Birmingham Corporation Tramways
| Birmingham Corporation Tramways | |
|---|---|
Birmingham Corporation Tram in 1953, shortly before the service was scrapped. | |
| Operation | |
| Locale | Birmingham |
| Open | 4 January 1904 |
| Close | 4 July 1953 |
| Status | Closed |
| Infrastructure | |
| Track gauge | 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) |
| Propulsion system(s) | Electric |
| Electrification | (600 V DC) |
| Statistics | |
| Route length | 80.5 miles (129.6 km) |
Birmingham Corporation Tramways operated a network of tramways in Birmingham from 1904 until 1953. It was the largest narrow-gauge tramway network in the UK, and was built to a gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm). It was the fourth largest tramway network in the UK behind London, Glasgow and Manchester.
There were a total of 843 trams (with a maximum of 825 in service at any one time), 20 depots, 45 main routes and a total route length of 80+1⁄2 miles (129.6 km).
Birmingham Corporation built all the tramways and leased the track to various companies.
Birmingham was a pioneer in the development of reserved trackways which served the suburban areas as the city grew in the 1920s and 1930s.