Liverpool

Rob Jones with the photograph taken at the inauguration of the tramway

The role of Birkenhead in British transport heritage has been marked after 150 years.

The first modern street tramway route in Britain was opened in the town on 30 August 1860.

A Red Wheel plaque, commissioned by The Transport Trust, now marks the first journey on the corner of Price Street and Hamilton Square in Birkenhead.

The original street tram took passengers from Woodside Ferry to Birkenhead Park.

The idea of tramways was brought to the UK from America by Shipping entrepreneur George Francis Train who had seen streetcars operating in New Orleans and New York.

The Red Wheel plaque on Price Street was unveiled on 30 August 2010

"George Francis Train convinced the Chairman of the Town Commissioners John Laird to run a trial in Birkenhead for six months.

That six months proved to be a great success and the trams continued to operate for 77 years until the tramway closed in 1937."

Today a heritage tramway operates in Birkenhead on part of the original 1860 route.

The Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society is a restoration group, established in 1960, who rescue and restore trams from across the North West.

For more information visit the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society website.

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