The first section of the municipal electric tramway system, i.e. the Cheetham Hill and Hightown Routes inaugurated by the Lord Mayor (Councillor Thomas Briggs), who, on the same day (6th June) formally opened Queen's Road Depot, the first electric tramway depot in Manchester. working hours of employees reduced from 712 to 60; holidays with pay granted and uniform clothing issued.

1902

Payment of £20,000 made in relief of rates for the first year of municipal operation (Year 1901-1902). Trolley boys employed to assist the conductors on the large double-bogie tramcars.

1903

Horse-drawn tramcars ran in Manchester for the last time (31st March), but continued to run between the City boundary and Barton Road, Stretford until 12th April. Original scheme of electrification of the horse tramway system completed at a cost of £12 million, the last section opened being that between Old Trafford and Barton Road, Stretford. Commencement of horse bus service-Palatine Road (West Didsbury) and Northenden. Halfpenny fares for adults adopted on the Circular and cross routes only. Two miles could be travelled for a penny compared with one mile (inside the vehicle) and 1.2 miles (on the upper deck outside) before the Corporation fully took over. Hyde Road Car Shed with accommodation for 265 tramcars opened. Department's employees' Social and Athletic Society formed. Top-covered double-deck tramcars introduced. Weekly working hours of employees reduced to 54.

1904

£100,000 paid towards the cost of acquiring the Royal Infirmary and site in Piccadilly in view of street improvements and facilities made available.

1905

Hyde Road Car Works opened for the construction and repair of tramcar bodies. Express parcels service commenced.

1906-1910

1906

Motor buses operated for the first time (Palatine Road and Northenden).

1907

Children under 15 years of age proceeding to and from school allowed return tickets at single fares. Workmen's men's return fares introduced. Through running arrangements with Oldham and Ashton Corporations commenced.

1909

Princess Road Car Shed opened (October).

1910

Sickness payment scheme for employees introduced.

1911-1915

1913

All-night services commenced. Fares at their lowest, the average length of the penny stages being nearly three miles.

1914

Total passengers carried annually exceeded 200 million for the first time. War Office impressed the Department's eight motor buses for military purposes. Horse omnibuses reinstated in substitution (August).

1915

Conductresses first employed.

1916-1920

1917

City Council decided to construct additional arterial routes and provide tramway terminals in the centre of the City. Large contributions to street improvements were made by the Department in subsequent years.

1918

Halfpenny fares (for adults) on the Circular and several other routes discontinued. 2,917 employees joined H.M. Forces in the First World War and of these 309 lost their lives.

1919

The amount paid by the Department in allowances to the dependents of the employees who joined the Forces was, at 31st March, 1919, £266,938. Weekly working hours of employees reduced to 48.

1921-1925

1921

Contributions to the rates by the Trading Departments abolished. Superannuation Scheme for employees commenced.

1922

One-man operated motor buses introduced-Chorlton to Longford Park. Through running arrangements with Stockport Corporation commenced.

1923

Motor bus services began to be developed on the lighter routes in the outer suburbs, acting as "feeder" services to the tramways system.

1924

Total passengers carried annually exceeded 300 million for the first time.

1925

Middleton Electric Traction Co. acquired by Middleton, Rochdale and Oldham Corporations - Middleton leased its routes to Manchester for operation. Rolling stock divided between the three Undertakings. Through running arrangements with Rochdale Corporation commenced.

1926-1930

1926

Opening of the Kingsway sleeper-track type of tramway. Through running with Salford Corporation commenced. Parrs Wood Garage, with accommodation for 50 motor buses, opened. Greatest number of passengers carried in a single day (Saturday, 2nd October)-1,461,352 (Manchester Civic Week).

1927

Peak year of tramway revenue (Year ended 31st March, 1928). Considerable development in the motor bus services. Through express routes ran in conjunction with operating authorities in districts beyond the Manchester tramways system.

