Imperial Tramways Company Limited



History The rather grandly titled Imperial Tramways Co Ltd (ITC) began life in 1878 - as a London-based company - with the purchase of several tramway systems (in places as diverse as Dublin and Middlesbrough) and eventually had a railway interest as well (Corris Railway). The key event in the life of this small company was its purchase in 1892 by George White (later Sir), a Bristol-based enterpreneur and leading light in Bristol Tramways. The history of the ITC thus became intimately bound up with the Bristol Tramways and with the 'White' family. Sir George White subsequently founded London United Tramways (1894) - opening London's first overhead electric route - before going on to launch the Bristol Aeroplane Company in 1910 and Bristol Motors (cars, lorries and buses) two years later. Sir George's nephew also played a key role, initially by representing the family on the LUT board, and later as Chairman of both Bristol Tramways and the ITC. The family sold their controlling interest in the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company Ltd in 1929, and the ITC was officially liquidated the following year.

Comment The illustrated button is not an issue of the Imperial Tramways Company at all, but of the Imperial Tobacco Company Limited (Nottingham). Thanks to David Long for pointing out the correct attribution, which is documented in the International Button Collectors Club Docu-File as 'British Livery No. 215'. I've chosen to illustrate this button as it is often misdescribed/misascribed as 'Imperial Tramways Co Ltd'.

Tramway interests The following list details - to the best of my knowledge - those concerns in which the Imperial Tramways Company Limited had an interest (either as the owner, the operator or as a major shareholder) at some time during the tramway's life. The dates represent the approximate span of ITC interest (from opening/purchase to closure/sale), not the life of the tramway system itself. So far, buttons are only known for the Bristol and London systems, both of which were specific to those tramways.

Bristol Tramways and Carriage Company Limited (1892-1930)
City of Gloucester Tramways (1879-1881)
City of York Tramways (1885-1909)
Dublin Southern District Tramways (1878-1896)
London United Tramways (1894-19??)
Middlesbrough and Stockton Tramways (1878-1897)
Middlesbrough, Stockton and Thornaby Electric Tramways (1896-1921)
Reading Tramways (1879-1901)
Stockton and Darlington Steam Tramways - Darlington lines (1896-1902)
Stockton and Darlington Steam Tramways - Stockton lines (1896-1897)
West Metropolitan Tramways (1894)