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{{Short description|Bus operator in Birkenhead}}
{{Wikify|date=August 2007}}{{Refimprove|date=August 2007}}{{Orphan|date=August 2007}}
{{For|the New Zealand bus company|Birkenhead Transport (New Zealand)}}
{{merge|Birkenhead|date=November 2007}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{More citations needed|date=August 2007}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = Birkenhead Transport
|logo =
|logo_size =
|image = Birkenhead_Transport_bus_152_(GCM_152E),_30_September_2011_(2).jpg
|image_size = 280
|image_caption = Preserved Massey bodied [[Leyland Titan (front-engined double-decker)|Leyland Titan]] in September 2011
|company_slogan =
|parent = Corporation of Birkenhead
|founded = 12 July 1919
|ceased = 1 December 1969
|headquarters =
|locale =
|service_area = [[Birkenhead]]
|service_type = Bus operator
|hubs =
|stations =
|depots =
|routes =
|fleet =
|ridership =
|fuel_type =
|operator =
|ceo = }}


In 1860, [[Birkenhead]] on the [[Wirral Peninsula]], [[England]], became 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, Merseyside|Woodside Ferry]] to [[Birkenhead Park|Birkenhead Park Main Entrance]] and ran a horse drawn car service. In August 1901 the Corporation of Birkenhead opened an Electric Tramway, first to [[New Ferry]] and later around the town, it operated until 1937.
'''Birkenhead Transport''' was a bus operator in [[Birkenhead]]. It commenced operating on 12 July 1919 with a service from [[Rock Ferry]] to [[Birkenhead Park railway station|Birkenhead Park station]], this service was extended to [[Moreton, Merseyside|Moreton]] in the August of that year. The buses supplemented an earlier tram service.


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, Merseyside|Woodside Ferry]] to [[Birkenhead Park|Birkenhead Park Main Entrance]] and ran a horse drawn car service. On 4 February 1901, the Corporation of Birkenhead owned [[Birkenhead Corporation Tramways]] commenced operating, first to [[New Ferry]] and later around the town. It closed on 17 July 1937.
Buses started to operate in Birkenhead on [[12 July]] [[1919]] with a service from [[Rock Ferry]] to [[Birkenhead Park railway station]], this service was extended to [[Moreton, Merseyside|Moreton]] in the August of that year. 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 the legend "BIRKENHEAD CORPORATION MOTORS" applied in gold on the lower cream band. In 1951, the Transport Department was reorganised, with the bus and ferry departments merging. A slight livery change gave more cream coverage around the lower deck windows and the legend was changed to read "BIRKENHEAD TRANSPORT". White roofs had been overpainted blue during the war and with this revised livery the white roof was never re-applied.


==Livery==
⚫
During the 1950s and 1960s the average size of the Birkenhead fleet was 225 buses, the last traditional British half cab chassis were delivered to Birkenhead in 1967, 15 in all.
[[File:Woodside_Ferry_terminal,_1966_-_geograph.org.uk_-_657947.jpg|thumb|Birkenhead Transport buses at [[Woodside, Merseyside|Woodside]] Ferry Terminal in September 1966]]
[[File:Birkenhead_%26_District_bus_4166_(HDB_116V),_SELNEC_40_event_(3).jpg|thumb|Preserved [[GM Buses]] Birkenhead & District liveried [[Northern Counties Motor & Engineering Company|Northern Counties]] bodied [[Daimler Fleetline]] in October 2009]]
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.


In 1951, the Transport Department was reorganised, with the bus and ferry departments merging. A slight livery change gave more cream coverage around the lower deck windows and the legend was changed to read ''Birkenhead Transport''. White roofs had been overpainted blue during the war and with this revised livery the white roof was never re-applied. The blue was named Cerulean by the paint makers "Docker Bros of 1935", and the cream was the same as applied to the trams, named Birkenhead Corporation Cream.
⚫
On [[1 December]] [[1969]], the municipal fleets of [[Liverpool]], Birkenhead and [[Wallasey]] came together as a result of the [[1968 Transport Act]], to form the [[Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive]]. This lasted until 1986, when most of Britain's municipal, PTE and national bus companies were privatised, again because of government legislation.


