#0774

Liverpool Overhead Railway electric units

🇬🇧 United Kingdom ·built by Brown· from 1893· early electric multiple unit train

2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Liverpool Overhead Railway carriage, Museum of Liverpool-2: Photograph by Mike Peel ( www.mikepeel.net ).· CC BY-SA 4.0
2. Liverpool Overhead Railway - Every boy's book of railways and steamships (1911) (14572313920) (cropped): Internet Archive Book Images· No restrictions

what is it?

The Liverpool Overhead Railway opened on 6 March 1893 with two-car electric multiple units, the first to operate in the world. Each lightweight car had a 60 hp (45 kW) motor that took power from a third rail. In 1902, these were replaced with two 100 hp (75 kW) motors, which reduced the travel time.

who runs it

Liverpool Overhead Railway

fun facts

First built 133 years ago, in 1893.
Served for 63 years (1893–1956).

multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.

spec sheet

built: 1893
in service from: 1893
retired: 1956
status: retired
number built: —
kind: multiple unit
traction: electric
origin: 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
builders: Brown
operators: Liverpool Overhead Railway
top speed: —
power: —
gauge: 1,435 mm standard gauge
electric system: 500–630 V DC
formation: 1–3 cars

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q12061336, Wikipedia: Liverpool Overhead Railway electric units (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.