Chester Corporation Tramways
Owner Chester Corporation
Took over 1st January 1902 (Chester Tramways [horse])
Closed 1st January 1903 - for electrification
Opened 16th April 1903 (electric)
Operator Chester Corporation
Closed 15th February 1930
Length 3.58 miles
Gauge 3ft 6ins
Button description Title ('Chester Corporation') surrounding vertically divided shield with three gold lions on the left and two wheatsheaves on the right.
Materials known Chrome
Button Line reference [None]
Comment In the absence of specific 'tramway' or 'transport' pattern buttons, it would appear that Chester Corporation used this general titled coat of arms pattern button for all its transport services - including the tramways - from its inception in 1902/3 up until its name was changed to Chester City Transport in 1957. Evidence to support this comes from the Grosvenor Museum in Chester who have a button die for this pattern button; their records indicate that this was used for buttons issued to Transport Department staff. It would seem reasonable to assume that it was also used for tramway staff.
The three gold lions represent the royal arms of England, whilst the two wheatsheaves are derived from the arms of the Earldom of Chester