Blackpool tramway description and photos - Great Britain: Blackpool (Topic)

Blackpool tramway description and photos - UK: Blackpool. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Blackpool tramway.

Photo and description

The tram in the resort town of Blackpool is not just a form of public transport, but also one of the main tourist attractions of the city, as well as a kind of museum on wheels. Blackpool's tram system is unique - it is the first electric tram line in the UK and one of the first in the world. The first line was opened on September 29, 1885 and ran along the Promenade - the main street. Initially, the current went along the third rail, but in the conditions of a seaside town it turned out to be inconvenient and even dangerous. The contact rail was drifted with sand from the beach (and the beaches in Blackpool are sandy), and in bad weather it could be flooded with sea water, which led to short circuits. In 1899, the third rail was replaced with an overhead wire.

The network of tram lines expanded until the 30s of the XX century, but then began to decline. By 1966, only one line remained, running along the promenade, which is still functioning today. Due to a lack of funds, the management company could not change the carriages to more modern ones, but in the end it gave an unexpected result: the Blackpool tram turned into a kind of operating museum on wheels and became extremely popular with tourists.

Now the tram in Blackpool is the calling card of the city. The length of the line is 16.5 km. It is one of three tram systems in the world with double-deck trams. Also, open-top cars - "tram-boats" and cars with an open second floor - "trams-balloons" run on the line.

In July, the city hosts the Transport Festival,

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Topic: Blackpool tramway description and photos - Great Britain: Blackpool.