Rotherham Corporation Tramways



Owner Rotherham Corporation
Opened 31st January 1903 (electric)
Operator Rotherham Corporation
Named changed 1929? Rotherham Corporation Transport
Closed 13th November 1949
Length 11.55 miles
Gauge 4ft 8½ins

Button description (Pattern 1) Title (‘ROTHERHAM CORPORATION TRAMWAYS’) within a raised rim, surrounding the assumed municipal arms (two shields bearing three cannons and three stags, either side of a caduceus, above a three-arched bridge), all above the motto: ‘SIG CIRESCIT INDUSTRIA’.
Materials known Nickel; chrome; brass
Button Line reference [114/59]

Button description (Pattern 2) Title (‘ROTHERHAM CORPORATION TRANSPORT’) within a raised rim, surrounding the assumed municipal arms (two shields bearing three cannons and three stags, either side of a caduceus, above a three-arched bridge), all above the motto: ‘SIG CIRESCIT INDUSTRIA’.
Materials known Nickel; chrome
Button Line reference [None]

Comment I've provided images of two slightly different variations on the basic design, one with finer lettering/detailing (Variant 1) and open wheels on the cannons, the other with taller lettering and solid cannon wheels (Variant 2). A caduceus is the staff carried by Hermes (Mercury to the Romans).

As the name of the municipal undertaking was changed to 'Rotherham Corporation Transport' in 1929, it is almost certain that from the early 1930s onwards, tramcar staff would have been issued with uniforms bearing Pattern 2 buttons.