 At its greatest extent in 1900, the company operated services over 140 route miles in Manchester, Salford, Patricroft, Oldham, Stalybridge and Stockport, using 515 trams, 5,244 horses, and 19 depots organised into 8 operating divisions.As the 19th century drew to a close, many corporations obtained permission to take over local tramways and run them as Corporation transport.This coincided with the introduction of electricity, and the possibility of replacement of the horse-powered tramways.