1928

Birchfields Road Car Shed opened. Hyde Road Car works extended. Conversion from solid to pneumatic tyres carried out on 19 motor buses. Top covers fitted to upper decks of motor buses. On the All-night services motor buses substituted for tramcars on certain routes.

1929

Peak of tramway construction; track length operated was 292 miles. Decision reached not to develop tramways further. Name of Tramways Department altered to Transport Department (1st November).

1930

No. 53 (Circular) tram route converted to operation by double-deck motor buses of the low-bridge type. This was the first main tramway track to be abandoned. Successful experiments undertaken with two double-deck motor buses fitted with compression ignition engines. Decision taken to adopt this type of engine in lieu of the petrol engine for the future. Site acquired in Parker Street (Piccadilly) for Central Bus Station at a cost (for land) of £65,000. Princess Road Garage opened with accommodation for 60 buses. Double fare introduced on the All night services, but regular night workers permitted to travel at ordinary fares.

1931-1935

1931

First part of Parker Street bus station opened. Contract entered into for commercial advertisements in the interior of vehicles. Hale Barns and Manchester service acquired from Sykes Bros. in conjunction with the North Western Road Car Co. Ltd. Wilmslow and Manchester service acquired from Goodfellow Services (1930) Ltd.

1932

Cheap-travel day tickets introduced. Parrs Wood Garage extension opened.

1933

Termination of employment of trolley boys.

1934

Trafford Park tramways leased by Trafford Park Estates Ltd. to Manchester Corporation to be operated in conjunction with Salford and Stretford Corporations with power to operate other forms of transport in the Park. Parker Street bus station extended. Road passenger service between Parker Street and Barton Airport commenced by motor cars of the Department.

1935

Queen's Road Garage constructed for motorbus operation.

1936-1940

1938

Rochdale Road trolley bus garage, with accommodation for 115 vehicles, opened and trolley bus system inaugurated (1st March).

1939

City Council decided to complete the abandonment of the tramway system (February). 200 buses used to evacuate Manchester children to "safe" areas (September).

1941-1945

1941

Parrs Wood Garage taken over by Ministry of Aircraft Production for use as a munitions factory. 90 motor buses loaned to London Passenger Transport Board and 182 to other undertakings for the war period. Parker Street Bus Station extended to George Street and Mosley Street.

1942

Portion of Northenden (Wythenshawe) Bus Garage, completion of which was suspended due to war operations, taken over by the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Sites acquired for open-air parking of buses as part of a policy of dispersal of rolling stock as a war measure.

1944

4,917 tons of rails from 30Z miles (single track) of abandoned tram routes reclaimed for munition purposes. Number of passengers carried annually exceeded 400,000,000 for the first time.

1945

At the end of March, 1,591 conductresses and 167 women cleaners and mechanics, etc. were employed, 2,372 employees (including 40 women) had enlisted in H.M. Forces and 841 had lost their lives, 272 employees had been transferred to munition work, and 1,500 employees had served in the Home Guard. War service allowances paid to the employees reached a total of £685,000. Decision made to terminate employment of conductresses.

1946-1950

1946

Motor bus with power-operated doors first put into service. Northenden Garage returned to the Undertaking by the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Last conductress worked (10th November).

1947

8 ft. wide motor buses first put into service. Weekly working hours reduced to 44.

1948

Radio telephone service installed to provide communication with mobile units engaged on traffic control and emergency repairs.

1949

Hazel Grove and Victoria Street tram service converted to motor bus operation, so completing the abandonment of the tramway system (10th January). One-man bus service introduced-Dane Bank Estate. Record number of passengers carried in the year ended 31st March, 1949 (492,417,219).

1950

Exterior advertising on the Department's vehicles commenced. Wall safe system of paying in for conductors introduced. Start of Limited Stop Services. Cheap Travel tickets made available on all services in the Manchester operating area.

1951-1955

1951

Mechanical bus washing machines installed at several garages. Birchfields Road Car Shed converted to a motor bus garage and modernised. Yearly Revenue exceeded £5 million for the first time.

