a milk cart with a private no plate.lolRoseberry Street depot had been a tram depot, owned by a private company before the Corporation took them over.
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According to my information BCT had 14 bus garages in various part of the city in the early 1950's.
Acocks Green, Barford Street, Birchfield Road, *Coventry Road (formerly Arthur Street), Harborne, Highgate Road, Hockley, Liverpool Street, Moseley Road, Perry Barr, Quinton, Rosebery Street, Selly Oak, **Washwood Heath and Yardley Wood.
A former Midland Red depot at Tennant Street (1914 - 1939 for saloon buses) remained for their service vehicles until 1954.
A tram depot was at Witton (formerly Aston Manor) which closed after the trams ceased in 1953.
Lea Hall opened in 1955 and Barford Street then, apparently closed. Barford Street had operated the original Nechells 7 trolleybus route.
* Coventry Road also housed trolleybuses until July 1951.
** Washwood Heath housed some trolley buses until 1940
There was a tram depot at Cotteridge and not forgetting the famous 'Lake' known as Kyotts Lake Road.
depots in italics had been tram depots.
E&OE
sounds riskyNechells trolleybuses ran from Washwood Heath depot, running to and from the main route with one pole on the tram power wire and towing a 'skate' in the rails for return current. This skate would bounce along showering sparks everywhere, breaking the WW2 blackout regulations so the route was converted to motorbus operation, becoming the 43. Barford Street garage operated the Inner Circle and possibly the City Circle as well. Missing from your list is Miller Street, the tramway department's original 1904 first depot and Cotteridge, a former CBT company tram depot.
Thanks for Miller Street, Lloyd. I thought I had added it in, especially as was the original tram depot. Cotteridge was listed (as a footnote) but I did not believe it was ever a bus garage. If it was I will add it to the list.Nechells trolleybuses ran from Washwood Heath depot, running to and from the main route with one pole on the tram power wire and towing a 'skate' in the rails for return current. This skate would bounce along showering sparks everywhere, breaking the WW2 blackout regulations so the route was converted to motorbus operation, becoming the 43. Barford Street garage operated the Inner Circle and possibly the City Circle as well. Missing from your list is Miller Street, the tramway department's original 1904 first depot and Cotteridge, a former CBT company tram depot.
Thanks for Miller Street, Lloyd. I thought I had added it in, especially as was the original tram depot. Cotteridge was listed (as a footnote) but I did not believe it was ever a bus garage. If it was I will add it to the list.
sad looking nowBirmingham had a number of garages placed around the city. Some had been tramway depots, but others were new build.
Lea Hall was a new build garage, though not now used for buses.
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The ownership of buses has changed over the years.With the upcoming closure and demolition of Perry Barr Garage and its replacement by a new building plus the future closure of Liverpool Street that will leave Acocks Green and Yardley Wood as the only traditional style garages still operational. These days open yards that cost less in rates have taken over.
Is Quinton bus depot still there? I used to walk past it on my way to Four Dwellings School in the late 50's
Sadly no, a Tesco supermarket occupies the site now.Is Quinton bus depot still there? I used to walk past it on my way to Four Dwellings School in the late 50's
Thanks Lloyd.Sadly no, a Tesco supermarket occupies the site now.
no its a clothing factory now called 7 starsBirmingham had a number of garages placed around the city. Some had been tramway depots, but others were new build.
Lea Hall was a new build garage, though not now used for buses.
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... I sometimes drove past Rosebury St garage (when the morning rush hour traffic was particularly bad) and there was always a line of the Leyland buses which were a mainstay of the Dudley Rd services at that time, at the front of the garage waiting to go out on service. I only wish I had been able to photograph them.