The Altrincham Gas Company was formed in March 1846 and in 1872 was reconstituted as Statutory Company under an Act of Incorporation. The area of supply of the company included Hale, Bowdon, Timperley and Dunham Massey. The Company was permitted to supply Partington and Carrington although it did not do so. In 1925 under an order of the Board of Trade, permission was given for a tramway to be built - following this, a Sentinel steam wagon was used.