Blackburn Corporation Tramways
Tramway operator in England
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blackburn Corporation Tramways operated a tramway service in Blackburn, Lancashire, England between 1887 and 1949.[1]
| 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) |
History
| Blackburn Corporation Tramways Act 1887 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act to extend the time for construction of Tramways authorised by the Blackburn Improvement Act 1882 and for other purposes. |
| Citation | 50 & 51 Vict. c. xlvi |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 23 May 1887 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | County of Lancashire Act 1984 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Blackburn Corporation Tramways Company, Limited, was established in 1886 by Cosh & Cramp, a partnership of a London-based tramway contractor and engineer, Charles Courtney Cramp and Richard Lawrence Cosh. It was set up to operate the tramway on behalf of Blackburn Corporation.
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 £80,000 in 2025[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 £8.7 million in 2025[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
The last service ran on 3 September 1949.