Aberdeen Suburban Tramways

The Aberdeen Suburban Tramways operated two separate tramway services in Aberdeen, which were essentially extensions from the terminus of Aberdeen Corporation Tramways routes.

The first was from the Great Western Road terminus to Bieldside church. This Deeside section opened for traffic on 23 June 1904. This section has cost £18,000 (equivalent to £1,892,300 in 2025) to construct.

The second was from the Great Northern Road terminus to Stoneywood church. This Donside section was inspected by Colonel Von Donop of the Board of Trade on 8 July 1904, and the line opened immediately afterwards.

An alarming accident took place on 30 October 1904. Due to the points outside the Mannofield depot being set incorrectly, a tramcar left the main line at speed and entered the shed, breaking through the heavy wooden door, before colliding with an empty car in the shed. The tramcar was crowded and a number of passengers were shaken by the experience. A lady and her daughter left the tramcar and fell into the pit in the shed, and were severely injured.

In 1914 the company acquired a new tramcar built by the United Electric Car Company Ltd.

In June 1914 the company approached the Corporation to see if there was interest in them acquiring the company. The corporation was initially enthusiastic. Negotiations continued through 1915 and the company faced a difficult future with falling profits caused by the war conditions and increase in taxation. Profits for the 6 months to 31 January 1915 had fallen to £1,153 from £1,484 for the same period 12 months previously. In 1916 the corporation considered a report commissioned from the manager of the Glasgow Tramways, Mr. Dalrymple. He valued the suburban tramways at £38,000 (equivalent to £2,857,800 in 2025) and noted that the price being asked by the company was £45,000 (equivalent to £3,384,300 in 2025). He expressed a view that the system was half-worn but it would certainly be an acquisition to the city as a better service could be provided by having the Suburban Tramways under the control of the Corporation. On account of the First World War and the difficulty in persuading the UK Government that they should be allowed to borrow the money required, the acquisition scheme was postponed.

In 1918 fares were increased by ½d per stage (equivalent to £0.10 in 2025).

In December 1920 the corporation were in dispute with the company about the company’s care in operating over the Corporation tramway lines. A subcommittee had met with the Suburban Tramway Company and failed to come to terms with them. The town clerk gave notice for the termination of the present arrangements in June 1921. The Ministry of Transport sent Mr. C.D. Stanley to Aberdeen to resolve the dispute. As well as the issues in relation to operating over the Corporation tramway lines, there was a dispute as to the payment to be made by the Council to the company in lieu of wages, the Council wanting to pay at the rate which the Company paid their employees instead of at their own higher rate. The Company declined to accept this, contending that they paid their employees a proper wage, according to their grade, and that any money left over went into general expenses. Fortunately a compromise was found and the notice to terminate was withdrawn by the Corporation.