Darwen Corporation Tramways
Owner Darwen Corporation
Took over 1st January 1899 (Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways [steam]) - lines within municipal boundary
Operator (lessee) Blackburn Corporation
First electric service 17th October 1900
Operator Darwen Corporation
Last steam service End of October 1900 - operated by Blackburn as part of the joint service
Renamed c1939 (Darwen Corporation Transport)
Closed 5th October 1946
Length 4.36 miles
Gauge 4ft 0ins
Button description (Pattern 1) Title ('DARWEN CORPN TRAMWAYS') within a raised rim, surrounding the municipal arms (a shield with waves and three cotton sprigs), with a miner and pick crest, all above the motto: 'ABSQUE LABORE NIHIL')
Materials known Nickel
Button Line reference [113/27]
Button description (Pattern 2) Title ('DARWEN CORPN TRANSPORT') within a raised rim, surrounding the municipal arms (a shield with waves and three cotton sprigs), with a miner and pick crest, all above the motto: 'ABSQUE LABORE NIHIL'
Materials known Nickel; chrome
Button Line reference [None]
Comment A torse is a twisted roll of fabric that was wound around the top of the helm and crest to hold the mantle in place.
The title of the undertaking changed to 'Darwen Corporation Transport' between December 1938 and March 1940, and this was certainly applied to newly painted tramcars thereafter. It is therefore highly likely that during the last six years or so of the system, tramway staff were issued with uniforms bearing Pattern 2 buttons.