Birkenhead Transport
| Company type | Municipal bus operator |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Founded | July 12, 1919 |
| Defunct | December 1, 1969 |
| Headquarters | Birkenhead , England |
Area served | Birkenhead, Merseyside |
| Products | Bus services |
Birkenhead Transport operated bus services in Birkenhead starting from 12 July 1919, initially running a route between Rock Ferry and Birkenhead Park station. This line was extended to Moreton the following month. These bus services complemented an existing tram network.
The town of Birkenhead was a trailblazer in European street tramways, beginning in 1860 when American George Francis Train launched horse-drawn tramcars running from Woodside Ferry to the main entrance of Birkenhead Park. Tram operations were taken over by the Corporation of Birkenhead on 4 February 1901 under the name Birkenhead Corporation Tramways. The network expanded over time but ceased operations on 17 July 1937.
Livery
At the outset, both trams and buses in Birkenhead sported a maroon and cream color scheme with white-painted roofs. In 1934, the corporation unveiled a unique blue and cream livery on its new AEC Q-type double-deck bus—the sole example of this model in their fleet—with the inscription Birkenhead Corporation Motors in gold lettering positioned on the lower cream band. This blue and cream design subsequently became the standard for all newer buses.
Following the consolidation of bus and ferry services into a single Transport Department in 1951, the livery was modified to feature increased cream areas around the lower deck windows and updated branding to Birkenhead Transport. The white roofs, which had been painted over during World War II, were replaced with a blue shade called Cerulean by Docker Bros, while the cream tone was matched to the original tram color known as Birkenhead Corporation Cream.
Fleet
During the 1950s and 1960s, Birkenhead maintained an average fleet size of approximately 225 buses. The final batch of traditional British half-cab buses acquired in 1967 consisted of fifteen Leyland Titan PD2/37 vehicles fitted with Massey 66-seat bodies—a body style frequently selected by the Transport Department since 1931.
Merger
On 1 December 1969, the municipal bus fleets of Liverpool, Birkenhead, and Wallasey were combined under provisions of the Transport Act 1968, resulting in the creation of the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive.
Revival
The Birkenhead brand and its livery saw a brief resurgence in 1994 when GM Buses adopted them during a competitive period against MTL. This revival lasted until June 1995 when operations ceased.
See also
References
- Local Transport in Birkenhead and District by T.B. Maund A.M Inst.Transport. An Omnibus Society Publication.
- Birkenhead Buses by Tom Turner. Published by Wallasey Tramcar Preservation Society
- The Birkenhead Bus by T.B. Maund. Published by Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey