given, and in this extract the chairman revealed a taste of things to come, and attempted to allay some fears of other road users: The rails themselves [are] 27 feet in length, and these form one continuous bearing. It had been subjected to a strain of 50 tons weight, without showing any appreciable depression, and therefore, when the Government allowed them to use steam locomotives in the streets, they could freely place them upon these rails without their exhibiting any serious sinking. He was more free to speak of the advantages of the rails because they had decided to use them throughout the whole of their system. The wrought iron flange which lay at the bottom of the rail, and upon which the rails rested, had also sets laid upon it, so that the granite sets next the rail could not sink unless the rail sank with them. The objections in other towns had been that in any place where there was heavy traffic, as carriages and carts passing along, as it was technically called, "skidded" along the side of the rails. It was quite likely, therefore, that springs and wheels should be broken under such circumstances, but with the present style of rail no apprehensions need be experienced as to them. [The Company] intended immediately to commence with Mansfield Road section . . . to Carrington Church, near which they had purchased land for stables and other premises such as they had seen that day, then along Forest Road to the end of Berners Street and then from Market Street up Derby Road to Basford. Shortly after this the party broke up, one portion returning to the centre of the town by the tramway. . . Those who returned to the town in the first car reached St. Peter's-square in the fair time of nine minutes. Eight single deck cars had been purchased from the Starbuck Car and Wagon Company of Birkenhead, to service the routes. The depot and stables was situated on Muskham St where the Portland swimming baths now stands. The tramway was an immediate success, opening to the public at noon on 18 September. In the first 3½ days, 12,004 passengers were carried with ticket revenue of just over £100 (),. The Carrington route The construction of the second line began almost immediately after the opening of the first. A formal ceremony took place on 23