Blackburn Corporation Tramways

Blackburn Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Blackburn, Lancashire, England between 1887 and 1949.[1]

Blackburn Corporation Tramways
Operation
LocaleBlackburn
Open28 May 1887
Close3 September 1949
StatusClosed
Infrastructure
Track gauge4'0" (1219 mm)
Propulsion system(s)Horse, steam then electric
Statistics
Route length14.73 miles (23.71 km)

History

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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

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The last service ran on 3 September 1949.

References

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  1. ^ The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
  2. ^ 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.