Links:

Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramroad Company

The Tram depots

Blackpool's Tram Cars

B&F Tram Cars

R.o.B Tramways

Until the 18^th Century it was difficult to get to the small village of Blackpool on the North West coast of England. In 1781 the first main road arrived from Preston allowing those who could afford it to get to the coast. At that time Blackpool was only a few cottages owned by fishermen with a few hotels also provided once the road had arrived. The name Blackpool derives from two peaty streams that met at what is now, Manchester square, literally creating a black pool. In 1840 a railway to Fleetwood serving the towns docks and steam ship terminus was opened passing through the village of Poulton Le Fylde with an extension to the growing town of Blackpool opened on 29th April 1846 the town continued to develop at a faster pace soon becoming more popular than Fleetwood just up the coast. By the 1880's Blackpool was such a popular resort it was common to see traffic jams with carriages competing with horse drawn delivery wagons and horse omnibuses that the town council decided something needed to be done. It was decided that an electric tramway should be built even though it would be the first of its kind in Britain.

Blackpools tramways C1920

Horse and Conduit: In 1884 the businessmen and corporation of Blackpool decided they needed a tramway having seen how well they were operating in other towns and cities around Britain. The Blackpool Electric tramway company was formed in January 1885 with the first rail laid on 13^th March of that year outside what is now the Metropole hotel. The line was to run for 2 miles from Cocker Street to Dean Street near the south pier. The company was responsible for provision of the power station, depot and cars and the electrical equipment while the corporation was responsible for the track, its foundations and the paving. When the Board of trade came to inspect the line on 29^th July of that year they announced that the gauge of the track was not consistent and that it would have to be re-laid. This was soon achieved with the second inspection on 9^th September gaining the tramway its necessary operational certificate allowing a horse drawn service to commence until the electrical supply and equipment was ready. The electric tram service started on 29^th September 1885 operating on the conduit system that was later to become popular on tramways in London. The conduit is laid between the running rails under ground with the tram car using a plough sited under the car to touch the rail thus drawing the current. The voltage used was 220Vdc provided by the purpose built power station in Blundell Street. One of the many problems the conduit system at Blackpool had was that at termini the power would leak in to the surrounding ground causing power supply at the termini to be about 170Vdc. Another problem was that sand kept getting in to the trough and blocking up the conduit and also water from the flooding beach also got in to it much difficulty ensued. When the corporation took over in 1892 they soon decided that something needed to be done and in 1893 the power supply was turned off and the tramway reverted to horse traction. Another problem had also occurred as the track needed replacement due to the salty atmosphere and it buckling along most of its length.

By 1894 the system was in a very bad state so the corporation pushed ahead with its works of refurbishment and upgrade of the conduit system with the tramway extended to South shore and Lytham road with another extension from Station road to Squires gate for horse drawn trams was also opened. The promenade line was also extended as far as Victoria (South Pier) from its original terminus at Dean Street. The latter section used a new form of conduit that was also installed on the station road link in 1897. However this new conduit had as many problems as its predecessor and it was abandoned in 1899 in favour of the overhead system that was used on the Blackpool and Fleetwood tramway that had opened in 1898. Blackpool's street tramways developed over the next 30 years despite the closure of some of the minor routes that were is states of expensive disrepair and by the 1920's the tramway was at its height with 20 miles of track and services serving Blackpool from Fleetwood and nearby St Anne's and the Lytham corporation tramways. The 1930's saw the introduction of new streamlined tram cars with what was then the height of technology cars also being introduced specifically for a particular route such as the Marton Vambacs that were rebuilds of older cars. By the 1990's the tramway was running steadily with the introduction of its new Centenary cars from 1984 which are One person operated, thus resulting in a great saving of staffing levels though passenger loadings are worryingly low as visitors to the town have dropped since the introduction of cheap holidays abroad.

 

A rebuilt Baloon on the reserved section north of Cabin

Todays tramway: Today's tramway runs from Starr Gate in the south to Fleetwood. At Starr Gate the trams use a single track clockwise turning circle to regain the main line which runs along the promenade, the first major atop being the Pleasure beach where there is another clockwise single line turning circle as well as a central relief road for terminating trams. The cars then run along the prom passing the South pier. Upon reaching Manchester square a branch runs up to the depot in Rigby road which has two entrances the original being along Blundell road, though this is rarely used. Back on the prom the tramway passes past the Central pier on to the north pier and tower where there are relief roads for terminating cars. This also signals the point that the tramway will soon be joining the original extension to Gynn square where the Blackpool Corporation meets the Blackpool and Fleetwood tramway. To get to Gynn the tramway joins the road with the north bound track close to the pavement and the south bound line crossing the road parallel to the other track though swinging back round on to the prom causing much confusion to those that do no know how trams work. The line on the prom is once again reserved section after passing the hotel on the road and remains so until cabin where the segregated section starts. The tramway has signalling at all major road junctions though none at tramway junctions a principle of line of sight driving taking place as with all tramways. Until the introduction of tramways back in to the country in Manchester the signalling system was based on normal traffic aspects of red yellow and green, but today the tramway uses the standard tramway bar and arrow principle, points at tramway junctions being set by the conductor when necessary.  

Little Bispham also has a turn round facility using a turning circle and marks the limit of the famous illuminations and the Illuminations tour that is operated by special trams, Bispham station has a centre relief road. At Clevelys after the tram has returned to reserve track there is a crossover to allow trams to change track when terminating and further north as the car reaches Thornton gate the sidings of the former coal depot were used as part of the Permanent way department depot with power cables still usable for works trams. The run to Fleetwood is pleasant with fields and the back gardens giving a country railway feel to the tramway as it approaches the former docks on the right after passing several large factories. Once the tramway joins the road it now travels on Britains oldest section of still extant street tramway which the tram follows round to stop outside the North Euston hotel where passengers alight, to take a walk around the market or have a look around the town. To regain the tram you will need to stand at the tramstop opposite what used to be the dock for the Isle of Man and Ireland ferries and the former site of Fleetwood railway station. The journey time is just a little over an hour but whether on one of the 1980's one person operated cars or the refurbished double deckers or if you are lucky enough to be on one of the 1930's models the trip out is well worth it.

 One of the rebuilt Centenary cars  

In to the 21^st Century: This foresight by the corporation of Blackpool to spend money on their tramway has seen their tram system remain operating over the last 122 years while most of the other original tramways have closed. The Blackpool tramway, now part of Metro Coastlines, the name for Blackpool Transport, still operates its 1930's built cars 70 years after their initial release in to traffic though some of these have had rebuilds and other purpose built cars have also been built some which have not survived the course. Despite its long heritage and effort to remain alive the tramway is suffering heavily, only a few years ago double deck trams were banned, once again from the Fleetwood line due to the quality of the track but thankfully they have now returned to the streets of Fleetwood, though the question does remain for how long as money for tram and light railway systems in this country is on, I will say freeze rather that stopped, while the powers at be decide what is the way forward for tramways in Britain.  However in the March addition of 'The Railway Magazine' an article stated that the North West regional council did give a 'green light' for an upgrade of the heavily worn tramway. This could see brand new purpose built vehicles similar to those used on other modern tramways though what will happen with the older stock I cannot say. I am sure we will all keep our eyes on Britain's oldest still operational tramway with interest.