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, and was built to a gauge of . It was the fourth largest tramway network in the UK behind 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 .Birmingham City Transport, Malcolm, etc. Keeley, Transport Pub. Co 1978
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
The first trams operated in Birmingham from 1872, and the network expanded throughout the late 19th century. Initially these were horse and steam operated, the first electric trams operated from 1901. Under the terms of the Tramways Act 1870 (33 & 34 Vict. c. 78) the Birmingham Corporation owned all of the tracks within the city boundaries, however, they were forbidden from operating the trams themselves, and so various private companies operated them under lease. It wasn't until 1904 that the Birmingham Corporation took advantage of new legislation, which allowed it to operate trams in its own right as the original concessions expired. By 1912, the corporation had taken over all of the privately operated lines, it also took over other district tramways as the city boundaries were expanded. BCT continued to expand the network into a comprehensive system, and also took over routes extending into the Black Country. The last new route to Stechford was opened in 1928.
Decline set in during the 1930s, when several tram lines were converted to trolleybus operation, as this was seen as being a more economic option than replacing worn out track and rolling stock. Several of the least used lines were also abandoned, and replaced by diesel buses. Reflecting the fact that it now operated buses and trolleybuses as well as trams, BCT changed its name to Birmingham City Transport in 1937.
However, most of the tram network remained in operation until large scale closures began in 1947. The last three lines to Short Heath, Pype Hayes and Erdington were closed simultaneously on 4 July 1953.
Trams eventually returned to the streets of Birmingham on 6 December 2015, after a 62-year gap, when the first part of the Midland Metro city-centre extension was opened to Bull Street tram stop.
Timeline
Routes
RouteDescriptionAbandonedShort workings 2Steelhouse Lane to Erdington4 July 195359 Steelhouse Lane to Gravelly Hill, 60 Steelhouse Lane to Aston Cross, 64 Steelhouse Lane to High Street, Erdington 3Martineau Street to Witton via Six Ways11 September 19393xMartineau Street to Witton via Aston Cross31 December 19494Station Street to Stoney Lane5 January 19375Lozells to Gravelly Hill30 September 19506Martineau Street to Perry Barr21 December 19497Martineau Street to Nechells 8Martineau Street to Alum Rock30 September 195061 Martineau Street via the Gate Inn, Saltley to Pelham Arms (Sladefield Road) 10Martineau Street to Washwood Heath30 September 19509 Martineau Street to Ward End Fox & Goose Pub, 62 inward working of route 1015High Street to South Yardley2 October 194813 High Street to Small Heath Park, 56 High Street to Hay Mills16Station Street to South Yardley6 January 193414 Station Street to Small Heath Park, 57 Station Street to Hay Mills17High Street to Stratford Road (College Road)5 January 193719 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)18Station Street to Stratford Road5 January 193721 Station Street to Stratford Road (College Road)20Station Street to Stratford Road (St. John's Road) 22Station Street to Bolton Road4 February 1930 23Colmore Row to Handsworth1 April 193928 Colmore Row to New Inns, Crocketts Lane, Handsworth 24Colmore Row to Lozells via Wheeler Street (clockwise 25)1 April 1939 25Colmore Row to Lozells via Wheeler Street (anticlockwise 24)7 August 193326Colmore Row to Oxhill Road1 April 1939 27 Colmore Row to Stafford Road, Soho Road, Handsworth29City to Bearwood via Dudley Road30 September 193930 Edmund Street to Windmill Lane, Cape Hill, Smethwick, 55 Edmund Street to Dudley Road/Grove Lane 31Edmund Street to Soho30 September 193932Edmund Street to Lodge Road29 March 194733Navigation Street to Ladywood30 August 194734Navigation Street to Bearwood via Hagley Road9 August 193036City to Cotteridge5 May 195246 Navigation Street to Stirchley 37City to Cannon Hill Park1 October 194939City to Alcester Lanes End1 October 194938 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 Heath42City to Alcester Lanes End1 October 194943 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 44Dale End/Albert Street to Acocks Green5 January 193791 High Street to Warwick Road, Tyseley 45Dale End/Albert Street to Sparkbrook5 January 193750High Street to Moseley Road depot1 October 194941 Navigation Street to Moseley Road Depot 51Hill Street to Alcester Lane End1 October 194940 Hill Street to High Street/Vicarage Road, Kings Heath via Leopold Street, 65 Hill Street to Moseley via Leopold Street53Navigation Street to Dogpool Lane 63Steelhouse Lane to Fort Dunlop4 July 195368Villa Road to Soho Road, Lozells, Gravelly Hill and Erdington (Sundays only)192370Navigation Street to Rednal5 July 195235 Navigation Street to Selly Oak, 54 Navigation Street to Pebble Mill Road, 69 Navigation Street to Northfield, 72 Navigation Street to Longbridge71Navigation Street to Rubery5 July 195274City to Dudley1 April 193974 