is the city’s historic tram system.
Port Elizabeth rivals San Francisco’s topography and both shared a glorious era of tram transportation but San Francisco’s trams survived. The trams give San Francisco an air of sophistication and indulgence all part of the heritage of rich northern hemisphere countries.
The early tram company in Port Elizabeth had the good fortune of running the tram system in Cape Town during the prosperous years, but the company eventually ran into trouble and was liquidated. This effectively brought Port Elizabeth’s proud tram heritage to an end. The hope that the trams would some day be resurrected would prove not to be the case because of cheaper modes of transportation and the absence of visionaries in the transportation industry. The same can be said of the East London tram operators, where trams formed a big part of that cities history but are now gone.
In a world of cheap local transportation trams are generally ruled out as a viable option but those countries in Europe and America that are still fortunate to have them, trams give their cities a feel of grandeur and opulence.
It is still my dream to see the trams return to Port Elizabeth and the old tram sheds in the Baakens Valley housing a new generation of lightweight tram vehicles, complete with stylish yesteryear advertising on their exterior.
I envision new tram routes that take trams from the Campanile monument up the steep Russel Road hill, merging with Cape Road, but stopping along the way to pick up tourists and local sightseers. The trams would stop in Cape Road, opposite the BP Garage and the international Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise, allowing people the opportunity to also visit the Greenacres Shopping Center. The trams would then backtrack along the road which runs parallel to Cape Road and which passes the old Port Elizabeth Golf Club. From the old PE Golf Club they would wind their way around the historic Nazareth House building to meet up with Park Drive, then travel past St George’s Park cricket grounds. On their final leg they would proceed down the Baakens Valley, past revamped tram sheds, and St. Mary’s Cemetery. Along the way they would stop to pick up, or drop off tourists. From the bottom of the Baakens Valley the trams would proceed toward the Campanile, where tram ticket holders earn a free cup of Earl Grey with scones.
Another set of trams would travel along Main Street between the cities buildings, up Russel Road, and turn left into Rink Street, where they would drop off tourists allowing them the time to visit the King George’s V1 Art Gallery and the historical British Graves adjacent the gallery. The trams would then proceed turning left into Western Road, merging with Whites Road and down the steep hill, passing the Donkin, The Stage Door, and the Theatre, on the left. At the bottom of Whites Road, at the T junction, they would swing left into Main Street passing the City Hall, the Port Elizabeth Library, Queen Victoria’s Statue and old St. Mary’s Church. All this would be a tourist feast generating huge income for the city. It would be Africa’s only city boasting trams.
What is the chance of this dream becoming a reality? Just about Zero as money which could have been used on projects to create a spectacular tram system has already gone missing.
