Liverpool Overhead Railway electric units

Liverpool Overhead Railway electric units
Liverpool Overhead Railway electric train on display at the Museum of Liverpool.
In service1893–1956
ManufacturerBrown, Marshall & Co.
Metro-Cammell
Constructed1892–1896
1916–1918
Scrapped1956
Number preserved2 cars
Formation1–3 cars
OperatorsLiverpool Overhead Railway
Specifications
Electric system(s)500–630 V DC[a]
Current collector(s)Third rail
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Photo of LOR rolling stock, from The Street Railway Journal (1902).
Liverpool Overhead Railway carriage in storage at the Electric Railway Museum, rebuilt in 1947.

The Liverpool Overhead Railway opened on 6 March 1893 with 2-car electric multiple units, the first to operate in the world. Each lightweight car had a 60 horsepower (45 kW) motor that took power from a third rail. In 1902, these were replaced with two 100 horsepower (75 kW) motors, which reduced the travel time. After 1945, some trains were modernised, replacing the timber body with aluminium and plywood and fitting power operated sliding doors under control of the guard. The trains were all removed from service when the railway closed in 1956. An original example was retained by the Museum of Liverpool and an example of a modernised carriage was stored at the Electric Railway Museum, Warwickshire, now closed.
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