Livery Street to Carters Green, West Bromwich, 76 Colmore Road to Great Bridge, 77 Colmore Row to Spon Lane/High Street, West Bromwich75City to Wednesbury1 April 193978Steelhouse Lane to Short Heath4 July 19531 Steelhouse Lane to Stockland Green79Steelhouse Lane to Pype Hayes Park4 July 195363 Steelhouse Lane to Holly Lane/Tyburn Road 81Villa Road to Soho Road, Lozells to Pype Hayes (Sundays only)193084City to Stechford2 October 194812 High Street to Bordesley Green (Blake Street) via Deritend and Coventry Road 87City to Dudley30 September 193985 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 90City to Stechford2 October 194811 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 October 1925 Bournbrook, Dawlish Road, acquired 1 January 1912, closed 11 July 1927 (replaced by Selly Oak) Cotteridge Depot, acquired from King's 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 November 1913 Hockley Depot, acquired from Handsworth District Council 1912, converted to motorbus use 2 April 1939, (Motor buses ceased 2006) Kyotts Lake Road Works, opened 1907, closed August 1953 Miller Street Depot, opened 4 January 1904, converted to motorbus use 4 July 1953 Moseley Road Depot, opened 1907, converted to motorbus use 2 October 1949 Rosebery Street Depot, opened 1 July 1906, converted to motorbus use 31 August 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 October 1950 West Smethwick Depot Witton Depot, acquired 1912. Until 2011, Aston Manor Road Transport MuseumAston Manor Road Transport Museum
Tramcar fleet NumbersYearSeating capacityWithdrawnNotes1 to 2190328/281940-41Destroyed in air raids3190328/2819494 to 7190328/281940-41Destroyed in air raids8 to 9190328/28194910 to 12190328/281940-41Destroyed in air raids13190328/28194914190328/281940-41Destroyed in air raids15190328/28194916190328/281940-41Destroyed in air raids17 to 20190328/28194921 to 40190526/221930-3741 to 701905-626/221930-3771 to 106190628/241937-39107190628/241937-39Under restoration at Aston Manor Road Transport Museum108 to 2201906-728/241937-39221 to 270190726/221930-37271 to 300190826/221930-37301 to 302191128/241950303191128/241940Damaged in air raid304 to 306191128/241950307191128/241940Damaged in air raid308 to 323191128/241950324191128/241940Damaged in air raid325 to 359191128/241950360191128/241940Damaged in air raid361 to 3891911-1228/2419503901911-1228/241940Damaged in air raid391 to 3941911-1228/2419503951911-1228/241950Preserved at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum396 to 4001911-1228/241950401 to 438191230/241949439191230/241941449 to 450191230/241949451 to 452191234/341949453 to 468190326/221937-39469 to 472190426/221925-38473190329/261924474 to 475190329/261938476 to 477190329/261924478190329/261938479190329/261924480190329/261938481 to 483190426/221938-39484 to 5011904-0526/221937-39502 to 5111904-0526/221913–1928512 to 5241913-1434/281950-535251913-1434/28????Withdrawn during WWII526 to 5371913-1434/281950-535381913-1434/28????Withdrawn during WWII539 to 5631913-1434/281950-535641913-1434/281941Destroyed in air raid565 to 5661913-1434/281950-53567 to 5681913-1434/281941Destroyed in air raid569 to 5731913-1434/281950-53574 to 5751913-1434/281941Destroyed in air raid576 to 5811913-1434/281950-535821913-1434/281941Destroyed in air raid583 to 5861913-1434/281950-53587 to 6361920-2134/281949-53637 to 6611923-2435/281952-53662192435/281952-53663192435/281941Destroyed in air raid664 to 668192435/281952-53669 to 670192435/281941Destroyed in air raid671 to 679192435/281952-53680 to 681192435/281941Destroyed in air raid682 to 6841924-2535/281952-526851924-2535/281941Destroyed in air raid686 to 6961924-2535/281952-536971924-2535/281941Destroyed in air raid6981924-2535/281952-536991924-2535/281941Destroyed in air raid700 to 7011924-2535/281952-53702 to 703192535/281940-41704 to 706192535/281952707 to 708192535/281940-41709 to 710192535/281952711192535/281940-41712 to 713192535/281952714192535/281940-41715 to 717192535/281952718192535/281940-41719192535/281952720192535/281940-41721 to 722192535/281952723 to 724192535/281940-41725 to 726192535/281952727192535/281940-41728 to 731192535/281952732 to 761192635/281952762 to 784192835/271952785192835/271941Destroyed in air raid786 to 811192835/271952812 to 8201928-2935/2719528211928-2935/271941822 to 8411928-2935/271952842192936/271952843193033/271952
Statistics YearNo of vehiclesMiles runPassengers Revenue1904 to 190520266,5264,709,798£19,103 (£ in ),1913 to 191455114,268,244146,930,986£635,471 (£ in ),1923 to 192465817,521,741214,338,365£1,337,093 (£ in ),1933 to 193476217,368,227201,442,970£1,171,481 (£ in ),1943 to 194449911,206,698130,665,152£1,088,824 (£ in ),1953 to 19541203,391,58035,554,412£398,122 (£ in ),
Surviving artefacts 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 Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum
Shelters One preserved at Crich Tramway Museum ()
Depots Moseley Road Depot - Grade II listed. () Selly Oak Depot, Harborne Lane - now Storage Units. () Witton Depot () Silver Street, Kings Heath - now International Stock () Miller Street - First Corporation built depot, now used for storing buses by NXWM after privatisation of WMPTE. ()