Status Closed Open 28 May 1887 Locale Blackburn | Route length 14.73 miles (23.71 km) Close 3 September 1949 | |
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ⁄2 in) Propulsion system(s) Horse, steam then electric | ||
Blackburn Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Blackburn, Lancashire, England between 1887 and 1949.
Contents
History
Blackburn Corporation Tramways Company was established in 1886 by Cosh & Cramp, a partnership of a London-based tramway contractor and engineer, Charles Courtney Cramp and Richard Lawrence Cosh.
Blackburn Corporation operated a tramway from 28 May 1887. There were two routes operated by steam power, and two by horse-drawn trams. Fourteen steam engines were obtained from Thomas Green & Son at a cost of £700 (equivalent to £70,200 in 2015) each.
In 1888, Robert Walter Cramp, brother of Charles Courtney Cramp, was appointed manager.
On 24 August 1898, Blackburn Corporation purchased the Company for £77,210 (equivalent to £7,756,553 in 2015), and undertook a programme of modernisation and electrification. The power station was at the junction of Bridge Street, and Jubilee Street.
The company acquired 48 tramcars from G.F. Milnes & Co. and 12 from United Electric Car Company which were decorated in an Olive Green and Ivory livery.
Through running arrangements were agreed with the cars of the Darwen Corporation Tramways system.
Closure
The last service ran on 3 September 1949.