[1] The company was formed as a subsidiary of Dick, Kerr & Co. On 9 December 1893 it took over the Edinburgh Street Tramways services within the Edinburgh city boundary.

On 1 January 1897 it took over the Edinburgh Northern Tramways cable operated lines.

The company also undertook a conversion programme replacing many horse drawn services with cable operated lines.

[2] The choice of cable traction was driven by the gradients on many streets in Edinburgh.

The cable lines included: In 1902, one of its tramcars was sold to the Stirling and Bridge of Allan Tramways and in 1913 this vehicle was converted with a petrol engine.