==Fleet==
⚫
==References/further information==
⚫
During the 1950s and 1960s the average size of the Birkenhead fleet was 225 buses, the last traditional British half cab buses delivered to Birkenhead in 1967 were 15 Leyland Titan PD2/37 models with Massey 66 seat bodywork. Massey Brothers bodywork had been frequently selected by the Transport Department since 1931.
⚫
* ''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
* George Francis Train Society
* [http://www.wirraltransportmuseum.org Wirral Transport Museum]
⚫
* [http://www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/fleetlists/birkenhead1.htm]


==Merger==
⚫
On 1 December 1969, the municipal fleets of [[Liverpool]], Birkenhead and [[Wallasey]] came together as a result of the [[Transport Act 1968]], to form the [[Merseytravel|Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive]].<ref>[http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/3rd-october-1969/46/merseyside-pte-order-made Merseyside PTE order made] ''Commercial Motor'' 3 October 1969 page 46</ref>


==Revival==
{{bus-stub}}
In 1994, the brand and livery were revived by [[GM Buses]] when it was engaged in [[Bus deregulation in the United Kingdom#Bus wars|bus war]] with [[MTL (transport company)|MTL]]. It ceased in June 1995.

==See also==
*[[Wirral Transport Museum]]
*[[List of bus operators of the United Kingdom]]

⚫
==References==
{{Reflist}}
⚫
*''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 {{ISBN|090383930X}}
⚫
*''The Birkenhead Bus'' by T.B. Maund. Published by Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey {{ISBN|1899241000}}

==External links==
*[https://www.wirral.gov.uk/leisure-parks-and-events/museums-and-theatres/wirral-transport-museums Wirral Transport Museum]
⚫
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090321141459/http://www.petergould.co.uk/local_transport_history/fleetlists/birkenhead1.htm Birkenhead Corporation Transport]

{{Defunct British Bus Companies}}


[[Category:Birkenhead]]
[[Category:Birkenhead]]
[[Category:Historic transport in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Historic transport in Merseyside]]
[[Category:Former bus operators in England]]
[[Category:Transport in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral]]
[[Category:1919 establishments in England]]
[[Category:1969 disestablishments in England]]
[[Category:Former bus operators in Merseyside]]
[[Category:British companies disestablished in 1969]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1919]]

Latest revision as of 17:57, 29 September 2023

For the New Zealand bus company, see Birkenhead Transport (New Zealand).

Birkenhead Transport
Preserved Massey bodied Leyland Titan in September 2011
ParentCorporation of Birkenhead
Founded12 July 1919
Ceased operation1 December 1969
Service areaBirkenhead
Service typeBus operator

Birkenhead Transport was a bus operator in Birkenhead. It commenced operating on 12 July 1919 with a service from Rock Ferry to Birkenhead Park station, this service was extended to Moreton in the August of that year. The buses supplemented an earlier tram service.

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. On 4 February 1901, the Corporation of Birkenhead owned Birkenhead Corporation Tramways commenced operating, first to New Ferry and later around the town. It closed on 17 July 1937.

Livery

[edit]
Birkenhead Transport buses at Woodside Ferry Terminal in September 1966
Preserved GM Buses Birkenhead & District liveried Northern Counties bodied Daimler Fleetline in October 2009

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.

In 1951, the Transport Department was reorganised, with the bus and ferry departments merging. A slight livery change gave more cream coverage around the lower deck windows and the legend was changed to read Birkenhead Transport. White roofs had been overpainted blue during the war and with this revised livery the white roof was never re-applied. The blue was named Cerulean by the paint makers "Docker Bros of 1935", and the cream was the same as applied to the trams, named Birkenhead Corporation Cream.

Fleet

[edit]

During the 1950s and 1960s the average size of the Birkenhead fleet was 225 buses, the last traditional British half cab buses delivered to Birkenhead in 1967 were 15 Leyland Titan PD2/37 models with Massey 66 seat bodywork. Massey Brothers bodywork had been frequently selected by the Transport Department since 1931.

Merger

[edit]

On 1 December 1969, the municipal fleets of Liverpool, Birkenhead and Wallasey came together as a result of the Transport Act 1968, to form the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive.[1]

Revival

[edit]

In 1994, the brand and livery were revived by GM Buses when it was engaged in bus war with MTL. It ceased in June 1995.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Merseyside PTE order made Commercial Motor 3 October 1969 page 46
  • 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 ISBN 090383930X
  • The Birkenhead Bus by T.B. Maund. Published by Ian & Marilyn Boumphrey ISBN 1899241000
[edit]
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