Birmingham Corporation Tramways

Birmingham Corporation Tramways operated a network of tramways in Birmingham from 1904 until 1953. It was the largest narrow-gauge tramway network in the UK, built to a gauge of 3 ft 6 inches. It was the fourth largest tramway network in the UK after London, Glasgow and Manchester.
There were a total of 843 trams (with a maximum of 825 in service at any one time), 20 depots, 45 main routes and a total route length of 80½ miles (129.6 km).
Birmingham Corporation built all the tramways and leased the track to various companies.
Birmingham was a pioneer in the development of reserved trackways which served the suburban areas as the city grew in the 1920s and 1930s.
==History==
* 4 January 1904 - commence tramway at Aston Road North
* 1 January 1907 - took over City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd, a British Electric Traction controlled company - majority of the company's routes having been owned by Birmingham Corporation from their inception 
* 1 January 1912 - took over lines owned by Erdington Urban District Council, but operated by Birmingham Corporation Tramways, which subsequently passed into the hands of Birmingham Corporation following expansion of the city's boundaries in 1912 
* 1 January 1912 - took over City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd - remainder of the company's routes, ownership of which had passed to Birmingham Corporation from local councils (Aston Manor, Handsworth, Kings Norton and Northfield), following expansion of the city boundaries in 1912
* 1 April 1924 - took over operation of West Bromwich Corporation-owned lines previously leased to the Birmingham and Midland Tramways Joint Committee South Staffordshire Lessee Co, a British Electric Traction subsidiary 
* 1 April 1928 - took over Birmingham and Midland Tramways Joint Committee Birmingham and District Power and Traction Co Ltd - main line to Dudley 
* 18 October 1927 - name changed to Birmingham Corporation Tramway and Omnibus Department.
* 9 November 1937 - name changed to Birmingham City Transport.
==Routes==
Route	Description 	Abandoned 	Short workings 	
2 	Steelhouse Lane to Erdington 	4 June 1953 	59 Steelhouse Lane to Gravelly Hill, 60 Steelhouse Lane to Aston Cross, 64 Steelhouse Lane to High Street, Erdington 	
3 	Martineau Street to Witton via Six Ways 	11 September 1939	 	
3x 	Martineau Street to Witton via Aston Cross 	31 December 1949 	 	
4 	Station Street to Stoney Lane 	5 January 1937 	 	
5 	Lozells to Gravelly Hill 	30 September 1950	 	
6 	Martineau Street to Perry Barr 	21 December 1949 	 	
7 	Martineau Street to Nechells 	 	 	
8 	Martineau Street to Alum Rock 	30 September 1950	61 Martineau Street to Gate Inn, Saltley 	
10 	Martineau Street to Washwood Heath 	30 September 1950	9 Martineau Street to Ward End (Sladefield Road), 62 inward working of route 10 	
15 	High Street to South Yardley 	2 October 1948 	13 High Street to Small Heath Park, 56 High Street to Hay Mills 	
16 	Station Street to South Yardley 	6 January 1934 	14 Station Street to Small Heath Park, 57 Station Street to Hay Mills 	
17 	High Street to Stratford Road (College Road) 	5 January 1937 	19 High Street to Stratford Road (St. John's Street), 58 High Street to Stoney Lane/Stratford Road, 82 High Street to Stratford Road (Fox Hollies Road/Highfields Road) 	
18 	Station Street to Stratford Road 	5 January 1937 	21 Station Street to Stratford Road (College Road) 	
20 	Station Street to Stratford Road (St. John's Road) 	 	 	
22 	Station Street to Bolton Road 	4 February 1930 	 	
23 	Colmore Row to Handsworth 	1 April 1939 	28 Colmore Row to New Inns, Crocketts Lane, Handsworth 	
24 	Colmore Row to Lozells via Wheeler Street (clockwise 25) 	1 April 1939 	 	
25 	Colmore Row to Lozells via Wheeler Street (anticlockwise 24) 	7 August 1933 	 	
26 	Colmore Row to Oxhill Road 	1 April 1939 	27 Colmore Row to Stafford Road, Soho Road, Handsworth 	
29 	City to Bearwood via Dudley Road 	30 September 1939	30 Edmund Street to Windmill Lane, Cape Hill, Smethwick, 55 Edmund Street to Dudley Road/Grove Lane 	
31 	Edmund Street to Soho 	30 September 1939	 	
32 	Edmund Street to Lodge Road 	29 March 1947 	 	
33 	Navigation Street to Ladywood 	30 August 1947 	 	
34 	Navigation Street to Bearwood via Hagley Road 	9 August 1930 	 	
36 	City to Cotteridge 	5 May 1952 	46 Navigation Street to Stirchley 	
37 	City to Cannon Hill Park 	1 October 1949 	 	
39 	City to Alcester Lanes End 	1 October 1949 	38 Hill Street to High Street/Vicarage Road, Kings Heath via Balsall Heath, 49 Navigation Street to Mary Street/Park Road, Balsall Heath, 52 Hill Street to Station Road, Kings Heath via Balsall Heath, 66 Hill Street to Moseley via Balsall Heath	
42 	City to Alcester Lanes End 	1 October 1949 	43 High Street to Station Road, Kings Heath via Moseley Road, 48 High Street to High Street/Vicarage Road, Kings Heath, 67 Dale End to Moseley via Bradford Street 	
44 	Dale End/Albert Street to Acocks Green 	5 January 1937 	91 High Street to Warwick Road, Tyseley 	
45 	Dale End/Albert Street to Sparkbrook 	5 January 1937 	 	
50 	High Street to Moseley Road depot 	1 October 1949 	41 Havigation Street to Moseley Road Depot 	
51 	Hill Street to Alcester Lane End 	1 October 1949 	40 Hill Street to High Street/Vicarage Road, Kings Heath via Leopold Street, 65 Hill Street to Moseley via Leopold Street 	
53 	Navigation Street to Dogpool Lane 	 	 	
63 	Steelhouse Lane to Fort Dunlop 	4 July 1953 	 	
68 	Villa Road to Soho Road, Lozells, Gravelly Hill and Erdington (Sundays only)	1923 	 	
70 	Navigation Street to Rednal 	5 July 1952 	35 Navigation Street to Selly Oak, 54 Navigation Street to Pebble Mill Road, 69 Navigation Street to Northfield, 72 Navigation Street to Longbridge 	
71 	Navigation Street to Rubery 	5 July 1952 	 	
74 	City to Dudley 	1 April 1939 	74 Livery Street to Carters Green, West Bromwich, 76 Colmore Road to Great Bridge, 77 Colmore Row to Spon Lane/High Street, West Bromwich 	
75 	City to Wednesbury 	1 April 1939 	 	
78 	Steelhouse Lane to Short Heath 	4 July 1953 	1 Steelhouse Lane to Stockland Green 	
79 	Steelhouse Lane to Pype Hayes Park 	4 July 1953 	63 Steelhouse Lane to Holly Lane/Tyburn Road 	
81 	Villa Road to Soho Road, Lozells to Pype Hayes (Sundays only) 	1930 	 	
84 	City to Stechford 	2 October 1948 	12 High Street to Bordesley Green (Blake Street) via Deritend and Coventry Road 	
87 	City to Dudley 	30 September 1939	85 Edmund Street to Spon Lane, West Bromwich via Smethwick, 86 Edmund Street to Oldbury via Smethwick, 88 Windmill Lane to Spon Lane, West Bromwich via Smethwick 	
