Blackpool Electric Tramway Company

The Blackpool Electric Tramway opened in 1885, it was the first electric tramway in Britain and one of the first in the world [1]. After successful tests on a short length of track in Manchester [2] the company was granted a seven year concession by the Blackpool Corporation and began operating along the promenade between Cocker Street and Station Road, the trams taking current from a central channel conduit. The conduit was rather wide and prone to fouling by sand, sea water and especially children's hoops! On occasion the tramway had to resort to horse power but was a financial success. In 1893 the Corporation took over the company and it's line (relations between the company and the Corporation always being rather fraught) and the line became part of the Corporation's highly successful tramway system which survives to this day.

Information
Number built:	10
Built:	1884-5
Builder:	Lancaster Railway Carriage & Wagon Company
Motor:	Elwell Parker electric motor (250v DC conduit later OHLE)
Power:	7 hp (5kW)

Ten tram cars were built for the tramway, six were "Winter" cars with enclosed lower decks though were used all year. The surviving tram, number 4 which is now at Crich Tramway Museum, was one of these. As built it was fitted for conduit current pickup and had a single Elwell Parker electric motor with chain drive to the axles. The tram was very similar to horse tram cars, it didn't have a truck but axles carried in trunnions bolted to the sills [3].

Later it was fitted with a truck and a pair of more powerful GEC GE52 motors. It was given a trolley for current collection from overhead wires which is the method the Corporation standardised on. Number 4's passenger service life was fairly short, it was converted to a works car in 1899 and continued in this role until the 1930s when it was placed in storage. It was preserved and restored to running condition in the 1960s.

It has now been restored back to close to it's original condition and can be run using a battery powered motor.

Number 4 at Crich

The tram had an open top-deck

Front view

[1] Charles Klapper, The Golden Age of Tramways (David & Charles, 1974) p. 61
[2] R.W. Rush, British Electric Tramcar Design (Oxford Publishing, 1976) p. 12
[3] Ibid. p. 13