| Wolverhampton Corporation Tramways | |
|---|---|
| Operation | |
| Locale | Wolverhampton |
| Open | 1 May 1900[1] |
| Close | 26 August 1928 |
| Status | Closed |
| Infrastructure | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Propulsion system(s) | Electric |
| Statistics | |
| Route length | 13.85 miles (22.29 km) |
Wolverhampton Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Wolverhampton between 1902 and 1928.[2]
On 1 May 1900, for the sum of £26,750, Wolverhampton Corporation bought the Wolverhampton Tramways Company which had operated a standard gauge horse-drawn tramway since 1878. At the start of operation, the drivers and conductors were equipped with a coat and trousers of blue cloth with orange piping, and a peaked “W.C.T.” cap.[1]
A modernisation scheme followed immediately re-gauging to 3'6" and electrification. The tramway was unique in using the Lorain stud contact system,[3] and because of this, connections to other networks in the area could not be made until 1921, when the council decided to convert to overhead wiring.
The first line from the depot to the Bilston boundary, 1 mile in length, opened on 6 February 1902.[4] The main service connected Wolverhampton railway station with the 1902 exhibition in West Park. Some of the costs of construction were offset by visitors to this exhibition, as it was reported that the tramway carried 3,000,000 passengers were carried.[5]
Additional lines soon followed:
Lines were converted to trolleybus operation and the last tram ran on 26 August 1928.[9]
The company ordered 24 tramcars for its initial operations
Later additions were: