THE BLACKPOOL TRANSPORT

What do holiday makers most associate with Blackpool – the Tower, the Three Piers, the Pleasure Beach, the illuminations – or the trams?  In September 2010 the tramway celebrated 125 years of continuous existence – the very first electric street tramway in the world.

At first the trams ran from the south promenade to a point just beyond the Metropole Hotel and collected their electric current via an under floor “plough” which passed through a slotted central rail and connected with the underground power supply. However, the slot was often clogged by sand and sea water and after persevering for twelve years a change to overhead wires was made. 

In 1898 an entrepreneur who had bought plots of land between Blackpool and Fleetwood created The Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad Company with a line from North Station along Dickson Road and on to Fleetwood. When the real estate was developed, the transport system was already in place.

Blackpool Corporation gradually extended their tramway, northwards to Gynn Square, southwards to South Pier via Lytham Road, and inland to Marton and Layton.  By 1905 re-building of the promenade had enabled the tramway to move out of the road on to a paved reservation between South Pier and Talbot Square.  And this, ultimately, played a major part in it’s survival.  In 1920 the Corporation bought out the Tramroad Company and joined their tracks at Gynn Square.  They also wished to take over Lytham St Anne’s trams but this never happened.

In the 1930’s many towns and cities were planning to close their tramways but Walter Luff, the new manager transformed the system by introducing a whole fleet of new streamlined trams, many of which are still running today.  Some were modified in the 1960’s and 70’s to pull trailers or as one-man operated cars. Later cars use more modern central systems

Now Blackpool in on the verge of another transformation.  Track is currently being re-built and a new depot constructed at Starr Gate.  In 2012, regular service will be provided by a brand new fleet of articulated trams with a large passenger capacity.  Some older cars will be retained for special events such as the illuminations but the impact of the new fleet promises to be as  exciting as it was in 1938.  

      Ken Green 
                  Doncaster October 2010                                    

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