Blackburn Corporation Tramways
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| Blackburn Corporation Tramways | |
|---|---|
| Operation | |
| Locale | Blackburn |
| Open | 28 May 1887 |
| Close | 3 September 1949 |
| Status | Closed |
| Infrastructure | |
| Track gauge | 4'0" (1219 mm) |
| Propulsion system(s) | Horse, steam then electric |
| Statistics | |
| Route length | 14.73 miles (23.71 km) |
Blackburn Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Blackburn, Lancashire, England between 1887 and 1949.[1]
History
[edit]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 £98,000 in 2023[2]) 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 £10.9 million in 2023[2]), 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.
The company had a through running arrangement with the cars of the Darwen Corporation Tramways system.
Closure
[edit]The last service ran on 3 September 1949.
References
[edit]- ^ The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
- ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.