Opening of Liverpool Overhead Railway

The Liverpool Overhead Railway launched on June 12, 1891, as the first fully electric elevated urban line globally. Spanning seven miles with 14 stations, it served dock workers and cargo using innovative multiple-unit trains designed by engineers like Sir William Forwood. Powered by a third rail at 500 volts DC, it solved congestion issues in the bustling port without street-level interference. The system influenced American elevated railways like Chicago's 'L' and operated successfully for 65 years until closure in 1956 due to structural decay. Its legacy endures in modern light rail and automated transit designs.