Rotherham's Public Transport
Motor Buses
Motor buses came into use in Rotherham in 1913 to supplement the tram services. The early buses were 14 seaters but these were replaced in 1924 by larger vehicles.
Since 1965 all public service vehicles in Rotherham have been motor buses.
Trains
In 1900 The Midland Railway built the Canklow Motive Power Depot (locomotive sheds) at Canklow. This covered a vast area alongside the Rother and was closed in 1965. The building was finally demolished in 1980 to make way for the Canklow Industrial Estate.
The use of railways diminished through the 20th Century: a process Dr Beeching had a great deal to do with in the 1960s. Westgate Station was closed, leaving the long trek out to Masbrough Station to catch a train. A new railway station was developed closer to town (near Tescos) in the 1980s ? and Masbrough was then closed.
Tramways
Public transport began in Rotherham in 1900 when Rotherham Corporation obtained statutory powers to construct, maintain and use tramways. The Electric Light and Tramways Committee was formed and quickly got things organised. The tramlines were to run: -
- From a junction with Sheffield Tramways at Tinsley to the town centre at Effingham Street and on to the Pumping Station on Fitzwilliam Road.
- From Kimberworth Road near Bradgate Lane through the town centre to Rawmarsh Road
- From Canklow to join the first line at Westgate.
These were opened, officially on January 31, 1903 and for public use on 2 February 1903.
In 1905 the tram system was linked up with Sheffield and later it was expanded out to other areas of the borough of Rotherham.
Electric Tramways which existed within this area were:–
- Rotherham Corporation Tramways which operated 31 Jan 1903 to 13 Nov 1949.
- Mexborough & Swinton Tramway Co. which operated 6 Feb 1907 to 9 Mar 1929. Before the First World War it operated various routes, one of which ran to Manvers Main. Afterwards it became the Mexborough & Swinton Traction Co.
- Dearne District Light Railways which operated 14 Jul 1924 to 30 Sep 1933.
Later there was competition from the motor buses and trolley buses. Trams eventually became uncompetitive compared with the motor buses and finally ceased to operate in Rotherham in 1949.
Trolley Buses
The trolley bus service ran in Rotherham from 1912 to 1965. From 1956 to 1965 they were double deck trolley buses.
The Mexborough & Swinton Traction Co ceased their tram service in 1929 and in their place ran trolley bus services on the original routes. In the period between the wars new routes were introduced including one from Mexborough to Swinton (The Woodman Inn) and a round Rawmarsh route. In 1947 the old red/brown livery which had been carried since the early days was replaced by a brighter green and cream livery firstly on the company's six austerity Sunbeam trolley buses and later through the fleet. The first motor buses arrived in 1954 and new routes were created in from Parkgate via Rawmarsh to Kilnhurst and Swinton, and a new route from Low Stubbin to the newly built Monkwood estate in Rawmarsh to Rotherham which joined the main road at the top of Blythe Avenue. On 26 March 1961 all Mexborough & Swinton Traction Co trolley buses ceased operation.
In the way of all flesh, or in this case metal; the trams and the trolley buses have all passed away, and ye good old diesel buses, some green and some not so green, now run on all routes, or sometimes not.