Oldham Corporation Tramways



Owner Oldham Corporation
Opened 16th September 1880 (horse)
Operator (lessee) Manchester Carriage and Tramways Co Ltd
Taken over (operation) 1st August 1885 (Manchester, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham Steam Tramways Company [steam]) - newly constructed corporation lines within the municipal boundary
Took over (lease) 18th October 1888 (Bury, Rochdale and Oldham Steam Tramways Company Ltd) - from the former MBR&OSTCo following its liquidation
First electric route 15th December 1900
Operator Oldham Corporation
Took over (operation) 1st November 1901 (corporation-owned lines formerly leased to the BR&OSTCo, with the exception of the Royton to West Street service)
Took over (operation) 1st November 1901 (corporation-owned lines formerly leased to the MC&TCo)
Last steam service 28th June 1902 (Royton to West Street service, operated by the BR&OSTCo)
Took over (operation) 1st August 1903 (Lees Urban District Council) - 0.36 miles of newly built line within the Lees boundary
Took over (operation) 1st November 1904 (Royton UDC) - 4.08 miles of rebuilt line within the Royton boundary
Took over (operation) 16th November 1904 (Crompton UDC) - 1.48 miles of newly built line within the Crompton boundary
Took over 15th June 1925 (1.55 miles of former Middleton Electric Traction Company track between Oldham boundary and Mills Hill Bridge, bought by Chadderton UDC and immediately sold to Oldham Corporation) - initially worked as a joint committee consisting of the municipal authorities involved (Oldham, Middleton and Rochdale Corporations)
Took over (operation) 9th August 1925 (Middleton Market Place to Mills Hills line owned by Middleton Corporation)
Name changed August 1933 (to Oldham Corporation Passenger Transport)
Closed 3rd August 1946
Length 25.93 miles
Gauge 4ft 8½ins

Button description (Pattern 1) TTitle (‘OLDHAM CORPORATION TRAMWAYS’) within a raised rim, surrounding the municipal arms (a shield bearing a chevron, three owls and three rings) with an owl crest, all above the motto: ‘SAPERE AUDE'
Materials known Brass; nickel
Button Line reference [114/53]

Button description (Pattern 2) System initials (‘O C P T’) within a raised rim, above the municipal arms (a shield bearing a chevron, three owls and three rings) with an owl crest, all above the motto: ‘SAPERE AUDE'
Materials known Nickel; chrome
Button Line reference [None]

Comment The owls, as well as 'Aude' in the motto, are subtle but humorous references to local pronunciation, ie 'Owdham' or Owldham'.

As the undertaking was re-named 'Oldham Corporation Passenger Transport' in 1933, at some point shortly after this, new uniform issues would have borne Pattern 2 buttons.