Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company

53.680388°N 2.458901°W / 53.680388; -2.458901

Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company
Plaque marking the turning triangle in Darwen.
Operation
Locale	Blackburn, Darwen
Open	14 April 1881
Close	31 December 1898
Status	Closed
Infrastructure
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Propulsion system(s)	Steam
Statistics
Route length	4.9 miles (7.9 km)

The Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Company operated a steam tramway service between Blackburn and Darwen between 1881 and 1898.^[1]

History

Blackburn and Over Darwen Tramways Act 1879
Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Citation	42 & 43 Vict. c. ccxxv
Dates
Royal assent	15 August 1879
Other legislation
Repealed by	County of Lancashire Act 1984
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

Steam tram turning triangle in Darwen

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 £3,142,899 in 2023) ^[3] and Darwen Corporation for £26,163 (equivalent to £3,681,232 in 2023) ^[3] on 31 December 1898. Steam tram services continued until 1901.