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Tram No. 20 (built in 1905) overturned at Crabble Road
on 19 August 1917.
The tramway system experienced difficulties
during the First
World War with shortages of materials and spare
parts. It became harder to repair the tracks and maintain
the tram cars, so the system began to deteriorate. Manpower
shortages led to women being employed for the first
time, initially only as conductors but by the end of
the war there were three women drivers on the staff.
The worst event in the history of the
Dover tramway occurred on 19th August 1917, when tram
No.20, on its way to River, went out of control at the
top of Crabble Road, ran away down the steep gradient
and overturned at the bottom. Eleven people were killed
and 60 injured, figures which indicate that the car
was seriously overloaded as it had seating for 22 on
the lower and 26 on the upper deck. The enquiry into
the accident found that, in addition to being overcrowded,
the tram was being driven by an inexperienced driver
who had difficulty working the complicated emergency
brake, as a result of which the tram went down the hill
at full power rather than full emergency brake.
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