90 	City to Stechford 	2 October 1948 	11 High Street to Bordesley Green (Blake Lane) via Fazeley Street 	
==Depots and Works==
* Arthur Street Depot see Coventry Road
* Birchfield Road Depot, acquired from Handsworth District Council 1911, converted to motorbus use 28 Oct 1925
* Bournbrook, Dawlish Road, acquired 1 Jan 1912, closed 11 July 1927 (replaced by Selly Oak)
* Cotteridge Depot, acquired from Kings Norton and Northfield District Council 1912
* Coventry Road Depot (also known as Arthur Street Depot), opened 1907, converted to motorbus use 1 July 1951
* Handsworth Sub-Depot
* Highgate Road Depot, opened 25 Nov 1913
* Hockley Depot, acquired from Handsworth District Council 1912, converted to motorbus use 2 Apr 1939
* Kyotts Lake Road Works, opened 1907, closed August 1953
* Miller Street Depot, opened 4 Jan 1904, converted to motorbus use 4 July 1953
* Moseley Road Depot, opened 1907, converted to motorbus use 2 Oct 1949
* Rosebery Street Depot, opened 1 July 1906, converted to motorbus use 31 Aug 1947
* Selly Oak Depot, opened 8 July 1927, converted to motorbus use 6 July 1952
* Trafalgar Road Depot
* Tividale B.M.T.C.J. Works
* Washwood Heath Depot, opened 1907, converted to motorbus use 1 Oct 1950
* West Smethwick Depot
* Witton Depot, acquired 1912. Now Aston Manor Transport Museum 
==Tramcar fleet==
Numbers 	Year 	Seating capacity	Withdrawn	Notes
1 to 2 	1903 	28/28 	1940-41 	Destroyed in air raids
3 	1903 	28/28 	1949 	
4 to 7 	1903 	28/28 	1940-41 	Destroyed in air raids
8 to 9 	1903 	28/28 	1949 	
10 to 12 	1903 	28/28 	1940-41 	Destroyed in air raids
13 	1903 	28/28 	1949 	
14 	1903 	28/28 	1940-41 	Destroyed in air raids
15 	1903 	28/28 	1949 	
16 	1903 	28/28 	1940-41 	Destroyed in air raids
17 to 20 	1903 	28/28 	1949 	
21 to 40 	1905 	26/22 	1930-37 	
41 to 70 	1905-6 	26/22 	1930-37 	
71 to 106 	1906 	28/24 	1937-39 	
107 	1906 	28/24 	1937-39 	Under restoration at Aston Manor Transport Museum
108 to 220	1906-7 	28/24 	1937-39 	
221 to 270	1907 	26/22 	1930-37 	
271 to 300	1908 	26/22 	1930-37 	
301 to 302	1911 	28/24 	1950 	
303 	1911 	28/24 	1940 	Damaged in air raid
304 to 306	1911 	28/24 	1950 	
307 	1911 	28/24 	1940 	Damaged in air raid
308 to 323	1911 	28/24 	1950 	
324 	1911 	28/24 	1940 	Damaged in air raid
325 to 359	1911 	28/24 	1950 	
360 	1911 	28/24 	1940 	Damaged in air raid
361 to 389	1911-12	28/24 	1950 	
390 	1911-12	28/24 	1940 	Damaged in air raid
391 to 394	1911-12	28/24 	1950 	
395 	1911-12	28/24 	1950 	Preserved at Birmingham Thinktank
396 to 400	1911-12	28/24 	1950 	
401 to 438	1912 	30/24 	1949 	
439 	1912 	30/24 	1941 	
449 to 450	1912 	30/24 	1949 	
451 to 452	1912 	34/34 	1949 	
453 to 468	1903 	26/22 	1937-39 	
469 to 472	1904 	26/22 	1925-38 	
473 	1903 	29/26 	1924 	
474 to 475	1903 	29/26 	1938 	
476 to 477	1903 	29/26 	1924 	
478 	1903 	29/26 	1938 	
479 	1903 	29/26 	1924 	
480 	1903 	29/26 	1938 	
481 to 483	1904 	26/22 	1938-39 	
484 to 501	1904-05	26/22 	1937-39 	
502 to 511	1904-05	26/22 	1913-1928	
512 to 524	1913-14	34/28 	1950-53 	
525 	1913-14	34/28 	???? 	Withdrawn during WWII
526 to 537	1913-14	34/28 	1950-53 	
538 	1913-14	34/28 	???? 	Withdrawn during WWII
539 to 563	1913-14	34/28 	1950-53 	
