Lloyd
master brummie
Thank you all for pursuing this line of investigation. From the BNA I had read the plans for tramways along Heathfield Road and Barker Street, but had never read evidence that they existed. Now I know why; they never did. I bought an online ordinance survey map for 1888. Thumbnail below. It confirms all that you kind people have told me.
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https://midland-ancestors.shop/BH-LXVIII.16.25?search=BH-LXVIII.16.25
The sharp sepia one shows how the electric trams looked. These photos were very kindly emailed to me by Professor Carl Chinn - a Villa fan.
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The sepia photo shows the electric tram terminus at the Villa Cross - the overhead power wires have double insulators just past the span, and the conductor can be seen upstairs resetting the pole on the wire. In the foreground can be seen the end of the horse tram lines from Soho Road - a short spur remaining that was soon electrified.