Mexborough and Swinton Traction Company
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The Mexborough and Swinton Traction Company, originally Mexborough and Swinton Tramways Company, was a public transport operator founded 1902 and which began services in 1907 linking Rotherham with the Old Toll Bar, Denaby.
[edit] Early History
Although plans were originally put forward in 1876 and again in 1881 it was not until August 1905 that construction of a tramway finally commenced. The system commenced with a connection to the system operated by Rotherham Corporation at Rotherham Bridge, the point where the road crossed over a small bridge on Earl Fitzwilliam’s Greasbrough Canal. The line ran through Parkgate, Rawmarsh, Swinton and Mexborough before terminating at the Old Toll Bar, Denaby, a point just prior to the crossing of the South Yorkshire Navigation.
The system was built by the National Electric Construction Company (NEC) using the Dolter surface contact system and public services began on Wednesday 6th February 1907 with a route linking College Square, Rotherham and Parkgate, this being extended to the company’s Dale Road depot in Rawmarsh 3 days later. The remainder of the line opened on the 3rd August. The Dolter surface contact system proved unsatisfactory, on occasions the studs, which when live rose from the road to energize the motors of the tram remained upright; horses following the tram, hauling drays often received an electric shock. In 1908 the company converted their system to overhead pick up but because of dangerous state of parts of the track the system was closed by the Board of Trade during August 1908.
The original Tramways Act also provided for a branch to be built serve Manvers Main colliery.
[edit] Look! No Rails
The branch to Manvers was never built and the powers lapsed but the company was still interested in expanding and in 1910, a Thornycroft charabanc, hired from the Musselburgh Tramways Company, was tried for a short period operating between the Old Toll Bar and Denaby Main Colliery village, and from Mexborough to Wath via Manvers Main. Objections from Mexborough Council caused the withdrawal of the service and because of this the company turned its attention to "rail-less traction" and a new Act of Parliament, the Mexborough & Swinton Tramways Rail-less Electric Traction Act, 1913 gave authority for routes from the Old Toll Bar to Conisbrough and from Mexborough to Manvers Main.
[edit] Finale
Mexborough & Swinton Traction Company Limited was absorbed into the Yorkshire Traction Company on the 1st October 1969, after more than sixty years of service in the Don Valley communities.
