The first tram ran on 5 May 1879.
The tramway made £26.
Many people did not want the trams to run on a Sunday, and 3,500 people put their names on a petition to stop the trams running on a Sunday.
The company's manager said that there were lots of people who rode on the trams on Sunday and that the service would continue.
If the service made money on a Sunday, then the trams would keep running.
The first tram route that opened was Stag Gate - Holy Rood.
A second route opened on 6 May 1879 which was Alma Road - Canute Road - Oxford Street - High Street - Floating Dock and Stag Gates - Lodge Road - Portswood.
The Tramway Junction - Commercial Road - Shirley route opened on 9 June 1879.

The company got into some trouble soon after it opened.
One of the managers ran away with some money to America in 1881.
 Another manager got the sack in 1882 because there was a problem with the company's money.
By 1887 though the company had recovered.
It had a good financial base to stand on, and it was paying divedends of 8% a year to its shareholders.
On the 22 October 1889, the Portswood route ran via Spear Road and Avenue Road.
Fares cost less money in 1896 because they changed from 3ᵈ to 2ᵈ for "through routes".
The tram times became two times as fast to every 5 minutes from Stag Gates to Holy Rood.
Four new trams and forty horses were needed to run this service.

The Southampton Tramway Company was bought by Southampton Corporation on 30 June 1898 for £51,000.
The first tram ran on 5 May 1879. The tramway made £26. Many people did not want the trams to run on a Sunday, and 3,500 people put their names on a petition to stop the trams running on a Sunday. The company's manager said that there were lots of people who rode on the trams on Sunday and that the service would continue. If the service made money on a Sunday, then the trams would keep running. The first tram route that opened was Stag Gate - Holy Rood. A second route opened on 6 May 1879 which was Alma Road - Canute Road - Oxford Street - High Street - Floating Dock and Stag Gates - Lodge Road - Portswood. The Tramway Junction - Commercial Road - Shirley route opened on 9 June 1879.
The company got into some trouble soon after it opened. One of the managers ran away with some money to America in 1881.  Another manager got the sack in 1882 because there was a problem with the company's money. By 1887 though the company had recovered. It had a good financial base to stand on, and it was paying divedends of 8% a year to its shareholders. On the 22 October 1889, the Portswood route ran via Spear Road and Avenue Road. Fares cost less money in 1896 because they changed from 3ᵈ to 2ᵈ for "through routes". The tram times became two times as fast to every 5 minutes from Stag Gates to Holy Rood. Four new trams and forty horses were needed to run this service.
The Southampton Tramway Company was bought by Southampton Corporation on 30 June 1898 for £51,000.
Southampton Corporation Tramways