 In 1886 they purchased the track of the BTOC, which lay outside the city boundary, and 18 horse cars.At the same time Birmingham Corporation leased the lines within the city to the Company.Taken over by companies controlled by Scottish-Canadian businessman James Ross, on 24 March 1888, the horse tram route from Colmore Row to Hockley Brook was converted to cable traction by the Patent Cable Tramway Company, and on 20 April 1889, the line was extended to Handsworth (New Inns).