The Liverpool Overhead Railway, opened in 1893, was the first elevated electric railway in the world. It ran the length of the Liverpool docks – around six and a half miles. Although it was built to ease congestion along the docks it was also marketed as a tourist attraction as it provided amazing views of the docks, shipping and transatlantic liners on the River Mersey. The trains generally consisted of three coaches; a motorcoach at each end and a trailer coach between them.