53°40′49″N 2°27′32″W / 53.680388°N 2.458901°W
The Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company operated a steam tramway service between Blackburn and Darwen between 1881 and 1898.[1]
History
The tramway was authorised by the Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Act 1879 (42 & 43 Vict. c. ccxxv).
The route started in the centre of Blackburn, and followed Darwen Street, Bolton Road, then through Ewood, Earcroft, Hawkshaw, and terminating in Darwen at Whitehall.
Six steam trams were acquired from Kitson and Company for the inauguration of the service. This fleet was later augmented to 15, with 7 of the additional trams being obtained from Thomas Green & Son.
The initial passenger cars were built by Ashbury on Eades patent reversible trucks. The seating capacity was 20 in the lower saloon and 26 on top. Later passenger cars were obtained from G. F. Milnes & Co. of Birkenhead.
The service came into operation after inspection from General Hutchinson of the Board of Trade.[2]
Closure
The company was acquired by Blackburn Corporation for £22,337 (equivalent to £2,510,174 in 2025) [3] and Darwen Corporation for £26,163 (equivalent to £2,940,130 in 2025) [3] on 31 December 1898. Steam tram services continued until 1901.
References
- ↑ The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
- ↑ Blackburn Weekly Standard 16 April 1881
- 1 2 UK Consumer Price Index inflation figures from 1209–2024 based on data from "Inflation calculator". Bank of England. London. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 1 April 2026.