564 	1913-14	34/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
565 to 566	1913-14	34/28 	1950-53 	
567 to 568	1913-14	34/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
569 to 573	1913-14	34/28 	1950-53 	
574 to 575	1913-14	34/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
576 to 581	1913-14	34/28 	1950-53 	
582 	1913-14	34/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
583 to 586	1913-14	34/28 	1950-53 	
587 to 636	1920-21	34/28 	1949-53 	
637 to 661	1923-24	35/28 	1952-53 	
662 	1924 	35/28 	1952-53 	
663 	1924 	35/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
664 to 668	1924 	35/28 	1952-53 	
669 to 670	1924 	35/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
671 to 679	1924 	35/28 	1952-53 	
680 to 681	1924 	35/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
682 to 684	1924-25	35/28 	1952-52 	
685 	1924-25	35/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
686 to 696	1924-25	35/28 	1952-53 	
697 	1924-25	35/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
698 	1924-25	35/28 	1952-53 	
699 	1924-25	35/28 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
700 to 701	1924-25	35/28 	1952-53 	
702 to 703	1925 	35/28 	1940-41 	
704 to 706	1925 	35/28 	1952 	
707 to 708	1925 	35/28 	1940-41 	
709 to 710	1925 	35/28 	1952 	
711 	1925 	35/28 	1940-41 	
712 to 713	1925 	35/28 	1952 	
714 	1925 	35/28 	1940-41 	
715 to 717	1925 	35/28 	1952 	
718 	1925 	35/28 	1940-41 	
719 	1925 	35/28 	1952 	
720 	1925 	35/28 	1940-41 	
721 to 722	1925 	35/28 	1952 	
723 to 724	1925 	35/28 	1940-41 	
725 to 726	1925 	35/28 	1952 	
727 	1925 	35/28 	1940-41 	
728 to 731	1925 	35/28 	1952 	
732 to 761	1926 	35/28 	1952 	
762 to 784	1928 	35/27 	1952 	
785 	1928 	35/27 	1941 	Destroyed in air raid
786 to 811	1928 	35/27 	1952 	
812 to 820	1928-29	35/27 	1952 	
821 	1928-29	35/27 	1941 	
822 to 841	1928-29	35/27 	1952 	
842 	1929 	36/27 	1952 	
843 	1930 	33/27 	1952 	
==Statistics==
Year 	No of vehicles	Miles run 	Passengers 	Revenue
1904 to 1905	20 	266,526 	4,709,798 	£19,103
1913 to 1914	551 	14,268,244	146,930,986	£635,471
1923 to 1924	658 	17,521,741	214,338,365	£1,337,093
1933 to 1934	762 	17,368,227	201,442,970	£1,171,481
1943 to 1944	499 	11,206,698	130,665,152	£1,088,824
1953 to 1954	120 	3,391,580 	35,554,412 	£398,122
==Literature==
* Great British Tramway Networks, Wingate H. Bett and John C. Gillham, Light Railway Transport League 1st edition 1940 and 2nd edition 1944
* The ABC of Birmingham City transport. Parts 1 & 2, W. A Camwell, Ian Allan 1950 
* City of Birmingham Transport Department. 1904-1954: Brochure to commemorate the undertaking's jubilee, Birmingham Transport Committee 1954
* The demise of Birmingham's Trams, Gordon P. Laker - copy in Birmingham Central Library
* Birmingham Trams and Tramways, Colin Andrew Purdue - copy in Birmingham Central Library
* Memories of Birmingham's steam trams, C Gilbert, Light Railway Transport League 1966
* Short review of Birmingham Corporation tramways, Peter Laurence Hardy, H.J. Publications1971 ISBN 0-9502035-0-5 
* Birmingham (British tramways in pictures, 3), R.J.S. Wiseman, Huddersfield, Advertiser Press, 1972, ISBN 0-900028-11-4 
* Birmingham Transport, Alec G Jenson, Birmingham Transport Historical Group 1978 ISBN 0-905103-00-9 
