Compared to horse drawn buses, trams offered a more competitive form of transport. They allowed greater loads to be pulled due to the reduced friction of running along steel tracks set into the road but required no extra horses to pull them along.

Horse Drawn Tram in Preston

This meant more people could travel and the fare was cheaper. Horse drawn trams were also faster than horse drawn buses.  Horse drawn trams were introduced into Preston in 1879, with electric trams arriving in 1904.

Discussion Idea 

• How do you think electric trams changed travel for people in Preston?