Blackpool Tram Events

August 1884: Michael Holyroyd Smith of Halifax operates demonstration electric tramay in the grounds of the Winter Gardens. Blackpool Corporation Tramways Order passed authorising tramway construction in the town.

October 1884: Trial line operated in Manchester

February 1885: Construction commenced by Blackpool Electric Tramway Company, intial route Cocker Street to Station Road (Victoria Pier) via Promenade.

May 1885: Blackpool tram operates at Science Museum, London

July 1885: First test run

July 1885: Initial - unofficial - horse drawn operations begin

29 September 1885: Official opening and start of electric tram operation using the conduit system (one car still at Science Museum Inventions Exhibition)

1892: Tram company taken over by Blackpool Corporation

1894: First bogie double deck trams acquired.

1895: Branch from Manchester Square along Lytham Road opened

1896: Gas trams introduced from South Station to St. Annes and later Lytham by Blackpool, St. Annes and Lytham Tramway Company.

1898: Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad commenced operation (Fleetwood to Gynn Square and along Dickson Road to North Station). Single deck electric cars operated from a depot at Bispham

1901: Marton tram route opens (Talbot Square via Church St, Whitegate Drive, Waterloo Road, Central Drive to Central Station)

1902: Layton route opens (Talbot Square via Talbot Road to Layton Cemetery)

1903: Lytham trams converted to electric power.

1920: Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad absorbed by Blackpool Corporation

1926: New South Promenade open and trams extended from Pleasure Beach to Starr Gate.

1933: Walter Luff starts as General Manager and implements moderniastion plan with 116 new centre entrance trams delivered by 1939.

1936: Layton route and the Central Drive section of the Marton route closed

1937: Lytham St. Annes tramway closes.

1952: Coronation trams introduced on Promenade.

1954: Walter Luff retires

1958: Prototype 'Progress Twin Car' launched introducing trailer operation

1960: 75th anniversary celebrations

1961: Closure of Lytham Road and Station Road routes

1962: Closure of Marton Route - famous Western Train Illuminated Tram launched

1963: Closure of Dickson Road section (Gynn to North Station)

1972: Introduction of One Man Operated tramcars

1976: Dreadnought 59 of 1902 returns to use after restoraton - first visiting museum tram to operate at Blackpool

1984: Introduction of first new tramcar since trailer cars of 1960/1

1985: Centenary events

1986: Blackpool Borough Council sets up Blackpool Transport Services Ltd to operate trams and buses as an 'arms length' subsidiary. Bus deregulation

1988: Last new traditional full size English tram (647) enters service

1998: Centenary celebrations for the Blackpool & Fleetwood Tramroad

2004: 70th Anniversary of the English Electric streamliners celebrated

2009: Multi million pound refurbishment and upgrade of the Blackpool Tramway confirmed with 16 new low floor trams from Bombardier to be in service from 2012.

2010: 125th anniversary.