By Cathy Jones
A tram service once operated from Enfield to Mortlake/Cabarita via Burwood.
The Enfield Tramway system was first established in 1891, between Ashfield and Enfield. Originally a steam operated and single tracked service, eight years later, a short extension to provide direct access to Ashfield Station was added. The major part of the route was opened in 1901 and extended the original line from Enfield through Burwood and Concord to Mortlake on the banks of the Parramatta River. A branch line to Cabarita completed this system in 1907 (Keenan 1994),
The tram ran down Coronation Parade, from Liverpool Rd to the depot terminus in Tangarra St, through Coronation Reserve. The tramway was electrified in 1912 and a double track added in 1915 (Keenan 1994). Competition from local buses forced the closure of the tram service in 1948, though the tracks were not removed until 1951. The old tramway was located on the eastern side of the Reserve and the small brick hut near Dean St was built adjacent to the tram stop as a waiting room (Enfield Council 1936). After the tracks were removed, Coronation Reserve was substantially altered in layout and the former tramway incorporated into the Reserve.
The Enfield terminus was located in Tangarra Street Enfield, which was later used as a bus depot. It is now residential housing.
References
Kennan, David ‘The Rockdale & Enfield Lines of the Sydney Tramway System’, 1994
Enfield Municipal Council Annual Report 1936
Strathfield Heritage 
Does anybody know/remember the colours of the symbols used for the destinations Mortlake and Cabarita?
LikeLike
They were red and white
LikeLike
The Mortlake/Cabarita Steam Trams ran past Concord Public School and a major accident on November 11th 1907. Two trams while passing each other on a short section of double rails and the boiler of one exploded, destroying the tram and damaging the one next to it. Several deaths occurred. I was told this story when young attending the Concord School in the early 60’s by an elderly teacher after I found a twisted bit of metal half buried in the playground. Later I found photos of the damaged trams. Apparently the explosion was so severe that twisted metal was hurled for several hundred metres all through the schoolyard and the light from the exploding tram was launched clean over the school and into the far backstreet. The old photos clearly show that the tram exploded with tremendous force. After an enquiry, the steam trams were limited to operating on less boiler pressure and were checked more regularly for cracks and faults.
PS Hi Cathy
Dave
LikeLike
Hi Dave. I hadn’t heard of this accident. Thanks for contribution. Lots of people are interested in the old tram systems.
Cathy
LikeLike
I have also heard of the incident, but not the venue.
LikeLike
Hi, does anyone know the tram number? We are looking at recreating this tram roll for our tram sign art website http://www.tramscrolls.com.au. Also what was the Enfield symbol? Any help would be really appreciated.
LikeLike
Try the Tram Museum for those details, they also have some great books on the details of most lines.
LikeLike
I remember the Ashfield-Cabarita Mortlake trams well. Occasionally an ‘N’ class would operate at about 5pm during the late 1940’s I rode it from Burwood Park to where it terminated at Cabarita Junction. Then I would have to walk the rest of the way up Frederick Street. Double decker buses took over in late 1948. The first Sunday that they operated I rode in a brand new decker 2088. I don’t think that it was ever rebuilt, faded paint, ended up at Randwick Depot. Later sold in the seventies and ended its days in the desert the back of Bourke.
LikeLike