Blackburn Corporation Tramways Company was established in 1886 by Cosh & Cramp, a partnership of a London-based tramway contractor and engineer, Charles Courtney Cramp and Richard Lawrence Cosh.
Blackburn Corporation operated a tramway from 28 May 1887. There were two routes operated by steam power, and two by horse-drawn trams. Fourteen steam engines were obtained from Thomas Green & Son at a cost of £700 (equivalent to £82,812 in 2021) [2] each.
In 1888, Robert Walter Cramp, brother of Charles Courtney Cramp, was appointed manager.
On 24 August 1898, Blackburn Corporation purchased the Company for £77,210 (equivalent to £9,150,089 in 2021),[2] and undertook a programme of modernisation and electrification. The power station was at the junction of Bridge Street, and Jubilee Street.
The company acquired 48 tramcars from G.F. Milnes & Co. and 12 from United Electric Car Company which were decorated in an olive green and ivory livery.
The company had a through running arrangement with the cars of the Darwen Corporation Tramways system.
