Trolleybuses in Birmingham

The Birmingham trolleybus system once served the city of Birmingham, in the West Midlands region of England. Opened on 27 November 1922 (1922-11-27),[1][2] it supplemented Birmingham's original tramway network.

Birmingham trolleybus system
Operation
LocaleBirmingham, West Midlands, England
Open27 November 1922 (1922-11-27)
Close30 June 1951 (1951-06-30)
StatusClosed
Routes5
Operator(s)Birmingham Corporation Tramways
(to 1927)
Birmingham Corporation Tramway and Omnibus Department
(1927–1937)
Birmingham City Transport
(1937–1951)
Infrastructure
Stock78 (maximum)

By the standards of the various now-defunct trolleybus systems in the United Kingdom, the Birmingham system was a medium-sized one, even though Birmingham was then, and still is, the most populous British city outside London. With a total of only five routes, and a maximum fleet of 78 trolleybuses, it was closed relatively early, on 30 June 1951 (1951-06-30).[1][2]

None of the former Birmingham trolleybuses is recorded as having survived.[3]


See also edit

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b Joyce, J.; King, J. S.; and Newman, A. G. (1986). British Trolleybus Systems, pp. 26–28, 159. London: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 0-7110-1647-X.
  2. ^ a b Short, Peter. "Former UK systems". British Trolleybus Society website. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  3. ^ Zebedee, John (30 November 2010). "A List of Preserved Trolleybuses in the UK". British Trolleybus Society website. Retrieved 29 March 2011.

Further reading edit

  • Collins, Paul (1999). Birmingham Corporation Transport, 1904-39. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2627-0.
  • Collins, Paul (1999). Birmingham Corporation Transport, 1939-69. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-2656-4.
  • Harvey, David (2005). Birmingham: In the Age of the Trolleybus. Kettering, Northamptonshire, UK: Silver Link. ISBN 978-1-85794-202-6.
  • Harvey, David (2007). Birmingham Trolleybuses. Midhurst, West Sussex, UK: Middleton Press. ISBN 978-1-906008-19-2.
  • Hitches, Mike (1999). Birmingham Transport (Sutton's Photographic History of Transport). Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Sutton Publishing. ISBN 0-7509-1670-2.
  • Mayou, Archie (1982). Birmingham Corporation Trams and Trolleybuses. Glossop, Derbyshire, UK: Senior Publications. ISBN 0-903839-83-0.
  • Turner, Keith (1998). Birmingham Transport (Archive Photographs: Images of England). Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK: Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-7524-1554-9.
  • York, F W (1971). The Trolleybuses of Birmingham. Reading, Berkshire, UK: British Trolleybus Society. ISBN 0-901792-01-2.

External links edit