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Manchester Corporation Transport

Manchester Corporation Admin staff

VB LogoManchester Corporation Transport admin staff
Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester
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History #

  • 1899: Manchester Corporation obtains powers to build and operate an electric tramway network. Manchester Corporation Tramways is created.
  • 1901: The corporation runs its first electric tram route on 6 June between Albert Square and Cheetham Hill. Takes over municipal transit from private horse-drawn operations.
  • 1906: The department purchases its first motor buses. The buses serve as feeder routes to the primary electric tramway network.
  • 1918: The entire tram network is temporarily shut down. The closure was ordered by Manchester’s Medical Officer of Health to curb the spread of the Spanish Flu epidemic.
  • 1928: The tram network reaches its peak and operates nearly 1,000 trams over 292 miles of track, transporting over 320 million passengers annually.
  • 1929: Renamed Manchester Corporation Transport Department (MCTD). Motor buses begin systematically replacing older tram lines under General Manager Stuart Pilcher.
  • 1938: The department introduces its first electric trolleybus routes as part of the strategy to phase out traditional street trams.
  • 1949: Final street tram route (to Stockport) closes on 10 January. MCTD becomes an operation run strictly with motor buses and trolleybuses.
  • 1966: Renamed Manchester City Transport. The final trolleybus line (to Ashton-under-Lyne) in December is permanently converted to standard motor bus operation.
  • 1969: Manchester City Transport ceases independent existence on 1 November and is bsorbed into the SELNEC Passenger Transport Executive under the Transport Act 1968.

The Corporation’s Buses #

Leyland Tiger TS2 (1930)

VB LogoLeyland Tiger TS2 (1930): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester
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Leyland Tiger TS2 (1930) information

VB LogoLeyland Tiger TS2 (1930): Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester
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Leyland Titan TD3 Chassis (1934)

VB LogoLeyland Titan TD3 chassis (1934): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester

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Leyland Titan TD chassis (1934) information

VB LogoLeyland Titan TD3 (1934): Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester
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Crossley DD42/8S (1949)

VB LogoCrossley DD42/8S (1949): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester
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Crossley DD42/8S (1949) information

VB LogoCrossley DD42/8S (1949): Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester
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Leyland Titan PD2/34 (1958)

VB LogoLeyland Titan PD2/34 (1958): Museum of Transport Greater Manchester
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Leyland Titan PD2/34 (1958) information

VB LogoLeyland Titan PD2/34 (1958): Text © Museum of Transport Greater Manchester
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Sources #