City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd
Encyclopedia
The City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd operated trams in Birmingham from 1896 until 1911.
The company was formed on 29 September 1896 by James Ross (President and Vice-President of the Toronto and Montreal Street Railway Co. of Canada) and Sir William Mackenzie
to take over the business of the Birmingham Central Tramways Company Ltd.
The last routes in Birmingham closed on 31 December 1911. Most of its services were taken over by Birmingham Corporation Tramways
.
The Birmingham and District Tramways Company Ltd (BDTC) operated trams in Birmingham from 1872 until 1876. BDTC was acquired by the Birmingham Tramways and Omnibus Company Ltd (BTOC) in 1876.
BTOC in turn was taken over by the Birmingham Central Tramways Company Ltd (BCTC) in 1886. In 1896 the assets of the BCTC were acquired by the CBTC.
On 1 January 1907, some of CBTC’s Birmingham routes were taken over by BCT. On 1 January 1912 BCT took over the remainder of the company's routes, ownership of which had just passed from neighbouring local councils to Birmingham Corporation.
The company was formed by William Busby and Daniel Busby in 1871 as an amalgamation of the Birmingham and Staffordshire Tramways Company Ltd and the Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd.
It built a standard gauge tramway line in 1872 from Hockley Brook
to Dudley Port operated by horse trams. In 1873 the service was extended to the centre of Birmingham over the Birmingham Corporation
tracks which were leased for £910 over seven years. The Birmingham Corporation tracks had cost £15,000 to build.
In 1874 the tramway between West Bromwich and Dudley Port was abandoned as the company was in financial difficulty.
The company was taken over by the Birmingham Tramways and Omnibus Company Ltd in 1876.
It took over the business of the Birmingham and District Tramways Company Ltd and restricted the trams to a service between Birmingham and Handsworth, thus discontinuing the service through West Bromwich.
It was taken over by the BCTC in 1886.
The company was formed in 1882, initially as the Birmingham Suburban Tramways Company but by the time of the opening of its first line, had been renamed the Birmingham Central Tramways Company Ltd.
The initial rolling stock consisted of 10 Falcon horse cars for the Nechells route, 14 Kitson steam tram locos and 13 Falcon trailer cars.
In 1886 they purchased the track of the BTOC, which lay outside the city boundary, and 18 horse cars. At the same time Birmingham Corporation leased the lines within the city to the Company.
Taken over by companies controlled by Scottish-Canadian businessman James Ross
, on 24 March 1888, the horse tram route from Colmore Row to Hockley Brook was converted to cable traction by the Patent Cable Tramway Company, and on the 20 April 1889, the line was extended to Handsworth
(New Inns). The service was operated with open-top double-decker cars.
In October 1889 the portion of the acquired tramway along Bristol Road to Bournbrook
was closed for reconstruction. It re-opened on 24 July 1890 and was worked by Nos. 101-112, Falcon battery-electric open-top double-deck cars.
On 29 September 1896 the assets of the BCTC were acquired by the City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd.
The company was formed on 29 September 1896 by James Ross and William Mackenzie to take over the business of the BCTC.
In October 1889 it closed the Bristol Road standard gauge horse tramway for conversion to 3 ft 6 in gauge. When it re-opened on 24 July 1890 it was worked with battery electric (accumulator) cars. These were open top bogie double deckers numbered 101 to 112 and they ran until 14 May 1901. From then on the route from the city to Bournbrook
via Bristol Road (later extended to Selly Oak
) was operated by electric cars using overhead current supply. Other routes were soon electrified and the company became a British Electric Traction
subsidiary in 1902.
By June 1902 the CBTC were operating 21 overhead electric trams, 54 cable trams, 89 steam engines, 76 Double Decker steam trams, 10 horse cars, 45 horse buses and 608 horses on tracks mostly constructed and owned by Birmingham
Corporation.
The last routes in Birmingham closed on 31 December 1911. Most of its services were taken over by Birmingham Corporation Tramways
.
The company was formed on 29 September 1896 by James Ross (President and Vice-President of the Toronto and Montreal Street Railway Co. of Canada) and Sir William Mackenzie
William Mackenzie (railway entrepreneur)
Sir William Mackenzie was a Canadian railway contractor and entrepreneur.Born near Peterborough, Ontario, Mackenzie became a teacher and politician before entering business as the owner of a sawmill and gristmill in Kirkfield, Ontario...
to take over the business of the Birmingham Central Tramways Company Ltd.
The last routes in Birmingham closed on 31 December 1911. Most of its services were taken over by Birmingham Corporation Tramways
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...
.
Historical overview
City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd was the result of a number of changes in ownership of the tramway franchises within the city of Birmingham since its creation in 1872 until 1911.The Birmingham and District Tramways Company Ltd (BDTC) operated trams in Birmingham from 1872 until 1876. BDTC was acquired by the Birmingham Tramways and Omnibus Company Ltd (BTOC) in 1876.
BTOC in turn was taken over by the Birmingham Central Tramways Company Ltd (BCTC) in 1886. In 1896 the assets of the BCTC were acquired by the CBTC.
On 1 January 1907, some of CBTC’s Birmingham routes were taken over by BCT. On 1 January 1912 BCT took over the remainder of the company's routes, ownership of which had just passed from neighbouring local councils to Birmingham Corporation.