1953

New Limited Stop Services introduced. New fleet of Airport buses. City Tours introduced. Participation in Coronation celebrations by organised tours, decorated vehicles etc. Delivery of 24 underfloor engine single deck buses.

1954

Modernisation of Hyde Road Works. Staff shortage creating problem. Link up of certain Manchester and Salford services.

1955

Use of fibreglass for vehicle wings, panels, etc. Conversion of Oldham Road trolley bus services to motor bus. Sale services revised.

1956-1960

1956

Introduction of incentive scheme for platform staff. Suez crisis and consequent fuel rationing. Additions to through-City services. Limited Stop Service to Langley.

1957

Erection of 170 ft. long passenger shelter in Albert Square.

1958

Transfer of services from Parker Street to new bus station at Chorlton Street. Introduction of gyratory traffic system in Piccadilly. Completion of Piccadilly Bus Station, officially opened 4th December. Structural details-577 ft. long, 28 ft. wide with two-storey building containing Information Office and employees' Canteen.

1959

Installation of panel spraying equipment at Hyde Road. Total passenger shelters-297. Construction of new Head Offices at Devonshire Street, Hyde Road, authorised. Reduction in mileage because of fall in passengers carried.

1960

Ten Atlantean buses in service. No. 217 Trolleybus Service converted to motor buses.

1961-1965

1961

Introduction of City Circle service operated by one-man buses. (20th June). Manchester's most modern trolleybus, new in 1955.

1963

New Head Office in Devonshire Street North opened by the Minister of Transport, the Right Hon. Ernest Marples, M.P. (22nd March).

1964

Experiments with the advance sale of tickets (by machine or in booklets) to assist one-man operation (130 service).

1965

Introduction (2nd May) of concessionary fares for elderly people residing in Manchester, allowing them to travel at children's fares on journeys within the M.C.T. Operating Area. Cost of the scheme met from the General Rate Fund. Withdrawal of City Circle Service (17th September). First "Minimax" services introduced (18th October)-Service Nos. 97/147 and 123, Flat fare of 6d. (adult) and 3d. (child) charged for any distance.

1966-1969

1966

The City Council decided at their meeting on 3rd August that one-man operation should be extended on a large scale throughout the system and that vehicles should be designed to this end in future. Consultants appointed by the Ministry of Transport and the City of Manchester to report on the feasibility of a rapid transit system for the City. Last trolley bus operated 31st December.

1967

Fares simplified to three denominations (6d., 1/-, 1/6) to facilitate the introduction of one-man operation (1st July). Cheap Travel tickets abolished (1st July).

Double-deck one-man operated buses ran for the first time in Manchester on the No. 66/148 services (14th August) using converted front-entrance vehicles. Operation of No. 123 service with single-deck vehicles specially designed for one-man operation, and equipped with turnstiles (18th September).

1968

Revision of services along the Wilmslow Road "corridor" (2nd January). Introduction of "Mancunian" double-deck vehicles, specially designed for one-man operation, on Services Nos. 19/169/170 (1st April). Conversion of Service No. 50 to operation with vehicles equipped with "Johnson" fareboxes (19th August)-no tickets issued. Publication of the Transport Act, 1968, setting up a Passenger Transport Authority for South-East Lancashire and North-East Cheshire (one of four Authorities entrusted with the responsibility for co-ordinating public transport facilities in the conurbations).

1969

Introduction of Market Street "one-way" scheme in Manchester (26th January). Appointment of members of the "SELNEC P.T.A." followed by the appointment of members of the related Passenger Transport Executive. Proposed Rapid Transit system (Northenden to Higher Blackley) held in abeyance pending the results of a transportation study for the SELNEC P.T.A. area as a whole.

November 1st, 1969 Transfer of the Manchester City Transport undertaking to the South East Lancashire and North East Cheshire Passenger Transport Executive.

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