A BLACKBURN historian known as the ‘tram man’ has died.

Jim Halsall produced books on the history of the town and its tram system as well as creating a model tramway which is now on display at the British Commercial Vehicle Museum in Leyland.

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The model tram, which featured locations in Blackburn including the Ewood bridge, Arkwright Mills and The Railway Hotel, was built in Mr Halsall’s son’s bedroom.

It took six and a half months to dismantle before it was taken to the museum.

Mr Halsall, 79, who lived at the Birch Hall Care Centre in Darwen, died of Parkinson’s Disease on December 27.

A keen photographer, he was also a member of the Blackburn Model Railway Society and the Blackburn Local History Society and travelled across the area giving talks.

The grandfather, who had around 95 model trams, worked for the British Northrop Loom Company and then for BAE Systems as a toolmaker before training apprentices there.

He leaves behind daughters Carol Smith, 52, and Susan Pomfret, 49, son Martin Halsall, 47, and eight grandchildren. His wife Marie died six years ago.

Mrs Smith, a clerical support worker at Royal Blackburn Hospital, said he would take them all over the country with his model railways.

“We used to go on holiday and it would always be a tram holiday. We went to Holland and Lisbon to see them. He was aiming to go to San Francisco,” she said.

“He remembered the last tram in Blackburn in September 1949.”

She said he would build trams from scratch and the children would paint them.

Of the model tramway she said: “It was there for years and everybody used to come and watch it. Having it in Leyland is a nice legacy for him.”

Mrs Smith said her dad was also a comedian with an amazing sense of humour that kept the carers at his nursing home entertained.

“He was an amazing man and an amazing dad. Many people said he was a very good friend and very generous with his time.”

Susan added: “He used to take us to Tram Sunday at Cleveleys. He was a lovely talented man.”

Ray Smith, chairman of the Blackburn Local History Society, said Mr Halsall was instrumental in keeping the history of Blackburn alive after he digitalised dozens of Shaws of Blackburn photo negatives which are now available online at the library.

“He was acknowledged nationally for his knowledge of trams and the tram system and featured in national magazines,” he said.

Tributes were also paid by the Darwen Research Group who said he ‘contributed so much to the local and transport history of Lancashire’.

His funeral is set to be held at Pleasington Crematorium in Tower Road, Blackburn, at on Wednesday, January 11, starting at 3pm.