Middleton Electric Traction Company


The Middleton Electric Traction Company Ltd. operated an electric tramway service in Middleton, England between 1902 and 1925. It was a subsidiary company of the British Electric Traction group,.

History

Powers to build were obtained under the Middleton Light Railways Order 1898 and the Middleton Light Railways Order, 1902, for 8 miles 1397 yards of light railways. Building of the lines commenced in March 1900 and was completed by 1902 when the official inspection took place on 10 March. Track miles as built totalled 8 miles 1005 yards. Standard gauge was used throughout. Power for the lines was supplied by Middleton Corporation from its Electricity Works in Townley Street, Middleton.

The Routes as Built

The lines as built constituted the two routes operated by the company. The first route - described on running boards and fare tables as "Rhodes and Oldham" - running from Rhodes, a village south-west of Middleton via Middleton Town Centre to the Chadderton boundary with Oldham, east of Middleton. At Rhodes, the trams met those of Salford Corporation who ran a service from Rhodes to Eccles from 1902 until 1925. The lines were not connected - indeed there was a 50-yard gap.
The second route running from Middleton town centre to Sudden. The route from Middleton to Sudden was built by G. Freeman and Sons contractors at a price of £38,781. At Sudden, the trams met those of Rochdale Corporation on the Heywood service. Again, the lines were not connected and there was no through running.
In April 1923, Middleton, Chadderton and Rochdale Councils decided to appoint J. B. Hamilton esq. as technical adviser and Arthur Collins as financial adviser to conduct a feasibility study as to the purchase of the company's system.

Fleet

The fleet was housed at the company depot situated on Hilton Fold Lane, Middleton. Throughout its existence, the company owned a total of 38 tramway vehicles. From May 1920, the company also owned four chars-a-banc and three motor buses. Although most of the tramway fleet was single deck owing to the presence of a low bridge at Mills Hill, single deck tramway vehicles ran on both of the company's lines. Open top double deck trams ran on the Middleton to Sudden section only.

Electric Tramcars

Cars 1 - 10 Single deck combination cars built 1901 - 44 seats
Cars 11 - 20 Single deck combination cars built 1901 - 42 seats - sold in 1904-5
Cars 22 - 25 Single deck combination cars built 1902 - 40 seats - sold in 1907 to the Potteries Electric Traction Company
Cars 27 - 34 Single deck built 1899 - 28 seats - originally trailers for the Oldham Ashton and Hyde Electric Tramways Ltd; purchased and motorised by Middleton in 1903
Cars 11 - 15 Double deck open top built 1903 - 48 seats
Car 21 - Water car and snow plough built 1901

Motor Vehicles

Four chars-a-banc - 28 seats
Motor Bus - AEC Chassis - Tylor Engine - Registration BU 1412 - to Manchester Corporation; converted to Lorry 1926
Motor Bus - AEC Chassis - Tylor Engine - Registration BU 1413 - to Manchester Corporation; converted to Lorry 1926
Motor Bus - Daimler Chassis and Engine - Registration HO 5506 - to Manchester Corporation; converted to Lorry 1927 Scrapped 1936

Ancillaries

Overhead tower wagon - Horse Drawn by Company Horse, Merriman

Purchase by Middleton, Chadderton and Rochdale councils; lease to Manchester Corporation

The Middleton Electric Traction Company was purchased by the councils of Middleton, Rochdale and Chadderton in 1925. The purchase price was set at £79,000 and was completed at the London headquarters of the British Electric Traction Company on 15/06/1925. Middleton paid £40,835 ; Chadderton paid £27,690 ; Rochdale paid £10,475. Oldham Corporation purchased the Chadderton council's share of the undertaking for £27,690 on 16/06/1925. Manchester Corporation took a 30 years lease from Middleton Corporation from the date of purchase by Middleton Corporation. This lease included an undertaking to run all services, re-lay and re-set all permanent way and overhead as appropriate.

Track Reconstruction and Dispersal of Vehicles

The lines at Rhodes and at Middleton Fountain were connected end-on during the next two months. Between April and July 1925, the tracks at Sudden were reconstructed and connected to the Rochdale Corporation system by Rochdale Corporation at a cost of £2519. Similarly, Oldham Corporation joined the two systems together at the municipal boundary between Chadderton and Oldham. Manchester Corporation bought the buses for £250 each. The water car and snow plough was sold to the South Lancashire Tramways Company for £40. The depot at Hilton Fold Lane was retained by Middleton Corporation, eventually demolished and houses were built on the site.

Extensions by Manchester Corporation; Joint operation of services; Rochdale, Salford and Bury

From January 1926, the track from Rhodes to Hollin Lane was relaid and doubled. In 1927 a double track connection was provided at the connection of Manchester New Road and Long Street, Middleton. The 17 route to Rochdale was also relaid as double track. However, both north of Middleton and the Mills Hill route in its entirety remained single track with passing loops. Manchester New Road lines were connected to Manchester Old Road lines by means of a new double track in Mill Street. The Mill Street track also incorporated a crossover for the 17A trams to return to Manchester.
In 1928, a by means of a junction with the Rochdale route at Hollin Lane/Rochdale Road, Middleton. The new route was allocated the number 18 and service commenced 19 May 1928. Journey time to Manchester was 49 minutes. As both Bury and Rochdale Corporations operated the Heywood Corporation tramways, this route was run as a joint service with Bury Corporation although its participation was restricted to only one tram, usually car 30, fitted with high speed motors and air brakes.

Routes with opening and closing dates

Middleton Electric Traction Company

Middleton to Sudden - 28/03/1902 - taken over 15/06/1925 by Middleton and Rochdale Corporations
Rhodes to Oldham - 27/03/1902 - taken over 15/06/1925 by Middleton Corporation and Chadderton Urban District Council
Middleton - Heywood - 25/03/1920 - taken over by Manchester Corporation

[Manchester Corporation Tramways]

Manchester to Middleton - 24/12/1902 ; from 09/08/1925, route number 17A; closed 24/03/1935
Manchester to Rochdale - 09/08/1925 - closed 13/11/1932
Manchester to Heywood - 19/05/1928 - closed 02/05/1934
Manchester to Mills Hill Bridge - 24/03/1930 - closed 20/03/1932
Middleton to Middleton Junction - 31/03/1903 - closed 31/03/1935
Oldham Corporation Tramways
Oldham - Middleton - 09/08/1925 - 11/06/1935
[Rochdale Corporation Tramways]
Rochdale to Manchester - 09/08/1925 - closed 13/11/1932
Salford">City of Salford">Salford Corporation Tramways
Victoria Bridge - Middleton - 09/08/1925 - closed 20/03/1932
All services were replaced by buses, run by Manchester, Rochdale, Salford and Oldham Corporations.

Summary of Closure of the Middleton Tramways; General Conclusions

The closure of the Middleton tramways was a complicated and protracted affair which took place in stages over three years.
Middleton had been quite unique in the United Kingdom in that it had had its tramways operated and run jointly by five corporations and a private company without ever owning a vehicle of its own.