Wolverhampton District Electric Tramways



Owner British Electric Traction Company Ltd
Took over 22nd April 1899 (Dudley and Wolverhampton Tramways Company [horse; steam]) - bought from receivership
Operator British Electric Traction Company Ltd
Taken over 1st May 1900 (Wolverhampton Corporation) - lines within the municipal boundary
First electric route 3rd October 1900 (initially operated by the Dudley, Stourbridge and District Electric Traction Co Ltd - another subsidiary of the British Electric Traction Company Ltd)
Ownership transferred 1st February 1901(Wolverhampton District Electric Tramways Company Ltd - another subsidiary of the British Electric Traction Company Ltd)
Opened 9th January 1902
Operator Wolverhampton District Electric Tramways Company Ltd
Ownership transferred 1st July 1904 (to the Birmingham and Midland Tramways Joint Committee - another British Electric Traction Company Ltd entity)
Took over (operation) 1st April 1924 (South Staffordshire Tramways [Lessee] Co Ltd - a subsidiary of the British Electric Traction Company Ltd) - Darlaston to Wednesbury, Wednesbury to Walsall, and Darlaston to Walsall lines
Taken over 14th August 1925 (Wolverhampton Corporation) - Fighting Cocks to Dudley line
Taken over (operation) 1st October 1925 (Walsall Corporation) - WIllenhall to Darlaston line
Taken over 9th August 1926 (Wolverhampton Corporation) - Deans Rd to Willenhall line
Taken over 27th August 1928 (Wolverhampton Corporation) - Stow Heath Lane to Bilston line
Taken over 31st August 1928 (Wolverhampton Corporation) - remaining Wolverhampton lines
Taken over 31st August 1928 (Dudley, Stourbridge and District Electric Traction Co Ltd - the only BET-owned tramway company left in the area) - Willenhall to Darlaston line (operated by Walsall Corporation Tramways) and former South Staffordshire lines
Length 14.67 miles
Gauge 3ft 6ins


Button description Wheel, magnet and electrical flashes
Materials known Brass; chrome; black horn

Button Line reference [113/16]

Comment Currently I have no firm evidence that staff were issued with the standard BET 'Magnet & Wheel' button; however, given that BET almost certainly had a common approach to all its subsidiaries (with the exception of its London operations), this would almost seem to be a foregone conclusion.

The history of BET-owned tramways in the Black Country is a complex one. BET essentially started by purchasing shares in Birmingham and Midland Tramways (steam) and then rapidly expanded their influence by gaining control of several other key tramways. On 1st July 1904, BET transferred their shares in these companies to a new BET-owned body called the Birmingham and Midland Tramways Joint Committee (known as the Birmingham and District Power and Traction Co Ltd from 13th August 1912). This committee controlled the following companies:

- Birmingham and Midland Tramways (via the Birmingham and Midland Tramways Co Ltd)
- City of Birmingham Tramways (via the City of Birmingham Tramways Co Ltd)
- Dudley, Stourbridge and District Electric Tramways (via the Dudley, Stourbridge and District Electric Traction Co Ltd)
- Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway (via Kidderminster and District Electric Light and Traction Co Ltd) - from 1917
- Kinver Light Railway (owned by the DSDET)
- South Staffordshire Tramways (via the South Staffordshire Tramways [Lessee] Company Limited)
- Wolverhampton District Electric Tramways (via Wolverhampton District Electric Tramways Ltd)

The B&MTJC worked both in conjunction, as well as in competition with its many local authorities, many of whom had their own ambitions. This was ultimately to cause the downfall of the Committee, with its last lines being handed over to Walsall Corporation in 1930.