Blackburn to Darwen

Blackburn to Darwen Tram

This is where our tram ride to Darwen begins and ends in Bridge St just off the Boulevard. Here the passengers from Darwen disembark. This photograph shows a Darwen 'Streamliner' with a Blackburn car behind.

Another view of the Darwen tram ready for its journey. Note the cart loading newspapers aboard. The Telegraph was transported by tram in those days to newsagents along the route. The photograph shows the Boulevard and Railway Station as they were in July 1938.

Blackburn Tram number 69 on the Boulevard ready for the Darwen trip. This photograph was taken in about 1946 and the tram is beginning to look beleagured, a little anachronistic, with buses all around it.
In the background is the Northern Daily Telegraph building. The Morrison's supermarket complex now stands there.

A Darwen tram waiting on the Boulevard. The date of this photograph is about 1938. Note the cabmen's shelter to the left. This was donated by a local business man

On our way at last! A Darwen bound tram (fully enclosed) sets off down Railway Road past the Telegraph Building and the Transport Offices before turning into Church Street. The date of this photograph is circa 1938. Salford Bridge is in the background.

Blackburn tram coming up Church Street from Salford just after the war circa 1946. On the left are Wright's Dyers and Cleaners, Stirrup's Boot Dealers and Mason's Blanket Shop. Patrons of Mason's may recall how money tendered for goods was sent to the cashier via a cylinder that ran along the ceiling. A similar system was in operation at the Co-op Emporium

Passengers boarding the tram for Darwen outside the General Post Office. This is an open top tram of the 36-75 class. The photograph was taken in about 1912.

A fully enclosed Darwen tram coming down Darwen Street c.1938. Stanworth's umbrella and walking stick manufacturers are on the left. On the right is the Merchants Hotel.

A Blackburn tram at the junction of Darwen Street and Jubilee Street in about 1947. Trams returning from Darwen turned right here for the Boulevard. All tram routes in Blackburn followed a return route which was different from the outward one.

A Blackburn Tram approaching the Railway Bridge in Darwen Street. The date is about 1936. Edmondson's furniture shop is on the right and Queen's Hall can be seen in the distance. The tram tracks on the right led to Queen's Park.

Blackburn tram number 64 is heading back to the Boulevard, just about to go under the railway bridge. Unusually we have a precise date for this photograph, 18th July 1948. The buildings on the right have been demolished to make way for a new road junction. Among them was S. and G's motorbike shop.

This is a post war shot of Bolton Road looking towards town and taken about 1948. On the left are Devine's tailor's shop, Smith's tobacconist's and the Savoy Cinema, now derelict. The buildings on the right are gone, replaced by a dual carriageway. Notice the inter-laced tram track with crossover which is quite a unique feature.

Bolton Road again a little nearer the Infirmary, again looking towards Blackburn and again about 1948. The Blackburn tram number 74 is negotiating the interlaced track over the canal bridge. This feature was necessary to prevent two trams crossing the bridge together; their combined weight would have been too much.
Lower Hollin Bank Street is on the left with Mrs. Cutler and Mrs. Ingham's fried fish shop, Sewell's boot repairers, the Horse Load Inn and, further down, Wellington Mill.

Our Blackburn tram has arrived outside the Infirmary, again it is about 1948. Infirmary Street is on the right, with the chimney of Infirmary Mill visible beyond. The chimney on the right is that of Armenia Mill. Mills proliferated all along the line of the Leeds-Liverpool canal.

Blackburn to Darwen