Rossendale Valley Tramways
History
The Rossendale Valley Tramways Company commenced operating the first section of its 4ft 0ins-gauge steam tramway — from Rawtenstall, eastwards to Waterfoot — on the 31st January 1889. An extension of the line through to Bacup was opened on the 3rd August 1889, and later that month, a line northwards from Rawtenstall to Holmefield. Although a further northwards extension to Crawshawbooth was opened on the 9th September 1891, the ultimate target of Burnley was never reached, the system remaining at 6.35 miles. Despite this, the tramway appears to have been very profitable, unlike its near neighbour, the Accrington Corporation Steam Tramways Company, which struggled for the best part of a decade before attaining profitability.
Although the RVTCo tracks were physically connected to those of the ACSTCo in Queens Square, Rawtenstall, both systems being the same gauge, regular through running was never instigated.
In July 1898, the British Electric Traction Company Ltd acquired a majority interest in the RVTCo. At this time, the BETCo was aggressively purchasing horse and steam-operated tramways across the British Isles with the intention of converting them to electric traction, as well as promoting schemes for completely new tramways. The BETCo seems to have had ambitions for a sizeable electric tramway network in Northeast Lancashire, as the following year it struck an agreement with the neighbouring ACSTCo aimed at securing electrification of that company's lines in Accrington, Haslingden and Rawtenstall. Its plans were however frustrated by Accrington Corporation, which already owned the tracks in Accrington (the ACSTCo operating them under a lease agreement), and which eventually decided to convert them to electric traction and operate the system itself.
Despite this setback, the BETCo, in the form of the RVTCo, acquired powers to electrify its lines in Rawtenstall and Bacup. These were however never brought to fruition, primarily due to disagreements between Rawtenstall and Bacup Corporations in respect of municipal versus company operation. As time wore on and the deadline when the corporations could purchase the undertaking in their respective areas approached — 1909 and 1910 — the BETCo seems to have resigned itself to getting the best price it could and selling out to the corporations. The RVTCo was duly sold to Rawtenstall and Bacup Corporations on the 1st October 1908, the former operating the entire system.
Uniforms
In common with the vast majority of UK steam tramways, RVTCo drivers wore railway footplate-like attire, comprising heavy-duty cotton jackets and trousers, along with soft-topped or cloth caps; no badges of any kind were worn. Up until the mid-to-late 1890s, conductors wore smart but informal attire: jacket and trousers, shirt and tie, along with an overcoat. Headgear followed the fashion of the day, initially the bowler hat, but later on the flat cap. No insignia, including licence badges, appears to have been worn.
In the late 1890s, almost certainly following the take-over by the British Electric Traction Company in 1898, conductors were provided with double-breasted jackets (edged in a lighter material), with four pairs of buttons, three waist/hip-level pockets and lapels, together with matching trousers and soft-topped peaked caps. Neither the jackets nor the caps appear to have borne any insignia. In the mid-Edwardian era, the style of the jacket was altered, though they were still double-breasted with lapels; the soft-topped caps were also dispensed with, being superseded by tensioned-crown peaked caps, though still without a badge. The absence of insignia was not unusual for a BETCo system that had failed to be converted to electric traction, probably because the company liked to reserve its 'Magnet & Wheel' device, with its overt electric symbolism, for use on its electric tramways.
Surviving photographs show that that inspectors were provided with single-breasted, three-quarter-length coats bearing four buttons and lapels, but without badges of any kind; like conductors' jackets, they were edged in material of a lighter colour than the main body. Their drooping-peak caps possibly bore a metal block-capital grade badge, INSPECTOR.
Further reading
For a brief history of the RVTCo, see: 'A History of the British Steam Tram Volume 4' by David Gladwin; Adam Gordon (2008).
Images
Steam tram drivers and conductors
Brand-new Steam Tram No 3 (a Thomas Green and Sons product) and a newly delivered trailer — photo probably taken prior to opening, in December 1888 or January 1889. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society.
An enlargement of the above photograph showing the driver and two other officials. The driver is wearing typical railway footplate attire and a soft-topped peaked cap; no badges or licences are in evidence.
Rossendale Valley Tramways Company Steam Tram No 6 stands outside the Queens Arms, Rawtenstall, circa 1890. Photo courtesy of Duncan Holden.
An enlargement of the above photograph showing the conductor, in overcoat and flat cap, and the driver, in typical footplate attire.
A group of four tramwaymen stand with an unidentified engine and trailer near Stacksteads — photo undated, but probably taken in the mid-to-late 1890s. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society.
An enlargement of the above photograph showing the tramwaymen; all bar the conductor are filthy, as is the roadway. The conductor is wearing informal attire along with a soft-topped peaked cap, all probably self-purchased.
The crew of an unidentified steam tram pose for the camera together with an inspector (in all likelihood) outside Glen Top Brewery, Stacksteads — photo undated, but probably taken around the turn of the century. The conductor (middle) is clearly wearing a uniform edged in a lighter material than the main garment, along with a soft-topped peaked cap. Neither the driver nor the conductor are wearing a cap badge, the bright spot on the driver's cap merely being a reflection. Author's Collection.
A rather poorly focused shot, but another image which shows a conductor in double-breasted jacket edged in material of a lighter colour — photo undated, but probably early 20th Century. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society.
Steam Tram No 1 standing in Burnley Rd, Crawshawbooth in 1907. Photo courtesy of the Tramways and Light Railway Society.
An enlargement of the above photograph showing the conductor (Bill Dust), driver (Dick Walmsley) and an inspector. By this time conductors were wearing a different style of double-breasted jacket, along with tensioned-crown peaked caps, everything however, still devoid of insignia.
Senior staff
Two RVTCo inspectors taken from the photos above. Both are wearing single-breasted, three-quarter-length coats bearing four buttons and lapels, along with drooping-peak caps. The photograph on the right certainly hints at an oblong, metal cap badge, possibly a grade badge. The apparent stripes on the sleeves of the inspector in the first photograph are probably creases highlighted by the camera flash.