Birmingham Central Routes (History)

[Liverpool Street]

I thought Liverpool Street was opened 1907 with the tramways etc? (Even I'm not that old to remember that far back haha)

[busfan2847]

I thought Liverpool Street was opened 1907 with the tramways etc? (Even I'm not that old to remember that far back haha)

No, Coventry Rd opened on 24th Nov 1906 as a tram depot, later trolleybus and then bus only from Jul 1951, closed Oct 1985. Liverpool St was built as a bus garage only, in September 1936.

Other Birmingham City Transport Tram depots that were later converted for buses are:

Birchfield Rd, Perry Barr opened May 1907 as a tram depot until Oct 1924, then used as a bus depot off and on until final closure in Aug 1966.
Bournbrook, Dawlish Rd rented from CBT from Jul 1911, purchased Jan 1912, buses and trams from Jul 1913 until Jul 1927 when Selly Oak opened
Cotteridge acquired from Kings Norton & Northfield UDC Jul 1911, Buses from Jul 1952, closed 25th Oct 1986
Highgate Rd, Sparkbrook opened Nov 1913, buses only Jun 1937, closed Jul 1962
Hockley taken over from Handsworth UDC (cable cars) closed Jul 1911, reopened Jun 1912 for trams, buses only from Apr 1939, closed May 2005
Miller St opened Jan 1904, buses from Jul 1953, closed May 1986 (then opened again Oct 1986, closed finally Feb 2001)
Moseley Rd opened Jan 1907, buses only Oct 1949, closed Mar 1972, reopened when MROC routes taken over in Dec 1973 finally closing Nov 1975
Rosebery St, Spring Hill opened Apr 1906, buses only Aug 1947, closed Jun 1968
Selly Oak opened Jul 1927, buses only from Jul 1952, closed Aug 1986
Washwood Heath opened May 1907, buses only Oct 1950, closed Aug 1998

Birmingham City Transport depots that were buses only (never tram or trolleybus) are
Tennant St, Five Ways opened by Midland Red 1912, acquired from Midland Red Oct 1914, closed Oct 1926 > Harborne, reopened Aug 1930, closed Oct 1939 (used for ambulances during war and then BCT cars and vans unril 1954)
Barford St, Deritend converted from a factory Jun 1925, closed Apr 1955 when Lea Hall opened.
Harborne opened Oct 1926 (1st purpose built garage for BCT), closed Feb-1986
Acocks Green opened Jun 1928, STILL OPEN
Perry Barr opened Feb 1932, STILL OPEN
Liverpool St opened Sep 1936, STILL OPEN
Yardley Wood opened Nov 1938, STILL OPEN
Quinton opened Oct 1949, closed Jun 1997
Lea Hall opened Apr 1955, closed Jul 2010

When WMPTE took over from BCT in Oct 1969 buses operated from 14 garages. This was reduced to 8 by the time WMT took over in Oct 1986 (although 9 if we include Miller St reopening). There are now 4 with one additional new garage at Bordesley (like BCTs first garage a converted factory unit).

[Liverpool Street]

Thank you busfan2847. Your knowledge is incredible. Is all that off your own bat or copy and pasted from Wikipedia?

[busfan2847]

Thank you busfan2847. Your knowledge is incredible. Is all that off your own bat or copy and pasted from Wikipedia?

Most of it from research of old books (Birmingham Corporation Transport and Birmingham Corporation Tramways). Dates after 1969 from my own records. No Wikipedia and not there personally either!

I have been interested in public transport since 1970 and still keep up to date through this great website and forum despite now living in Chicago.

[Liverpool Street]

Thank you busfan2847. Your knowledge is incredible. Is all that off your own bat or copy and pasted from Wikipedia?

Most of it from research of old books (Birmingham Corporation Transport and Birmingham Corporation Tramways). Dates after 1969 from my own records. No Wikipedia and not there personally either!

I have been interested in public transport since 1970 and still keep up to date through this great website and forum despite now living in Chicago.

Well thank you for the time you've given to us! I don't know about you, but I'd say Birmingham has the most interesting history of public transport; better then London - too much time has been given to the capital.

Manchester PTE holds a small interest to me, but then pre-86 anything does!

Hows the buses in Chicago? Just "Transit Buses" (those dreadful CTA things with massive front bumpers?)

[busfan2847]

Well thank you for the time you've given to us! I don't know about you, but I'd say Birmingham has the most interesting history of public transport; better then London - too much time has been given to the capital.

Manchester PTE holds a small interest to me, but then pre-86 anything does!

Hows the buses in Chicago? Just "Transit Buses" (those dreadful CTA things with massive front bumpers?)

I agree. It was certainly interesting seeing the municipal fleets merge into WMPTE although from 1979-1986, when nearly all pre WMPTE buses were withdrawn, there was very little variety in the fleet. That changed after 1986 with other operators coming into the area!

In Chicago at present cta only operates three different type of vehicles plus some small buses (30'). The latest 40' bus renewal resulted in 1050 of essentially the same bus entering the fleet over 3-4 years (20 are hybrid). Not much variety, only one publicly owned operator! We also have a Midland Red equivalent which operates outside of Chicago in the suburbs (Pace), a little more variety but services can get very sparse! Having grown up 1/8 mile from the 50, currently the closest bus route to were I live is 2.5m and only operates Monday to Friday daytime (~hourly). I do work in Chicago however using Metra (Metropolitan Rail) and cta to commute.

[Ex pensnett driver]

Wasnt there a depot at elliot rd selly oak for a while I think the 49 operated from there

[busfan2847]

Wasnt there a depot at elliot rd selly oak for a while I think the 49 operated from there

Yes, from Feb 2001 to Sep-2002. Volvo B6 516-23/6/7/31-3/8/55/94/5, 606/21-6 and Solos 284-8, 306 allocated there although they officially remained at BC as ER was a sub-depot.

[winston]

Wasnt there a depot at elliot rd selly oak for a while I think the 49 operated from there

Yes located at the former Pattersons yard, the 44 & 636 were operated from there, wasn't the SWL operated from there as well with Lynx?

[Tony]

Wasnt there a depot at elliot rd selly oak for a while I think the 49 operated from there

Yes located at the former Pattersons yard, the 44 & 636 were operated from there, wasn't the SWL operated from there as well with Lynx?

Wasn't the 'former' Pattersons yard at the time TWM were there, they rented the space and shared it with Pattersons

[winston]

Wasnt there a depot at elliot rd selly oak for a while I think the 49 operated from there

Yes located at the former Pattersons yard, the 44 & 636 were operated from there, wasn't the SWL operated from there as well with Lynx?

Wasn't the 'former' Pattersons yard at the time TWM were there, they rented the space and shared it with Pattersons

I loose track.... did TWM acquire any bus work off Pattersons then? as they had a coach/accessible transport side as well didn't they?

[Mike K]

Wasnt there a depot at elliot rd selly oak for a while I think the 49 operated from there

Yes located at the former Pattersons yard, the 44 & 636 were operated from there, wasn't the SWL operated from there as well with Lynx?

Yes and the 921 for a time, also using branded Lynxs.