Lytham St Annes Corporation Tramways
| Lytham St. Annes Corporation Tramways | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Map of the Lytham St Annes Corporation Tramways | |||||
| Operation | |||||
| Locale | Lytham St Annes | ||||
| Open | 28 May 1903 | ||||
| Close | 28 April 1937 | ||||
| Status | Closed | ||||
| Infrastructure | |||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | ||||
| Propulsion system(s) | Electric | ||||
| Statistics | |||||
| Route length | 10.34 miles (16.64 km) | ||||
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The Lytham St. Annes Corporation Tramways and its predecessor companies operated an electric tramway service in Lytham St Annes between 1903 and 1937.[1]
History
Tramway schemes in Lytham St. Annes had been proposed since 1878, but no progress was made until The Blackpool, St. Annes and Lytham Tramway Order of 1896. Under this order, a tramway was constructed from the terminus of the Blackpool tramway at South Shore Railway Station. The new line opened on 11 July 1896, operated by the British Gas Traction Company.[2] The extension to Lytham opened in February 1897, and the fleet of compressed coal gas trams eventually reached 20. The gas powered trams were not successful, and horse cars were also obtained. The scheme was eventually unsuccessful and the company sold out.
The Blackpool, St. Annes and Lytham Tramways Company purchased the assets of the former company for £115,000 (equivalent to £15,720,000 in 2023),[3] and in 1900 an act authorised an electric tramway to rebuild the route. The newly electrified tramway was opened on 28 May 1903.[4]
On 28 October 1920 St. Annes Council purchased the assets of the company for £132,279 (equivalent to £6,711,300 in 2023).[3] The trams were rebranded with the inscription "St Annes Council Tramways".
In 1922 the borough of Lytham St. Annes was incorporated. The trams were re-branded with "Lytham St. Annes" and later "Lytham St. Annes Corporation"
Future
It is hoped that the Blackpool Tramway could be extended south to Lytham St Anne's from the current terminus at Starr Gate.
Fleet
The company owned a maximum fleet of 56 cars.
- 1-30 British Electric Car Company 1903
- 31-40 Brush Electric Machines 1905
- 41-50 English Electric 1924
- 51-54 English Electric 1924 (acquired 1933)
- 55 Brush Electric Machines 1923 (acquired 1933)
- 56 United Electric Car Company 1934
Closure
The last tram between Lytham and St Annes ran in 1936. The remainder of the system closed on 28 April 1937.
Lytham 43 is being restored by its private owner and once the lower saloon is complete. It is expected to be transferred to Blackpool where it will ultimately be finished as an open balcony double deck car in fully operational condition, as a valuable addition to the town’s heritage tram fleet. The first stage has been to put together the surviving parts and to reassemble the bottom deck, and this is already at an advanced stage.
References
- ^ The Golden Age of Tramways. Published by Taylor and Francis.
- ^ The Belfast News-Letter, Monday, July 13, 1896
- ^ a b UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- ^ The Tramways of Lytham St. Annes, Donald F. Phillips, The Tramway Reivew, VOl. 2, Issue 14, 1954.