In 1860, Birkenhead on the Wirral Peninsula, had become the first town in Europe to operate a street tramway.

It was started by George Francis Train, an American, when he laid track from Woodside Ferry to Birkenhead Park Main Entrance and ran a horse drawn car service.

Birkenhead's first livery on trams and buses was maroon and cream with a white roof, but in 1934 Birkenhead's famous blue and cream livery was applied to a new AEC Q-type double-deck bus.

It was the only one of its type operated by the corporation but the blue and cream livery was applied to all future delivered buses with Birkenhead Corporation Motors applied in gold on the lower cream band.

[1] In 1994, the brand and livery were revived by GM Buses when it was engaged in bus war with MTL.