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.