Birmingham and District Tramways Company Ltd
BDTC was the tramway company operating in Birmingham from 1872 until 1876.The company was formed by William Busby and Daniel Busby in 1871 as an amalgamation of the Birmingham and Staffordshire Tramways Company Ltd and the Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd.
It built a standard gauge tramway line in 1872 from Hockley Brook
Hockley Brook
Hockley Brook is a brook, or stream, in north Birmingham, England. It rises just outsdie the city, in Smethwick, and runs through the city's Soho, Hockley and Aston districts, to its confluence with the River Tame, beneath Gravelly Hill Interchange. From there, its waters flow, via the Trent, to...
to Dudley Port operated by horse trams. In 1873 the service was extended to the centre of Birmingham over the Birmingham Corporation
Government of Birmingham
Birminghamshown within West MidlandsThis page is about the Government of Birmingham, England.-Civic history:Most of Birmingham was historically a part of Warwickshire, though the modern city also includes villages and towns historically in Staffordshire or Worcestershire.Until the 1760s, Birmingham...
tracks which were leased for £910 over seven years. The Birmingham Corporation tracks had cost £15,000 to build.
In 1874 the tramway between West Bromwich and Dudley Port was abandoned as the company was in financial difficulty.
The company was taken over by the Birmingham Tramways and Omnibus Company Ltd in 1876.
Birmingham Tramways and Omnibus Company Ltd
BTOC operated trams in Birmingham from 1876 until 1886.It took over the business of the Birmingham and District Tramways Company Ltd and restricted the trams to a service between Birmingham and Handsworth, thus discontinuing the service through West Bromwich.
It was taken over by the BCTC in 1886.
Birmingham Central Tramways Company Ltd
The BCTC operated trams in Birmingham from 1884 to 1896.The company was formed in 1882, initially as the Birmingham Suburban Tramways Company but by the time of the opening of its first line, had been renamed the Birmingham Central Tramways Company Ltd.
The initial rolling stock consisted of 10 Falcon horse cars for the Nechells route, 14 Kitson steam tram locos and 13 Falcon trailer cars.
In 1886 they purchased the track of the BTOC, which lay outside the city boundary, and 18 horse cars. At the same time Birmingham Corporation leased the lines within the city to the Company.
Taken over by companies controlled by Scottish-Canadian businessman James Ross
James Ross (Canadian businessman)
James L. Ross , was a Scottish-born Canadian civil engineer and businessman, who developed his fortune in railway construction.-Early life:...
, on 24 March 1888, the horse tram route from Colmore Row to Hockley Brook was converted to cable traction by the Patent Cable Tramway Company, and on the 20 April 1889, the line was extended to Handsworth
Handsworth, West Midlands
Handsworth is an inner city area of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. The Local Government Act 1894 divided the ancient Staffordshire parish of Handsworth into two urban districts: Handsworth and Perry Barr. Handsworth was annexed to the county borough of Birmingham in Warwickshire in 1911...
(New Inns). The service was operated with open-top double-decker cars.
In October 1889 the portion of the acquired tramway along Bristol Road to Bournbrook
Bournbrook
Bournbrook is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb of Bournbrook is bordered by Selly Oak to the west and south, Selly Park to the east, and Edgbaston to the north. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal and the Birmingham Cross-City Railway Line run along the...
was closed for reconstruction. It re-opened on 24 July 1890 and was worked by Nos. 101-112, Falcon battery-electric open-top double-deck cars.
On 29 September 1896 the assets of the BCTC were acquired by the City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd.
The City of Birmingham Tramways Company Ltd
The CBTC operated trams in Birmingham from 1896 until 1911.The company was formed on 29 September 1896 by James Ross and William Mackenzie to take over the business of the BCTC.
In October 1889 it closed the Bristol Road standard gauge horse tramway for conversion to 3 ft 6 in gauge. When it re-opened on 24 July 1890 it was worked with battery electric (accumulator) cars. These were open top bogie double deckers numbered 101 to 112 and they ran until 14 May 1901. From then on the route from the city to Bournbrook
Bournbrook
Bournbrook is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb of Bournbrook is bordered by Selly Oak to the west and south, Selly Park to the east, and Edgbaston to the north. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal and the Birmingham Cross-City Railway Line run along the...
via Bristol Road (later extended to Selly Oak
Selly Oak
Selly Oak is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb is bordered by Bournbrook and Selly Park to the north-east, Edgbaston and Harborne to the north, Weoley Castle and Weoley Hill to the west, and Bournville to the south...
) was operated by electric cars using overhead current supply. Other routes were soon electrified and the company became a British Electric Traction
British Electric Traction
British Electric Traction Company Limited, renamed BET plc in 1985, was a large British industrial conglomerate. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but was acquired by Rentokil in 1996, and the merged company is now known as Rentokil Initial.- Early history :The company was founded as...
subsidiary in 1902.
By June 1902 the CBTC were operating 21 overhead electric trams, 54 cable trams, 89 steam engines, 76 Double Decker steam trams, 10 horse cars, 45 horse buses and 608 horses on tracks mostly constructed and owned by Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
Corporation.
The last routes in Birmingham closed on 31 December 1911. Most of its services were taken over by Birmingham Corporation Tramways
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...
.