COUNTY BOROUGH OF BLACKPOOL

29th September, 1885

75 Years

of

Electric Street Tramway Operation

29th September, 1960

The Worshipful The Mayor ALDERMAN T. B. FAIRCLOUGH, J.P.

Left: Alderman E. E. Wynne Chairman, Transport Committee

Right: Councillor A. Sager Vice-Chairman Transport Committee

Transport Committee 1960/61

Seated Left to Right: Councillor W. Percival, Councillor A Sager, Alderman E. E. Wynne, Alderman R Brierley, Councillor L. F. Sharpe

Standing Left to Right: Councillors H. S .A. Ward, R. H. Phayre, S. W. Liggins, G. E. Bagueley, E. Bibby, A. Wood, L. Greenwood, W. V. Robinson, W. Briggs, J. J. Harrison, R. A. East.

Mr. J. C. Franklin, M.Inst.T. Transport General Manager

A BRIEF HISTORY

The first tramway in Blackpool was opened in September, 1885, and consisted of a line running for about two miles on the Promenade. It is worthy of note that this was the FIRST ELECTRIC TRAMWAY SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY.

Car No. 1

The conduit system of electric operation was used and ten 4-wheel double-deck open top cars numbered 1-10 were operated, followed by four additional double-deck open top cars numbered 11-14. The Corporation took over operation of the line in 1892 and in 1898-99 conversion of the conduit to overhead system took place. Twelve new double-deck bogie cars numbered 15-26 operated on the Promenade between 1899 and 1934, these being of unusual design. At each end of the cars were double staircases leading straight up from the track and these cars were later known as “Dreadnoughts.”

The Promenade track was extended to Gynn Square in 1900, and at this point it met but did not connect with the Blackpool North Station to Fleetwood track which was operated by the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad Company, who commenced operating in 1898 as a private company until taken over by Blackpool Corporation in 1920.

Between 1901 and 1903, thirty-five new double-deck trams numbered 27-61 were added to the fleet, of these 15 were 4-wheel open top, 12 were bogie open top, and eight were “Dreadnoughts.”

Between 1911 and 1912, seven new double-deck, top covered trams numbered 62-68 were added to the fleet.

Fleetwood open “Toast Rack” Car

“Dreadnought” car

Between 1911 and 1914, twenty-four open single-deck “Toast Rack” cars numbered 69-92 were introduced on the Promenade and on “CIRCULAR TOURS” via Marton. The Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad was acquired by the Corporation under the Blackpool Improvement Act of 1919, and the 41 single-deck cars taken over were repainted and renumbered 101:141.

The Blackpool to Fleetwood route from North Station is about 8 miles in length, of which about 6½ miles is reserved track. The Blackpool to Fleetwood route from Starr Gate along the Promenade is about 11.15 miles in length, has a roundabout at each end, and additional roundabouts at Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham.

In 1921, Blackpool had seven tram routes, namely: Promenade, Fleetwood, Lytham Road, Layton, Talbot Square to Central Station via Marton, Talbot Square to Royal Oak via Marton, and Central Station to Royal Oak via Central Drive, the two latter routes being extended during the holiday season to South Pier via Lytham Road and Station Road.

Between 1923 and 1927, thirty-two new double-deck top covered “STANDARD” Bogie cars were added to the fleet.

In 1927, six more “Toast Racks” were built, similar to the originals. In 1928, ten new single-deck “PANTOGRAPH” cars were purchased for use on the Fleetwood route, but the “pantographs” were not a success and were soon replaced by the normal trolley booms.

In 1936, Central Drive and Layton Routes were discontinued and replaced by bus services.

Fleetwood Box Car

From 1933 to 1934, twenty five streamlined luxury rail coaches were introduced with seating capacity of 48, and central entrances, followed by 12 new open single-deck “boat” cars, Nos. 225-236, which replaced some of the older “Toast Racks”.

In 1934, there appeared a 94-seater, open top, double-decker with central entrance and two staircases, of which type 13 cars, Nos. 237-249 were eventually built.

In 1935, fourteen super enclosed double-deckers were delivered, and 20 single-deck rail coaches, followed in 1937 by 20 more single-deck rail coaches with air operated sliding doors.

In 1937 twelve single-deck rail coaches were delivered with the upper half of the side windows permanently open, primarily for use during the summer season only.

“Standard” Type Double Decker

In 1941 the 13 open top super double-deckers were converted to top covered cars similar to the 14 delivered in 1935.

In 1942 the 12 single-deck rail coaches with open side windows were converted to enclosed type, as the standard type rail coaches.

In 1944 the Promenade track was renewed between Cocker Street and Gynn Square, the clearway being widened at the same time to accommodate tramcars of a maximum width of 8 ft. 0 in.

Since 1944 the whole of the track clearway between Blackpool and Fleetwood has been widened for 8 ft. 0 in. wide cars.

During the 1939-45 war, a third track was provided at Talbot Square, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Thornton Gate, and Rossall, in order to improve the turning back of service cars, and the loop line at Rossall was built primarily for troops using the rifle ranges.

In 1946 two pairs of new Maley and Taunton bogies were acquired. They were inside framed 6 ft. wheelbase bogies, similar to those used on American P.C.C. cards. For comparison, one pair had resilient wheel and spiral bevel gear drive, and the other had conventional steel wheels and worm gear drive, but otherwise the two sets were identical. A streamlined single-deck tram car No. 303 was fitted with the pair of bogies with resilient wheels. In 1952-53, twenty-five single deck trams 50 feet long and 8 feet wide were introduced, each seating 56 passengers, with “Vambac” control and resilient wheels.

Modern Rail Coach

On Wednesday, 9th April, 1958, tramway history was again made in Blackpool when a modern, luxury, streamlined trailer tramway unit made its inaugural journey between Blackpool and Fleetwood. The trailer unit was christened “The Progress Twin-car” and its first outing was attended by local civic dignitaries, including the then Mayor of Blackpool, Alderman Harold Grimbledeston, B.E.M., J.P., who drove the twin-car for part of the journey.

Later that summer the twin-car was put into regular limited stop service between Blackpool and Fleetwood and intermediate points, and, with the inception of a new Circular Tour, to be known as the Coastal Tour, it operated three times daily on that tour.

The operation of the twin-car proved to be so successful that it was decided to order a further ten trailer cars to be used on summer tours and limited stop services and it is anticipated that by the latter part of the summer of 1961 they will all be in operation. Further progress this year includes the operation of a new Circular Tour which is known as the Promenade Circular and travels between Little Bispham and the Pleasure Beach and starts from the Promenade near Central Station.

A traditional feature of Blackpool Corporation Tramways is that during Blackpool’s Autumn Illuminations they have always operated novelty vehicles, such as an illuminated car, redesigned every two years or so with topical interest, an Illuminated Gondola and an Illuminated Lifeboat, and the Illuminated car last year was built to represent a paddle boat and was named “The Blackpool Belle.”

Another feature of last year’s Autumn Illuminations was that fare-paying passengers were carried on the three Illuminated cars, and also on two Standard type cars which were illuminated with strip lighting specially for the Illuminations.