Wigan & District Tramways Co. Ltd
The Wigan Tramways Company was registered in late 1878 with a capital of £70,000 in £10 shares[1]. The promotors included local businessmen and William Busby, the first chairman. The company obtained powers to build and a narrow gauge tram system in August 1879[2]. This authorised construction and operation of a 4km line from Wigan to Pemberton, a 4.8km line from Wigan to Hindley and a 1.6km line along Wigan Lane[3]. The company decided to construct the Pemberton line first, which was opened on the 31st July 1880[4]. At the opening the company had 5 horse drawn trams with a capacity for 34 passengers each.
In February 1882 the company obtained permission to operate steam tramways for a period of one year[5]. In June the company released the remaining 3,300 shares to finance the construction of the Ince and Hindley line, the purchase of steam traction units and construction of suitable buildings[6]. In July it was reported that the company had four steam traction units in operation with more being ordered[7]. It was reported that horse traction cost 9.5d per mile while steam traction cost 4d per mile.
The Ince and Hindley line opened in January 1883[8]. The line was worked by horse traction due to the company requiring permission from the Spring Branch Railway for steam operation where the tramline crossed the railway. By November the company was seeking to have steam traction on all of it's lines with extensions to Platt Bridge and Orrell Post[9].
In Novemeber 1884 the company agreed of £2500 for a fatal accident in December 1883[10]. It was also reported that in early 1884 the secretary had absconded with a £1065 deficiency in the accounts and the business in some disorder. This resulted in no dividend being declared. In March 1885 the company had reduced the number of horses it was using on the Ince and Hindley line[11]. It was also noted that, due to a trade slump, receipts were low. By early 1887 the directors were reporting that both tramlines were being worked by steam traction units only[12]. They considered that the company condition was improving and that a small dividend could be paid. The shareholders were unhappy and a committee was appointed to investigate the company, headed by A P Smith of Sheffield[13]. At a special meeting in June 1887 the committee reported that in the early years of the company was paying unearned dividends and the directors had been awarded £1000. It was found that the company had lost £10,700 and it was a decided to reduce the share value from £10 to £7. In July 1888 it was decided to further reduce the share value to £5[14]. In March 1889 there was a second fatal accident and several people injured, caused by an overcrowded tram overturning[15].
In January 1890 there was a successful petitioned by creditors for a reciever to be appointed[16]. In April 1890 the Board of Trade inspector found the Hindley track to be in poor condition and considered not granting a new licence for steam operation [17]. A licence for 1 year instead of the requested 7 years to give the company time to repair the track. The sale of the company was ordered for September 1891[18], with the company being bought for £4,500 by Alderman John Gee of Wigan[19].
In March 1892 Wigan Corporation passed a resolution to take over the tramways and reconstruct them with John Gee being given a 21 year lease[20]. Shortly after this a new company involvig John Gee was registered under the original company name, the Wigan and District Tramways Company, to purchase the operations[21]. By September the Corporation was inviting tenders to reconstruct the lines[22].
The Corporation obtained powers in July 1898, to construct more lines, operate the system and electrify the system. The Corporation then began negotiations with the company to take over operation of the system[23]. At the same time the company was negotiating to extend the tram system into other districts. The corporation began running an electric service in January 1901[24]. The company continued to operate with the Corporation finally purchasing of the company in September 1902.
| Wigan & District Tramways Co. Ltd | ||
|---|---|---|
| File:WDC.001.jpg | ||
| Source | (Smith) | |
| Filename | WDC.001 | |
| Value | 0 | |
| Add Desc. | Workmans Car : Hindley Section Outside | |
| Size (mm) | 27 | |
| Manufacture | 0 Aluminium | |
| Notes | 1880-1904 | |
| File:WDC.002.jpg | ||
| Source | (Smith) | |
| Filename | WDC.002 | |
| Value | 0 | |
| Add Desc. | Workmans Car : Ince Section Outside | |
| Size (mm) | 27 | |
| Manufacture | 0 Brass | |
| Notes | ||
| File:WDC.003.jpg | ||
| Source | (Smith) | |
| Filename | WDC.003 | |
| Value | 0 | |
| Add Desc. | Workmans Car : Pemberton Section Outside | |
| Size (mm) | 27 | |
| Manufacture | 0 Brass | |
| Notes | ||
| ||
| Source | (ebay no. 135218958842) | |
| Filename | WDC.004a | |
| Value | 0 | |
| Add Desc. | Workmans Car : Platt Bridge Section Inside | |
| Size (mm) | 27 | |
| Manufacture | Octagon Brass | |
| Notes | ||
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 22 Nov 1878, page 5
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 04 Feb 1880, page 8
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 20 Sep 1879, page 1
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 04 Aug 1880, page 8
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 24 Feb 1882, page 5
- ↑ London Evening Standard, 12 Jun 1882, page 1
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 19 Jul 1882, page 5
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 20 Oct 1883, pag 8
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 17 Nov 1883,page 6
- ↑ Cumberland & Westmorland Herald, 15 Nov 1884, page 3
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 11 Mar 1885, page 8
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 18 Feb 1887, page 5
- ↑ Liverpool Daily Post, 15 Jun 1887, page 8
- ↑ Liverpool Daily Post, 03 Jul 1888, page 6
- ↑ London Evening Standard, 18 Apr 1889, page 1
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 29 Jan 1890, page 5
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 05 Apr 1890, page 2
- ↑ The London Gazette, 4 Sep 1891, Issue 26198, Page 4744
- ↑ Nottingham Evening Post, 26 Sep 1891, page 2
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 19 Mar 1892, page 6
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 30 Mar 1892, page 5
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 24 Sep 1892, page 4
- ↑ Wigan Observer and District Advertiser, 05 Aug 1899, page 8
- ↑ Liverpool Evening Express, 25 Jan 1901, page 4