The completion of the Liverpool
dock network in the 1880's saw significant traffic growth along the Dock Road , where
omnibuses, trains, carts, horse drawn carriages, drays and pedestrians
congested the roads along with the numerous goods only railway crossings which
connected the goods stations and docks.
The extent of the congestion meant that a mass transit solution was
needed to alleviate the problem. As far back as 1853, plans had been proposed
for a high level railway in the area, but were blocked by the dock's engineer
Jesse Hartley, as these plans could potentially make his plans for extension of
the docks too expensive. In 1877, a ship owner, Alfred Holt, suggested an overhead
tramway, similar to the New York Elevated Railroad (which used steam
locomotives). A plan was devised and eventually a fully double track line was
proposed. The system was to run from Bootle to
Herculaneum Dock, a distance of 6 miles. It was reported that the system would
need the revenue from eight million passenger journeys per year to break even.
Parliament refused to permit the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to manage the
railway, as concerns were expressed that MDHB was a non-profit making
organisation. In 1888 a group of local businessmen formed the Liverpool
Overhead Railway Company and obtained the powers by an Act of Transfer to run
the system from the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. Work commenced in October
1889 following the commission of leading engineers, Sir Douglas Fox and James
Henry Greathead with JW Willans of Manchester, as the building contractor. The works finished in January 1893 with a
running trial and inspection on 13th of that month. The Liverpool Overhead
Railway was officially opened on 4th February 1893, by the 3rd Marquis of
Salisbury, and Prime Minister Lord Robert Cecil. It was the first electrically
powered overhead railway in the world and the first to be protected by electric
automatic signals. The line had cost a staggering £3,466,000 (or £331 million
by today's standards). The track bed was made of rolled steel sheets to stop any
unwanted debris falling upon unsuspecting passers-by or cargo. It also provided
a welcome shelter from the rain, and hence was nicknamed the "Dockers
Umbrella" by locals. By 1897, the targeted eight million passenger
journeys were reached and the system began to make a profit.
The Stations
Seaforth Sands - Opened in 1894 to take advantage of the
residential areas, the line was extended from Alexandra Dock to Seaforth Sands.
The station boasted Britain 's
second escalator (from 1901). However, this only lasted 5 years due to the
number of compensation claims from women who had their long dresses torn!
Langton Dock -(not pictured) Opened in 1896 and closed 1906.
Brocklebank Dock (left) - One of the original eleven
stations.
Alexandra Dock -(right) Opened 1893, was the original
northern terminus.
Alexandra
Dock - Opened 1893, was the
original northern terminus.
Huskinsson Dock -(right) Opened 1896 as a replacement for
Sandon Dock station.
Sandon Dock - seen here in the aftermath the blitz One of the original eleven stations but
closed in 1896 when the dock was replaced by Husskinson and Nelson Docks.
Nelson Dock - Opened in 1986 as a replacement for Sandon
Dock, and served Bramley-Moore Dock and
Nelson Dock.
Clarence Dock - One of the original eleven stations also
serving Trafalgar, Salisbury ,
Collingwood and Stanley Docks. Closed briefly in 1906.
Princes Dock - One of the original eleven stations. Badly
damaged during the Blitz, repairs were unable to take place and the station
closed.
Pier Head - One of the original eleven stations, and the
busiest. Formed an interchange with Mersey Ferries and the tram terminus. Also
the closest stop to the city centre.
Toxteth Dock
- One of the original eleven stations.
Competition with the trams
The introduction of electric trams in Liverpool
in 1898 had a dramatic impact on the overhead railway from which it never
really recovered. The overhead railway motor coaches were rebuilt to offer a
faster service – with the travelling time on the whole route cut down to twenty
two minutes – but this was revised to twenty eight minutes as the coaches had
to go at a slower speed to make savings because of rising fuel costs.
The number of trains was also increased with trains running
every three minutes during peak time and ten minutes during off-peak hours.
Although the trams were much slower than the overhead railway, they proved to
be more successful because they were more flexible and could cover a wider
area. Trams also had lower fares as the money raised from fares on other routes
meant that lower fares could be charged on the dockside routes. These factors
and other concessions granted to the trams by its owners Liverpool Corporation
meant that the overhead railway could never compete on equal terms.
Changes in the nature of the dock industry also had an
impact – the increasing use of the telephone replaced the need for messenger
boys. Improved ship building meant that repairs were less frequent. Increasing
moves towards larger passenger vessels all had an impact on the overhead
railway. The number of people using the overhead railway reached its highest
figure after the First World War with more than 19 million passenger journeys
in 1919. The economic decline in the 1920s more than halved this figure within
two years.
Closure of the overhead railway
The continued failure to invest large sums into the repair
and maintenance of the railway meant that by 1954 the repair costs were rising
at an alarming rate. A detailed investigation took place and reported on the
true state of the railway and the amount of repairs that were needed so the
railway could make a profit once again. Curved metal plates that supported the
track were in a state of decay and needed urgent repair. At an estimated cost
of two million pounds the repairs were considered beyond the financial
resources of the company. Liverpool City Council and the Mersey Docks and
Harbour Board were approached for financial assistance, without success. The
railway was unable to continue without the essential repairs and after 63 years
in operation, the Railway was closed down on 30th December 1956.
Several rescue attempts and public protests followed, but on
23 September 1957, dismantlers moved in. By January 1959 the Liverpool Overhead
Railway had disappeared and with it another Liverpool
institution was lost forever.
Line route
m Dock |
Sources
Liverpool Records Office
Liverpool Central Library
Liverpool Museum
D J Norton
Dewi Williams
By Robert F Edwards
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