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Blackpool Tramways

Blackpool is Britain's premier seaside resort. Situated on Lancashire's Fylde coast, it sports many famous attractions, the Tower, the piers, the Pleasure Beach, and many others. One of the most famous is the promenade tramway.

• History
• Pictures of the fleet

History

Trams first arrived in Blackpool in 1885 when the Blackpool Electric Tramway Company commenced operations. This was the first electric street tramway in Britain, possibly the world. The original trams used the conduit system, but this was converted to the overhead system in 1899. The tramway was taken over by Blackpool Corporation in 1892.

Over the years the original promenade route was extended to include the Lytham Road, Layton and Marton routes. The line to Fleetwood was built by a separate company, the Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad Co. in 1898. This was taken over by the coporation in 1920.

The neighbouring town of Lytham St. Annes also had a tramway. This was opened by the Blackpool, St.Annes and Lytham Tramways company in 1896, using gas powered trams. The system was converted to electric operation in 1903. The local council took over in 1920 and closed down the tramway in 1937.

In the early sixties, the Blackpool street routes were closed, leaving the reserved track Promenade and Fleetwood route which remains today.

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© Ian Thompson 1999