Basset Tramway (SW 6844 3957 to SW 6864 3967)
If the R & C railway was the umbilical cord of the mines around Carnkie the tramways were the arteries within the complex. They were a narrow 1ft 8in gauge and were horse drawn except for one engine that was introduced in 1909. This was a 0-4-0 well tank built by Orenstein and Koppel. At this time the system was operated by Basset Mines Ltd but part of the operation had been introduced at an earlier date.
The engine was christened “Kimberly” after Captain William “Kimberly” James and driven by a Mr. Nicholas.
When West Basset opened their new stamps in the early 1870s they also built a tramway to connect them with the main shafts. This tramway travelled south crossing under the Piece-Four Lanes road just east of Piece where it eventually split with one extension going to Grenville’s shaft and the other to Marriot’s.
In Higher Carnkie the tramway started at the Basset stamps and called at Theager’s, Robert’s, Richard’s and Steven’s shafts before terminating at Samson’s. At some time around 1908 it was further extended to Marriot’s shaft making it about 1200m in length. The tunnel under the Four Lanes has been cleared and reopened. A third line was added connecting the West Basset and the Basset stamps. This entailed tunnelling under the road in Carnkie. This tunnel has been buried under mine dumps.
See also: WEST WHEAL BASSET; WHEAL BASSET; BASSET MINES; SOUTH WHEAL FRANCES: WEST WHEAL BASSET STAMP OR DRESSING FLOORS; BASSET STAMP OR DRESSING FLOORS.