from 1913 an experimental electric service operated between bury and holcombe brook. the equipment was provided by dick, kerr & co. of preston, which was developing its products for overseas sales. it used was 3.5 kv dc overhead, and four cars, two driving motor brake thirds and two driving trailer thirds, were built at the lyr's newton heath works. the motor cars had two motors, one and the other , and seated 75 passengers. the trailers seated 85 passengers. in 1918 the line was converted to the 1200 v dc system chosen for the bury line and the cars stored before being converted into an experimental 4-car diesel-electric unit in 1927.