Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation Tramways



Owner Newcastle-upon-Tyne Corporation
Opened 5th December 1878 (horse; later steam as well)
Operator (lessee) William Turton and Daniel Busby
Taken over (operation) 5th December 1878 to 1883 (William Turton and Daniel Busby) all lines owned and built by Newcastle Corporation
Operator name changed 1885 (to the Newcastle Tramway Company) - a company formed by Turton and Busby to run the services
Taken over (leases) October 1888 (Newcastle and Gosforth Tramway and Carriage Company) - a new company of which William Turton was a director, and to which all the leases were transferred
Last horse service 13th April 1901 (following termination of the Newcastle and Gosforth Tramway and Carriage Company leases)
First electric route 16th December 1901
Department name changed 1915 - to Newcastle Corporation Transport and Electricity Undertaking
Took over 7th? April 1930 ( The Tyneside Tramways and Tramroads Company) - Gosforth to Gosforth Park Gates and Neptune Bank to Wallsend lines, following the TT&TCo's closure
Closed 4th March 1950
Length 51.27 miles
Gauge 4ft 8½ins

Button description (Pattern 1) Title (‘NEWCASTLE CORPN TRAMWAYS’) within a raised rim, surrounding the municipal arms (a shield bearing 3 towers) with a castle crest and seahorse supporters, all above the motto: ‘FORTITA DEFENDIT TRIUMPHANS’
Materials known Brass, nickel; black horn
Button Line reference [114/49]

Button description (Pattern 2) Title (‘NEWCASTLE CORPN TRANSPORT’) within a raised rim, surrounding the municipal arms (a shield bearing 3 towers) with a castle crest and seahorse supporters, all above the motto: ‘FORTITA DEFENDIT TRIUMPHANS’
Materials known Nickel; chrome; black horn
Button Line reference [None]

Button description (Pattern 3) The municipal arms (a shield bearing 3 towers) within a raised rim, with a castle crest and seahorse supporters, all above the motto: ‘FORTITA DEFENDIT TRIUMPHANS’
Materials known Nickel
Button Line reference [None]


Comment The Pattern 2 button (= 14mm) was only used on chinstraps.

Although the name of the municipal undertaking was changed in 1915, it is believed that tramcars did not carry the legend 'Newcastle Corporation Transport' until as late as 1944. It nevertheless seems almost certain that tramcar staff would, at some point, have been switched to uniforms bearing Pattern 2 buttons. It is currently unclear whether uniform caps ever bore chinstrap buttons during the tramway era.