ABOUT THE OWNER.

Jim Halsall was born in Blackburn in 1937 and has had a life-long interest in tramcars. Having been brought up in a house within a literal stone’s throw from the tram depot at Intack. He was twelve when the last tramcar left the streets of Blackburn and still has vivid memories of that occasion and riding on them. He also remembers putting a penny on the line like many others for the last tram to run over.

He left school at fifteen to become an apprentice tool maker with British Northrop Loom Company in Blackburn, eventually leaving there after 28 years’ service.

Jim married Marie in 1963 and they have three grown-up children and five grand-children.

He joined British Aerospace at Samlesbury in 1979, and progressed through various departments and sites. His last six years before early retirement involved co-ordinating the training of apprentices in the Tool room, a job which he found extremely rewarding.

At sixty-two, ill health forced him into early retirement which has given him (and his tramway) a new lease of life. Since 1998 Jim has had three local history books published. One entitled ‘Blackburn in Times Gone By’ , the second ‘Blackburn Tram Rides’, and the third being titled 'Blackburn in Focus'

He continues to research the history of Blackburn trams at his local reference library and also his own family history which he can currently trace back to 1765. (Just a bit before the introduction of horse trams into Blackburn!).

Jim is the Chairman (2006) of the Tramway and Light Railway Society, (North Lancashire Branch), and would encourage anyone with tramway interests to join, as much advice on modelling techniques can be gleaned as well as interesting talks and chats on tramway themes.