City of Birmingham Tramways



Owner Birmingham Central Tramway Company Ltd
Opened 11th November 1884 (horse)
Operator Birmingham Central Tramway Company Ltd
Took over (operation) January 1886 (Birmingham and District Tramways) - lines within the corporation boundary owned by Birmingham Corporation
Took over January 1886 (Birmingham and District Tramways) - lines outside the corporation boundary
Taken over (ownership) 29th September 1896 (City of Birmingham Tramways Co Ltd)
Taken over (ownership) June 1902 (controlling interest gained by British Electric Traction Company Ltd)
Took over (operation) 1904 (Aston Manor UDC lines) - formerley worked by the Birmingham and Aston Tramways
Ownership transferred 1st July 1904 (to the Birmingham and Midland Tramways Joint Committee - another British Electric Traction Company Ltd entity)
Taken over (operation) 1st January 1907 (Birmingham Corportation) - majority of lines following expiry of leases
Taken over (operation) 1st January 1912 (Birmingham Corportation) - remaining lines, following expiry of last leases
Length 36.65 miles
Gauge 3ft 6ins; 4ft 8½ins


Button description Wheel, magnet and electrical flashes
Materials known Brass; chrome; black horn

Button Line reference [113/16]


Comment I have no evidence for what, if any, buttons were worn by tramway staff prior to BET’s takeover (1902). Although there is no firm evidence that staff were issued with the standard BET 'Magnet & Wheel' button after this date, given that BET almost certainly had a common approach to all its subsidiaries (with the exception of its London operations), this would almost seem to be a foregone conclusion.

The history of BET-owned tramways in the Black Country is a complex one. BET essentially started by purchasing shares in Birmingham and Midland Tramways (steam) and then rapidly expanded their influence by gaining control of several other key tramways. On 1st July 1904, BET transferred their shares in these companies to a new BET-owned body called the Birmingham and Midland Tramways Joint Committee (known as the Birmingham and District Power and Traction Co Ltd from 13th August 1912). This committee controlled the following companies:

- Birmingham and Midland Tramways (via the Birmingham and Midland Tramways Co Ltd)
- City of Birmingham Tramways (via the City of Birmingham Tramways Co Ltd)
- Dudley, Stourbridge and District Electric Tramways (via the Dudley, Stourbridge and District Electric Traction Co Ltd)
- Kidderminster and Stourport Electric Tramway (via Kidderminster and District Electric Light and Traction Co Ltd) - from 1917
- Kinver Light Railway (owned by the DSDET)
- South Staffordshire Tramways (via the South Staffordshire Tramways [Lessee] Company Limited)
- Wolverhampton District Electric Tramways (via Wolverhampton District Electric Tramways Ltd)

The B&MTJC worked both in conjunction, as well as in competition with its many local authorities, many of whom had their own ambitions. This was ultimately to cause the downfall of the Committee, with its last lines being handed over to Walsall Corporation in 1930.