Trams made in Preston

The factory in Strand Road produced more trams than any other factory in Britain. Trams were built in Dick, Kerr Works on Strand Road in Preston. Dick, Kerr were a Scottish electrical engineering company who moved to exploit the rapidly growing tram industry in the late 19th Century. At that time many trams were imported from America. The success of Dick, Kerrs led to them taking over several other UK tram builders leaving only Brush and Hurst, Nelson as competitors. The tramcar business became part of English Electric and continued until 1935 when most towns started moving to motor buses. These old trams can still be seen on Blackpool promenade doing fine service.

 

See the bottom of the page for tram celebrations in Blackpool in September 2010. Includes learn to drive a tram.

 

In the London's Transport Museum, Covent Garden, is an old tram with a control handle that says Dick Kerrs, Preston. Photo below.

Preston had over 14 miles of tram track and it was proposed to extend the track to Lytham, which would have joined it to Blackpool. Also to Blackburn and Horwich. These proposals didn't happen. Preston was fortunate having a large tramcar manufacturer in the town as well as a large bus manufacturer only a few miles away in Leyland.

Author Geoff Lumb, Ian Allan Publishing, ISBN 0 7110 2613 0

The above book is a well researched account of the Dick, Kerr / English Electric tram business. There are a lot of photographs of trams all over the UK in the first half of the 20th century. There are accounts of the operating managers in the municipal tram services and their influence on the design as well as technical information on the development of structure, seating, power. An interesting section on the influence of Blackpool Transport Department in collaborating with English Electric to produce a more streamlined tram in 1932. These are still in service.

Tram catalogue from 1908. United Electric Car Co, Preston, England. A full list of the trams and rail coaches available with drawings and details. Contact the Ribble Enthusiasts Club for more information.

Blackpool 125 years of trams

Many of Blackpool's best trams were built in Preston. 2010 marks the 125year of Blackpool Tram operation and special events are planned to mark it. These will take place in many places in the UK but the main on is in Blackpool between 23rd and 29th September 2010. Includes tram driving courses and tour of the depot.

Full details are on www.blackpooltramevents.co.uk

An extract from the above website:

45 Railcoaches were built at the Preston workshops of English Electric whilst other designs included an Open top single decker, and both enclosed and open-top double deck designs of similar streamlined appearance.

The 45 Railcoaches were delivered in two batches, 25 in 1933/4 (Nos.200-224) and 20 more in 1935 (264-283). Our example, No.279, formed part of the second batch and was largely confined to the main Starr Gate to Fleetwood service, though in later years the Railcoaches were used on the Marton, Squires Gate and North Station routes which were closed in the early 1960s.

22 Railcoaches were scrapped in the 1960s (or converted for other uses), 10 had become trailer towing cars and the remaining 13 were converted into one man trams in the 1970s, resulting in the original Railcoach design disappearing from the tramway. 678-680 were fitted with heaters for winter use and have outlived their trailers which were scrapped. From the late 1980s, advertising liveries began appearing on the trio and in early 1990s, 679 was overhauled with rebuilt underframe and, later still, bus seating and flush mounted glazing.

In 2004, 679 reverted to its 1980s style green and cream livery. However, despite this, the tram operated infrequently in 2004 and as part of a general reduction in the size of the operational tram fleet, 679 was withdrawn at the end of the year. In November 2008 it was acquired by the LTT for preservation.

679 is being rebuilt by the Trust’s volunteers and its “BusWorks” company, based in Blackpool, to its original cab-end design as a streamlined Railcoach and half drop windows and swing-over seating will be restored. The plan is to have the completed tramcar, no.279, ready to operate during the 125th anniversary year of the tramway to represent the design that revolutionised the Blackpool tramway and contributed to its survival to this day.

 

Links to other tram sites;

Lancashire Transport Trust

Fylde Tramway Society

Dick, Kerrs was also famous for its ladies football team.