UPDATED: 23/04/2024
23 April 1936, Charter meeting of the SA Museums Association held at the Public Library.
23 April 1941, Steam tram arrives in Kenilworth village for the first time.
23 April 1953, Springbok rugby player John D McCulloch commits suicide.
Steam Tram for Kenilworth Village
The Kimberley tramway network formed part of the public transport system in Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa, for roughly 60 years until the late 1940s. Operation started with horse-drawn trams, on 21 June 1887.
Mules replaced the horses in the early 1890s. For a few years starting in 1900 tram sets hauled by steam tram engines were also operated on some lines. The first day of public service for electric trams was 25 April 1905. The first electric trams were four single-deck cars purchased from the John Stephenson Car Company, of New York. More trams were purchased later from the J. G. Brill Company and the United Electric Car Company. Lines were gradually electrified, but not until 1914 were the last mule trams taken out of use, upon conversion of the Kenilworth route to electric trams. The last day of service was 30 November 1947, with the closure of the Kenilworth route.
(Pictured is a steam tram used on the Beaconsfield line in the early 1900s. It is not known whether the same type was introduced on the Kenilworth line in 1941).
23 April 1936, Charter meeting of the SA Museums Association held at the Public Library.
23 April 1941, Steam tram arrives in Kenilworth village for the first time.
23 April 1953, Springbok rugby player John D McCulloch commits suicide.
DID YOU KNOW
John Duncan McCulloch, who was born in Kimberley on 11 April 1885, played 11 matches for the Springboks in their 1912-13 tour of the British Isles, Ireland and France, two of which were test matches.
A member of the De Beers Rugby Club, McCulloch played for Griqualand West and was a member of the victorious Currie Cup winning team of 1911.
His two tests were against England and France. Against England South Africa won 9-3, and against France another victory by 38 to 5.
The Springboks won all their test matches on tour, completing the Grand Slam.
He died in Johannesburg on 23 April 1953.
Note: Other sources state his birth date was 20 May 1884.
From Kimberley Calls and Recalls on Facebook By Steve Lunderstedt
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