That is a broad map...………..did not realize the scope!
Radiorails………...Thank you for this information!Before the city ran its own tramway system many private concerns had operated in Birmingham and the Black Country. The Smethwick, Oldbury and Dudley routes became under city operation I believe in 1928. These lines ceased in 1939 replaced by BCT and B&MMO buses.
Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Great Bridge and Dudley were initially, 1909, extended by agreement with Handsworth council but in 1911 Handsworth as incorporated into Birmingham making it now a legal basis. In 1924, at the request of West Bromwich, BCT took over most of their system. Ceasing in 1939 and replaced by buses, BCT and West Bromwich.
West Bromwich, being a neighbour of Walsall wanted trolley buses but Birmingham had other ideas as diesel buses were the thinking of BCT then and in future. The South Staffordshire Tramways were involved in routes and those in the Black Country.
This is only skimming the surface of a very involved tramway network. There are posts in the early Forum days which might interest.
You can reverse a photo but any writing is also reversed which has not happened on the tram advert, regards, John.The puzzling thing here is that the tram shelters are very similar to the ones In Lickey Road. Most tram stops on the route, as far as I can see and remember did not have shelters. The Norton photo does show a hill and whilst the photo crops up a few places, if there is only one master copy, and that was reversed by mistake, then things might fit in place a little better?
I have had a very tiring day, including shopping, so I am closing down now. Maybe an answer will be here next time I look in.
And the motorcycle & sidecar or as we called them chairs!Tram 753 nears the Rednal terminus on a sunny afternoon in the early 1950s. Children chat on the front upstairs bench seat. Multi-bar telegraph poles still in use in the 1950s.
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So this must have been taken at the very top of Lickey road just before the terminus when the dual carriage way ended, this is the steepest part of the road and if you look to the right of the motor cycle combo unit the grass is Cofton Park behind the fence.Tram 753 nears the Rednal terminus on a sunny afternoon in the early 1950s. Children chat on the front upstairs bench seat. Multi-bar telegraph poles still in use in the 1950s.
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The bus if parked on the wrong side of the street in the first pic and I have no idea why it would be parked on the street as the terminus was huge with lots of parking ?Tram and bus crews chat by the Bundy clock in this picture of Rednal on a sunny day in 1952. Trams are being replaced by buses so maybe they were talking about the changes. Trips to the Lickey Hills for kids will never quite be the same on buses ...
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And these days but it wasn't a sunny day ...
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The link below opens Streetview ... have a scroll look around, they left a small length of old tram track.
You sir are correct in the direction of travel, the bus is parked in front of the cottages as they where known, having thought about why the bus was parked there your explanation makes a lot of sense, as to park any where else would have blocked the railsThe tram and bus appear to be facing the town direction. I have the impression that the bus is on driver training. All tram drivers, who wished to become bus drivers, did need training and licensing. Tram 535, a 1913/14 date lasted until the closures (1952/3). I guess it was a weekday as there are few passengers around.
As I recall the tram would create a traffic mess depending upon the time of day...Sometimes they could be fixed in place others they were towed. Not sure about the trolley bus.So what would happen when a tram either broke down or got involved in a accident could not continue ?, How did the guys clear the lines and return the tram to the garage.
Along the same lines did they tow the a trolley bus when they needed service ?.
I bet kids would stand around and watch with great delight and interest in the event of a major problem .As I recall the tram would create a traffic mess depending upon the time of day...Sometimes they could be fixed in place others they were towed. Not sure about the trolley bus.
Regarding some previous discussion about having to board trams in the middle of the road and traffic passing on the nearside, another pic of a No 6 tram at the Perry Barr terminus and a lorry passing it. Those Midland Red buses will soon have pass.
There was a major power failure on 20th March 1951 as mentioned on Robert Darlaston's website see link below. Need to scroll down it to see a Birmingham Mail report.I bet kids would stand around and watch with great delight and interest in the event of a major problem .