Birkenhead Corporation Tramways



Owner Birkenhead Commissioners (the local authority)
Opened 21st November 1864 - tracks at Woodside Ferry connecting with the Birkenhead Street Railway Company Ltd system
Operator (lessee) Birkenhead Street Railway Company Ltd [horse]
Opened 6th September 1873 - tracks at Woodside Ferry connecting with the Hoylake and Birkenhead Rail and Tramway Company's line
Operator (lessee) Hoylake and Birkenhead Rail and Tramway Company [horse]
Taken over (lessee) 1877 (Birkenhead Tramways Company [horse]) - through acquisition of the Birkenhead Street Railway Company
Charter of incorporation 1877 - Birkenhead formally incorporated as a County Borough
Opened 19th January 1878 - tracks at Woodside Ferry connecting with the Wirral Tramway Company's line
Operator (lessee) Wirral Tramway Company [horse]
Taken over (lessee) 12th October 1879 (Birkenhead Tramways Company) - through acquisition of the Hoylake and Birkenhead Rail and Tramway Company's tramway lines
Took over (track) 15th August 1890 (Birkenhead Tramways Company) - lines within Birkenhead; purchased from the liquidator
Operator (lessee) 15th August 1890 (Birkenhead United Tramway, Omnibus and Carriage Company Ltd)
Took over (track) 11th March 1895 (Wirral Tramway Company [horse] - lines within Birkenhead)
Operator (lessee) Wirral Tramway Company
Took over (track) 31st December 1899 (Wirral Tramway Company) - lines outside Birkenhead, within Lower Bebington
Last WTCo horse service 8th May 1900 - services initially replaced with omnibuses pending conversion to electric traction
Taken over (operation) 16th May 1900 (Birkenhead United Tramway, Omnibus and Carriage Company) - lines of the former Wirral Tramway Company, during conversion to electric traction
Lease ended 31st December 1900 (Birkenhead United Tramway, Omnibus and Carriage Company) - operation continuing however, with the agreement of Birkenhead Corporation
Last horse service 8th November 1901
First electric route 4th February 1901
Operator Birkenhead Corporation
Undertaking renamed 1935 (Birkenhead Corporation Transport)
Closed 17th July 1937
Length 13.75 miles
Gauge 4ft 8½ins

Button description Title (‘BIRKENHEAD CORPORATION TRAMWAYS’) within a raised rim, surrounding the municipal arms (a quartered shield) with a lion crest, all above the motto: ‘UBI FIDES IBI LUX ET ROBUR’
Materials known Nickel; black horn
Button Line reference [113/6]

Comment Although the department was renamed 'Birkenhead Corporation Transport' in 1935, it is believed that tramway staff uniforms only ever bore the pattern of button illustrated.