Birmingham City Transport

Birmingham City Transport ceased to exist at midnight 30 September 1969 when it became the largest component of the new West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, which at the same time took over the municipal undertakings of Walsall, West Bromwich and Wolverhampton.

Birmingham also possessed a relatively small fleet of trolleybuses and the design of all except the first series ran parallel to the contemporary motor-buses.

Powers to operate and electrify its own tramways were sought, resulting in the Birmingham Corporation Act 1903.

The Corporation possessed limited powers to operate its own motorbuses under the Birmingham Corporation Act, 1903, but these powers restricted the running of such vehicles to periods during the construction, alteration or repair of tramways, or in prolongation of any tramway route, the extension of which might be contemplated.

The country was soon plunged into the Great War (1914–18), and many operators were faced with the commandeering of their motorbus chassis.

Birmingham City Transport placed a turban ban on all employees in 1960, which led to Sikhs going on strike.

In return, Midland Red services from outside of the city would charge fares above that levied on the Corporation buses to discourage 'local' passengers.

A Bundy Clock used by Birmingham City Transport to ensure that bus drivers did not depart from outlying termini before the due time; now preserved at Walsall Arboretum .
Guide to Birmingham's 'Outer Circle' bus route, issued by the "Birmingham Corporation Tramways & Omnibus Department"
A preserved Daimler Fleetline CRG6LX bought new by Birmingham City Transport
A preserved bus heads along the A38 Bristol Road near the Gun Barrels pub, Birmingham