Although private operated horse buses had been introduced into Britain during the 1850’s, and horse trams were operating in the U.S.A. from the 1830’s, Parliament had constantly blocked moves by municipalities to introduce and operate trams in Britain until 1870, when the Tramways Act (1870) was passed. Prior to this date private operated horse tram services had been built, notably those constructed by G.F.Train, who built lines in Birkenhead, London and the Potteries in 1860 and the Haworth Patent lines built in Salford in 1861. This Act enabled Authorities to construct, or have constructed for them, the track, but they were then obliged to lease the operating of the services and the rolling stock to a private company.

Before the Tram
Public Transport in and around the Town of Blackburn began in a very humble and primitive way around 1870 when a system of horse omnibuses was inaugurated by a private company. On the Preston New Road route there was a fifteen-minute service, which proved to be somewhat erratic.

By the early 1880’s these single-deck horse-buses were well established covering the following routes:-

Blackburn (Golden Lion, Church Street) to Accrington
Blackburn (Red Lion, Northgate) to Mellor
*Blackburn (Golden Lion) to Witton
Blackburn (Waterloo Inn) to Ribchester
*Blackburn (Golden Lion) to Intack
*Blackburn (Golden Lion) to Cemetery
*Blackburn (Golden Lion) to Moorgate
Blackburn (Golden Lion) to Oswaldtwistle
* = Internal Services

The Vehicles were small and very uncomfortable, the interiors were cramped and the floors were strewn with straw for the sake of warmth. The large wooden wheels with primitive springing, together with the poor condition of the road surfaces at that time, made the journeys almost nightmarish. There were no conductors on board the buses, instead a box was provided into which passengers were required to deposit their fares, a system which was easily and frequently abused.

Services of horse buses were augmented by a fleet of hansom cabs and four-wheelers, or ‘growlers’, as they were known. Cab stands were situated outside the Railway Station, Church Street and the bottom of Limbrick.

Drivers of the horse buses were expected to behave curtiously towards the passengers and must at all times wear a badge on his arm with his number on it, and they were also expected to help with the loading, unloading and conveying of passengers luggage without asking for extra payment.

Fares were, in the main, out of the pocket of the average working class, the well-to-do had their own horse drawn carriages, and it is not surprising therefore, that many people preferred to walk, especially on the short journeys. What the masses needed was a cheap and reliable public transport service.

Blackburn & Over Darwen Tramways
On November 9th, 1877 a letter was read to the Town Council of Blackburn from Messrs. Tahourdins and Hargreaves, Parliamentary Agents, of London, stating that they had been instructed to apply in the ensuing session of Parliament for a private Bill to authorise the construction of tramways from Over Darwen to Blackburn, and from Blackburn to Accrington, and asking pursuant to the Standing Order of Parliament for directions of the Council as to the manner in which they should post the necessary notices in the Borough. In the following month they made a formal request for the consent of the Corporation to the promotion of the ‘Blackburn, Accrington and Over Darwen Tramways Bill’, but in January 1878, the Town Council unanimously resolved to oppose the Bill in order to protect the interests of the Borough. In March of that year the promoters of the Bill intimated that they were prepared to drop the whole of the proposed tramways except that portion from Over Darwen to the Corner of Jubilee Street, Blackburn, and in January 1879, the Corporation gave their consent and in accordance with terms of the 1870 Tramways Act, the ‘Blackburn and Over Darwen Act 1879’ was granted and a firm by the name of Busby Carson & Company, already operating tramways in Manchester, was contracted to operate the system under the name of ‘BLACKBURN AND OVER DARWEN TRAMWAYS COMPANY LIMITED’ . The registered offices were in Castle Street, Liverpool. These trams were to be operated on behalf of Darwen Corporation, rather than Blackburn, with Blackburn Corporation granting running powers into the Borough. This tramway was the first in Britain to be authorised solely for the operation by steam engines.

Routes Constructed
The line, constructed by Turton & Co. Ltd., Leeds, from St.Peter Street, Blackburn to the Angel Inn, Darwen was built during 1880/81. The first trams to operate were on April 16th, 1881 when public services began. Soon the line was extended to the Cemetery at Darwen Whitehall, making a total distance of 4.93 miles, and, as at the Blackburn end of the line, a reversing triangle was was laid. Part of this still exits and has been preserved as an ‘ancient monument’. The routine for reversing was to run beyond the triangle then reverse the whole unit onto the extant track until the engine stood over the ash pit. After decoking the whole unit then ran forward to return to Blackburn. There was no ash pit at the St. Peter Street terminus. A depot was constructed in Darwen, later to be used for electric operations.

Rolling Stock
A total of seventeen engines, built by Kitsons (10) and Thomas Green’s & Son’s (7) and twenty three trailers, which included eight open-top 4-wheel cars, built by the Ashbury Carriage & Wagon Company Limited, on the ‘Eades’ patent reversible truck, eleven enclosed bogie cars, one built by the Ashbury Company and ten by G.F.Milnes, and four open-top workmen’s cars were owned by the Tramway Company at one time or another.

The Company led a very stormy life and were in almost constant trouble with both Darwen and Blackburn Corporation’s and with the law. Constant over-loading, running two trailers with one engine and many accidents caused due to bad practices were just some of their troubles.

Corporation Take-Over
The Company operated until 1898 when they were given notice of the taking up of the option to purchase the undertaking as allowed for in the 1880 Act. The section of track in Darwen was taken by Darwen Corporation and that within Blackburn by Blackburn Corporation. Until Darwen electrified it’s system in 1901 the line was leased to Blackburn Corporation allowing the steam trams to continue running