Birmingham Central Tramways Co
of Donington Houser, Norfolk Street, Strand, London
1880s. The company was using steam locomotives to haul trams.
1888 Obtained a prototype battery-powered tram from Elwell-Parker, to run on their existing system whilst avoiding the need for overhead lines. After a successful demonstration, Birmingham Council wanted a one month trial to prove reliability but the company required an order to justify investment in the recharging plant[1]. The protoype continued operating for 10 months.
1890 the Company ordered 12 cars using the Julien-method of laying out the storage accumulators in the car. Electric tramcars started operating on the line in July 1890 [2].
1893 R. H. Dickenson was to have presented a paper on "Steam Traction on Tramways for the last Ten years and its results" at a meeting of the Tramways Institute (but did not have time to prepare it)[3]
1896 The City of Birmingham Tramways Co was registered to take over the properties of the Birmingham Central Tramways Co and to substitute an improved system of traction.