Birkenhead Street Railway Company Ltd / Birkenhead Tramways
Owner Birkenhead Street Railway Company Ltd
Opened 30th August 1860 (horse)
Operator Birkenhead Street Railway Company Ltd
Taken over (lease) 1862 to 1876 (operated by a series of lessees, as well as the BSRCL itself)
Taken over (track and operation) 1877 (Birkenhead Tramways Company)
Took over 12th October 1879 (Hoylake and Birkenhead Tramways [horse])
Taken over (track) 15th August 1890 (Birkenhead Corporation)
Taken over (lease) 15th August 1890 (Birkenhead United Tramway, Omnibus and Carriage Co Ltd - also purchased cars)
Closed for electrification 24th January 1900 (Birkenhead Corporation Tramways)
Length 10.64 miles
Gauge 4ft 8½/5ft 2ins
Button description Title (‘Birkenhead Street Railway Company Ltd’) in upper case lettering surrounding an american-style street railway car pulled by two horses)
Materials known Brass
Button Line reference [None]
Comment The Birkenhead Street Railway holds a unique place in tramway history, being the first true street tramway in the British Isles. It was promoted by the American entrepreneur George Francis Train, who quickly moved on to open three similar lines in London: the Marble Arch Street Rail Company, the Westminster Street Rail Company, and the Surrey Side Street Rail Company. All three however, met significant opposition and were soon closed.
Currently, I am not aware of the existence of buttons from either the Birkenhead Tramways Company or the Birkenhead United Tramway, Omnibus and Carriage Co Ltd, and it is entirely possible that the two companies never issued any (at least marked patterns).