FABULOUS BLACKPOOL TRAMS. The amazing tramways of United Kingdom are still alive in important cities
The amazing tramways of United Kingdom are still alive in important cities especially the one called Blackpool, they are the oldest way to move around in the United Kingdom and around the world. The tramways take more than 6.5 million passengers each year. And they are so special and unique because they are the only one using double-deck trams in Europe and one of the few in all the world.
Tramways of the city of Blackpool history
The first tram that ran down the tramways of the city of Blackpool appeared in September 29, 1885. They were the first practical electric tramways in the world after Werner von Siemens. The inventor of this interesting system was Holroyd Smith, and he together with the Mayor of Manchester, Harwood, they opened the tramway to the public.
In 1899 finally was installed the 550V overhead wiring instead the one between the wheels. With the years the tramways increased in their number and popularity having in short time so many connections. In 1930 Walter Luff, the director, made trams that could go through the tramways of the city of Blackpool, they were more modern and dynamic with double decker. They were so popular in the 21st Century. In the 60’s Blackpool was the only city in the United Kingdom with tramways.
They were extinct gradually but the Government wanted to them back and in 2010 there were 25 new tram network and an offer billion government subsidy by the Blackpool Council and Lancashire County Council in 2002, they wanted to enlarge the tramways from South to North. It was closed in 2007 for five months and after an explosion the tramway was rebuilt at a cost of 150,000.
In 2011 the network increased to 600V, closed for some months and reopened April 4, 2012.
The tramways of the city of Blackpool today
Today the tramways of the city of Blackpool have so many trams running from Starr Gate in the South and Fleetwood in the North. In holidays or very bussy days they start or finish before Cleveleys, Red Bank Road in Bispham, or the beach, so the service can be better in the center of Blackpool.
They run from Starr Gate in Blackpool to the Fleetwood Ferry Terminal, especially in all the coast, wich is in front of the Fylde Sea. Today trams run on 600 V overhead wire with electricity transmitted by the pantograph trams and some vintage trams tram pole.
Each third Sunday of July every year is celebrated the Fleetwood Transport Festival, it is a great attraction for visitors and the event is celebrated in the principal street, wich is the Lord Street.
Things to know about the tramways of the city of Blackpool
In all these years good and bad things had happened in the tramways of the city of Blackpool, mostly bad situation, some of the accidents and incidents are the following:
A 70 years old man was killed by a driver, who was speeding so much in the year of 2009. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison, and the action was rejected for so many passengers, who were afraid to pass by, or be within a tram that runs so fast without any consideration.
In 1980 the 705 and 706 trams collided with each other on the curve that turns to the beach on vacation. Seems that 705 tram was in the wrong way. Both of them were highly damaged and it was a big loss for the company. And after a long period tram number 706 went back to work but number 705 was useless, so it did not go back to work anymore. It was a big loos for the company.
In 2004 one of the trams, wich was on the tramways of the city of Blackpool with the number 644 on it derailed and hit a wall on the seafront near Gynn Square. It was a huge and sad accident.
January 2007 other tram, this time with 611 number on it caught fire near Foxhall, causing serious damage to one end of the cabin. No one was injured, but this tram did not return anymore to the tramways of the city of Blackpool when repaired.
