Birmingham and Midland Tramways / Birmingham and Midland Tramways Joint Committee



Owner Birmingham and Western Districts Tramways Co Ltd (constructor)
Opened 6th July 1885 (steam)
Operator Birmingham and Midland Tramways Ltd
Taken over August 1899 (British Electric Traction Company Ltd)
Taken over (ownership) 1902 (West Bromwich Corporation) - all track within municipal boundary; subsequently leased back for a period of 21 years
Taken over (ownership) 1902 (Oldbury UDC) - lines within municipal boundary; leased back for 35 years
Taken over (ownership) 1903 (Smethwick UDC) - lines within municipal boundary; leased back for 21 years
First electric route November 1903 (worked by cars of the BET-owned South Staffordshire Tramways [Lessee] Company Limited)
Took over 1st July 1904 (City of Birmingham Tramways Co Ltd; Dudley, Stourbridge and District Electric Traction Co Ltd; Kinver Light Railway; South Staffordshire Tramways [Lessee] Company Limited; Wolverhampton District Electric Tramways Ltd) all administered as the Birmingham and Midland Tramways Joint Committee
Name changed 13th August 1912 (to the Birmingham and District Power and Traction Co Ltd)
Took over 1917 (Kidderminster and District Electric Light and Traction Co Ltd)
Name changed 1929 (to the Birmingham and District Investments Trusts Ltd)
Ceased operation 1st October 1930 (on handover of the Darlaston and Wednesbury lines of the SST to Walsall Corporation)
Ceased ownership 1939 (on closure of the Birmingham to Dudley line, leased to Birmingham Corporation since 1928)
Length 12.87 miles (B&MT)
Gauge 3ft 6ins


Button description Wheel, magnet and electrical flashes
Materials known Brass; chrome; black horn
Button Line reference [113/16]


Comment Currently I have no firm evidence that staff were issued with the standard BET 'Magnet & Wheel' button; however, 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 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. Details of the numerous leases, transfers and closures associated with the B&MTJC, as well as total mileages, can be found in the entries for the individual constituent companies.