* Birmingham City Transport, Malcolm, etc. Keeley, Transport Pub. Co 1978 ISBN 0-903839-18-0 
* Birmingham Corporation Trams and Trolleybuses, Archie Mayou, Senior Publications 1982 ISBN 0-903839-83-0 
* Birmingham Corporation Tramway Rolling Stock. The story of Birmingham tramcar design, development and maintenance, P.W. Lawson, Birmingham Transport Historical Group 1983
* Last Tram Down the Village and Other Memories of Yesterday's Birmingham, Ray Tennant and Jim Lyndon, BiginInk Ltd 1984 ISBN 0-948025-01-8 
* Memories of Birmingham's transport, A.N.H Glover, 1987 ISBN 0-905103-06-8 
* Birmingham in the Electric Tramway Era, D.F. Potter, Birmingham Transport Historical Group 1988 ISBN 0-905103-10-6
* Memories of Birmingham Transport, D.R. Harvey Birmingham Transport Historical Group 1988 ISBN 0-905103-09-2 
* Birmingham Trams on Old Picture Postcards, John Marks, Reflections of a Bygone Age 1992 ISBN 0-946245-53-3 
* A Nostalgic Look at Birmingham Trams, 1933-53: The Northern Routes Vol 1, Norman Painting, Silver Link Publishing Ltd 1993 ISBN 1-85794-014-8
* A Nostalgic Look at Birmingham Trams, 1933-53: The Southern Routes - Bristol Road Routes, Cotteridge and the Moseley Road Routes, Plus Nechells and Bolton Road Vol 2, Tony Britton, Silver Link Publishing Ltd 1994 ISBN 1-85794-021-0
* A Nostalgic Look at Birmingham Trams, 1933-53: The Eastern and Western Routes - Including the Stechford Routes, the West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Dudley Routes and the Smethwick, Oldbury and Dudley Routes v. 3, David Harvey, Silver Link Publishing Ltd 1995 ISBN 1-85794-037-7
* Birmingham Trams, Silver Link Publishing Ltd 1995 ISBN 1-85794-992-7
* Birmingham Transport (Archive Photographs: Images of England), Keith Turner, Tempus Publishing Ltd 1998 ISBN 0-7524-1554-9
* The Tramways of the West Midlands, LRTA handbook 1999 ISBN 0-948106-23-9
* Birmingham Corporation Transport, 1904-39, Paul Collins, Ian Allan Ltd 1999ISBN 0-7110-2627-0
* Birmingham Corporation Transport, 1939-69, Paul Collins, Ian Allan Ltd 1999ISBN 0-7110-2656-4
* Birmingham Transport (Sutton's Photographic History of Transport), Mike Hitches, Sutton Publishing 1999 ISBN 0-7509-1670-2
* Seeing Birmingham by Tram, Eric Armstrong, Tempus Publishing Ltd 2003 ISBN 0-7524-2787-3
==Video and DVD==
* Birmingham trams and trolleybuses, Birmingham Transport Historical Group 1992, VHS, 90min, also DVD published by Online Video 
* Another look at Birmingham's trams and buses, John Stanford, 1999 VHS 
==Surviving artifacts and infrastructure==
===Tramcars===
* Vehicle 107 (1906) under restoration at Aston Manor Road Transport Museum
* Vehicle 395 (1911) rescued by City of Birmingham Museums and Galleries. Restored in 1953 and presented to Birmingham Science Museum. Now preserved in Birmingham Thinktank
===Depots===
*Moseley Road Depot - Grade II listed
*Selly Oak Depot, Harborne Lane - now Storage Units
*Witton Depot - now Aston Manor Road Transport Museum
===Track===
* Edmund Street, Birmingham City Centre
* Rednal Terminus
Category:Tram transport
Category:Birmingham Corporation Tramways
Category:Transport in Birmingham, England
Category:Tram transport in the United Kingdom
Category:Narrow gauge railways in the United Kingdom
Category:UK Trams
Category:Birmingham Trams