Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Tramways Company / Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Traction Company
The Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Tramways Company was formed in 1903 by Act of Parliament. It was not until 1913 that the tramway from Ripley to Nottingham, via Langley Mill, Eastwood and Kimberley, was finally opened, the capital being funded by Balfour, Beatty & Co., of Ilkeston. A fleet of 24 new cars, half open top, half closed top, was used but during the life of this route, no others were added.
In 1916, the company also took over Ilkeston Corporation Tramways, which had a total fleet of 13 cars at that time but the routes of the two companies never joined.
As other forms of transport developed, this limitation to the trams caused their demise. By the start of 1931, the Ilkeston tramway had ceased operation and by the end of 1932, with only maintenance vehicles in evidence, Notts & Derby had all but abandoned their own tramway system and the trolleybuses took over. On the 4th October 1933 the final tram ran on a very limited route between Heanor and Cinderhill, Nottingham.
In 1916, the company also took over Ilkeston Corporation Tramways, which had a total fleet of 13 cars at that time but the routes of the two companies never joined.
As other forms of transport developed, this limitation to the trams caused their demise. By the start of 1931, the Ilkeston tramway had ceased operation and by the end of 1932, with only maintenance vehicles in evidence, Notts & Derby had all but abandoned their own tramway system and the trolleybuses took over. On the 4th October 1933 the final tram ran on a very limited route between Heanor and Cinderhill, Nottingham.
Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Tramways Company
Inspectors, Motormen, Conductors and Depot Staff at Langley Mill Depot, circa 1914. Behind them are both open top and covered top tramcars.
Inspectors, Motormen, Conductors and Depot Staff at Langley Mill Depot, circa 1914. Behind them are both open top and covered top tramcars.
By 1928, Notts & Derby was given power to operate a trolleybus system in the area. The first part of the system opened between Bridge Street, Cotmanhay and Hallam Fields, Ilkeston on 7 January 1932.
On a foggy Goose Fair Thursday the 5th October 1933 the final section of the trolleybus route between Nottingham and Ripley was opened. The change-over between the tram and trolleybus services was fraught with problems on that day and received severe criticism from many passengers (most of which was not printable) according to the local press !
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The trolleybus system was very efficient and reliable, the journey from Ripley to Nottingham taking 90 minutes, with some 230 stops along the way. When the electricity industry was mostly nationalised in 1948, Balfour Beatty sold the Midland General Group to the British Transport Commission.
Trolleybuses continued until 25 April 1953, when they too gave way to the
increased versatility of the bus. The fleet of trolleybuses was sold to Bradford Corporation. |
Click on timetable images to enlarge
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The year is 1953 and for the first time the Notts & Derby Traction Company had their own fleet of motor bus vehicles, which replaced the now withdrawn trolleybus vehicles. Fifteen new Bristol KSW6G buses with ECW 60-seat highbridge bodies were supplied together with twelve AEC Regent III with Weymann 56-seat highbridge bodies which were transferred from the Mansfield District Traction Company fleet.
1957 saw the introduction of the first Bristol LD buses to the fleet which were eventually followed by the Bristol FLFs from 1965 onwards.
