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Birmingham (Five Ways) depot

Five Ways Inn Yard, 148 Broad Street, Birmingham

• Yard of Five Ways Inn used by Birmingham Motor Express Company Limited (BME) from c. late 1903 for garaging and maintenance of motor omnibuses.
• The Directors of Birmingham Motor Express Company Limited (BME) register a new company, Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO), on Saturday 26^th November 1904 in an attempt to attract new capital to extend their motor omnibus operations.
• On Thursday 1^st June 1905 (back-dated), Birmingham Motor Express Company Limited (BME), the Omnibus Department of Birmingham and Midland Tramways Limited (BMT), and the omnibus operations of City of Birmingham Tramways Company Limited (CBT) merged under the control of the newly formed Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO). Services acquired by BMMO continue to be operated by their original companies, as an “agent” of BMMO until a licence to trade is granded to BMMO on Tuesday 15^th August 1905.
• Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Limited (BMMO—Midland “Red” Motor Services) commence horse and motor omnibus operations on Tuesday 15^th August 1905. All motor omnibuses are housed at the Five Ways site, with horse omnibuses at the ex-CBT site on Bearwood Road (Bearwood depot).
• Due to increased demand and limited capacity, motor omnibuses are moved to Bearwood depot from Friday 16^th February 1906, with the Five Ways site being used for maintenance and vehicle overhauls.
• All motor omnibuses are withdrawn from service on Saturday 5^th October 1907, and horse omnibuses take over all services.
• Site closed in September 1908, with all surviving motor omnibuses, spares and plant being sold by pulic auction at the Five Ways site.
• Site leased to a motor cab company from December 1908.
• Five Ways Inn and the former BMMO garages demolished in the 1960s for redevelopment.

The Five Ways Inn was located on the corner of Broad Street and Ladywood Road, and is therefore this site is sometimes known as “Ladywood Road depot”.