FLEET DETAILS: 'Siemens' Cars No.'s 28-35

Built in 1899 by G.F.Milnes & Co. Limited at Birkenhead. They were originally for use on the former horse tram routes of Preston Road and Witton, though they were eventually used on all routes.

As built they were open topped and unvestibuled, the electrical equipment on these cars was made by ‘Siemens’, which gave them their nickname. At first no head lamps, lifeguards or destination blinds were fitted, routes were shown on a board hung on the side of the decency panel. As most of Blackburn’s trolley wire was hung to the side of the road, the trolley masts were mounted off centre. Seating in lower saloon was arranged longitudinally for 30 passengers and transverse 2 + 1 seating 30 on the upper deck, though it must be remembered that at this time there was no restrictions as to the number of standing passengers that could be carried in the lower saloon. the staircases were of the 90 degree direct turn type.

The livery was olive green and ivory, the green being the predominant colour, covering the upper deck panels, waist panels, all under frames and bogie side frames. Ivory was confined to the window surrounds and rocker panels. The rocker panels also contained the title ‘BLACKBURN CORPORATION TRAMWAYS’ in large gold, shaded green letters, which were replaced around 1911 by small gold lettering placed in the bottom left-hand corner of the rocker panel. Originally large gold shaded numerals were placed on the dash, these were altered after the fitting of head-lamps to smaller figures, shaded green, first placed below the head-lamp, then from around 1909, placed above.

The bogies were of the maximum traction type, and were Brill 22E. They were fitted with 2 x 35h.p. ‘Siemens’ motors. Some confusion exists as to the controllers on these cars, originally all were fitted with ‘Siemens’ electrical equipment through-out, and were altered as per the details given at the back of this chapter in the ‘Fleet Over Haul Details’ section. However, to confuse the issue, the 1907 Rule Book stated the following:

Dimensions:

At first cars were fitted with a rope for trolley reversing, and a hook on top of a pole at each end of the upper deck was fitted to rest the trolley pole in when the car was in the depot at nights. Around 1900 there was a feeling in tramway circles and reported in journals, that poles not attached to the wire in the depot could create problems in getting cars out during emergencies, such as fire. To this end the Corporation decided that this was sound thinking and removed the hooks and trolley poles remained on the wire whilst in the depot. After the arrival of the ‘Milnes’ cars and their bamboo poles for trolley reversing, the ropes were removed and the same method was adopted on these cars.

Upper deck lights were fitted in 1902 and headlamps were fitted from 1903. The side route boards were replaced with a front board, and later with roller blind destination boxes. Life trays were fitted from 1915 and life trays from 1925.

Rebuilding
In June 1914 No. 28 had it’s canopy extended over the platforms, and new L-shaped seats, to the same style as those fitted to the ‘Milnes’ cars, were fitted around the stairwells which increased the capacity on the top deck to 36. It was decided that all the ‘Siemens’ cars should be thus altered once the conversion of the U.E.C. single-deck cars was completed. However, these plans were changed, and No. 28 remained the only example of this design.

Between May 1919 and December 1921 all cars received the ‘new’ design reconstruction, which involved the canopies being extended and the platforms being enclosed by the addition of windscreens, although only partially, as the position of the stairs prevented the fitting of a windscreen next to the stairs. At the same time the decency panels were painted ivory. L-Shaped seats were fitted to the same style as those fitted to No. 28. The last car given this newer design was No. 28 itself, receiving windscreens around the platform in December 1921.

From 1927 onwards the Corporation re-aligned the overhead running wires to a central position and the masts were altered accordingly, this allowed the fitting of an extra single seat. In 1932 and 1933 all these cars had their interior lighting increased, and apart from general over hauls, except No. 35 which was rebuilt after the 1935 accident at Hollin Bank Bridge, no further alterations were made to them.

Latterly all were used as ‘extra’ cars and ‘Football Specials’ until the 2nd-World War, when 5 cars were withdrawn during the war and the remainder at the end of the war. Most were scrapped at Intack depot, though, as mentioned in the main text, 3 were sold to a farmer.