The routes have been listed in service number order. The "A" services have been included with the main services (e.g. Service 5A with Service 5, Service 8A with Service 8, etc). Each route has been divided into the following sub-sections, as described below.
The 1962 Route
This is the definitive route listed in the Summer 1962 timetable. It includes the names of all the roads along which the service normally travelled, in order of travel. Some road names have been added because roads along which the buses travelled, but which had no bus stop, may not have been included in the official route description. For example, to reach Belvedere Road from Dalton Road, buses would have had to travel a few yards along Broadway, but Broadway is not included in the route description in 1962 timetable. An attempt has been made to identify the location of the terminus stops and the means of turn-round (e.g. reversing), although it is feared that much of this information may have been lost. The terminus details are classified as known, usually from recollection, or presumed, usually from map layouts. In 1962, certain sections of the City Centre became one-way. The route description is that listed in the timetable and may or may not include any route modifications resulting from the introduction of the one-way systems.
Fare Stages
In October 1961 a revised Fare Stage structure was introduced based on mileage. The original proposal would have led to a significant increase in the end-to-end fares on all routes. For example, the maximum fare on Service 19 to Berkswell would have risen from 1/- to 1/10d. Revised fares, accepted by the West Midland Traffic Commissioners, reduced this to 1/1d. Although end-to-end fares were kept in check, the fares for many shorter journeys increased simply because the number of fare stages was increased. The intention here is to represent the bus routes during the 1950s, so the Fare Stages quoted for each route are those prior to the 1961 revision, although those in operation in 1962 have also been included for completeness. The Fare Stages shown are the intermediate Fare Stages between the termini. The pre-1961 Fare Stages are those defined in the 1957 Fare Table, while the 1962 Fare Stages are those defined in the 1962 Fare Table.
Service Frequency
This is as defined in the 1962 timetable. The frequencies are listed as follows:
In the early mornings before weekday peak period or the commencement of regular Saturday timings, a reduced service operated. Also, on weekdays, the service either side of the peak period was variable.
History of the Route
This is the history of all services on the physical route. Some routes were served by different service numbers over the time period, including tram services. Where bus services pre-date 1926, the pre-1926 history is included. A few routes were extended beyond the 1962 terminus in the years immediately following 1962. Where this occurred, the extensions have been described.
History of the Service Number
Some service numbers were used on different routes, which changed over time. Some services were withdrawn from earlier routes and reintroduced on the 1962 route at a later date. This subsection has been included for service numbers where such changes occurred and the details are recorded here.
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