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Blackpool Tramway: in Transition


PLD

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wow thanks for this informative and comprehensive overview, I am pleased to say I managed to get up there last year for a day and and couple of hours this year. This year there seemed a lot less heritage stuff about although I only got a few hours as we were staying at southport and there was rail replacement works which caused a seriously long journey!

Last year however we did an illumination tour and I got to ride on the Coronation which was very nice, I lost all my video though due to a camera failure, managed to save photos so not all bad.

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As a lad I never considered Blackpool trams as 'real' trams, but the memory of the traditional townie ones faded and I began to get nostalgic about the fleet in the early 1970s. From what I have seen in these brilliant photos, I'm glad I didn't witness the old girls being used as mobile advertising hoardings.

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Now de-camped to Blackpool for the weekend.

 

Friday saw the daytime service operated with 2-man crews and single deck cars. The highlight being the use of 737 the Illuminated Trawler on timetabled service among the 'condemned' Centenaries and Brush railcoaches.

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For the late shift, 3-man crews were rostered and double deckers took over for the Evening peak service (all 'retained cars') plus all three illuminated cars ran tours.

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(The Warship Turning at Pleasure Beach on the first tour, passes the Trawler about to run (still in ordinary service) to North Pier to load for it's tour) [sorry not to usual standard the Warship snuck up on us while waiting for the Trawler..]

 

Various rumours were circulating; some fantasy, some contradicting each other, and a little bit of truth!!

 

What can be confirmed:

Brush Railcoach 630 (destined for Crich) in is the Paint Shop for a coat of Green & Cream, so that has done it's last run in Blackpool.

Crich ARE definitely taking 762, but one of the others could now be in doubt...

 

The 'Friends of Fleetwood Trams' group have agreed a lease of the former 'Copse Road' Depot in Fleetwood to house their collection.

 

There is one possibly two low loaders booked to move trams away in the next week.

 

Paul

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Saturday's timetabled service followed the same pattern as Friday with single deck cars during the day, replaced by double deck during the evening, but thankfully there were also a number of extra cars out running as required (were especially needed 4pm - 9pm...)

 

There were also two private hire tours:

From Mid morning - early evening, 'Tramways Monthly' e-Magazine hired Boat 600 and Balloon 717 (considered by many an odd choice given that both cars are in the retained heritage fleet for next year, which perhaps explains the low numbers compared to the second tour.)

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From mid afternoon until late evening, the Lancastrian Transport Trust run their own Balloon 715 plus Standard Car 147.

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As for the 'service' cars, the highlight came almost at the end when the two Jubilee Cars 761/762 managed a tandem run from Pleasure Beach to Bispham - possibly the last time they will be seen together??

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(suspect stage-managed by a couple of enthusiastic and willing crews?) 762 was the next to last timetabled journey to Little Bispham, 761 an extra just in front.

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Sunday's timetabled service again saw single deck cars during the day (no extras but they coped except 10-11am when all the hotels check out and when Centenary 645 went 'bang' and held things up while it was recovered..), replaced by double deck during the evening, with double the number of cars required for the timetabled service.

 

Like Saturday there were also two private hire tours:

From Mid morning - early evening, 'Tramways Monthly' e-Magazine hired Twin Car Set 672+682.

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Whilst from 14:30 to almost the end the Fylde Tramway Society hired the other Twin Set still active 675+685 and Balloon 715.

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For something a little different to the usual tour pattern, after an initial return journey together, the cars split up and did different things before meeting up for a final run through the lights together.

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[A chance encounter with the other twin at Pleasure Beach]

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[22:04. About to enter the depot for the final time for these two cars...]

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From an enthusiast point of view, it looked like it was going to be a poor ending, with all retained cars on evening service except for Jubilee 761, with Millennium 707 due to be the last tram of all. That all changed when Balloon 711 (due to be the next to last service) developed a fault and was changed over for Twin 672/682. Suddenly this journey became the hottest ticket in town, being packed to the gunwales northbound.

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On arrival at Little Bispham, there was a decision to be made - stick with the twin or wait for the very last car (it was a 50:50 split)

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15 minutes later 720 appeared as a duplicate just in front of final car 707 (inspector was worried that all the passengers from the twin would want to join 707!!).

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And so back to depot to round off 126 years of history...

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Thats all folks! :bye: :sorry_mini: :cry: :(

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Whart a splendid selection of photographs! Thank you for sharing them with us.

 

I was in Fleetwood in September and the main street was ghostly quiet without the trams. Let's hope that the new ones are well patronised as I rather fear that some users have got out of the habit.

 

Chris

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just found this thread, we usually visit Blackpool a couple of times a year, but, did not realise this was happening. I don't think it will be the same with the new trams, even though some of the old trams were garishly sponsored it fitted in with Blackpools image. Unfortunately I don't think Blackpool will modernise itself along with the tramway.

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My first rcollection of Blackpool Trams was when i was about 7yrs old, 1946, and i can remember all the changes over the years as the 'Jubilee' and 'Twins' were introduced. Blackpool of course was a must for at least one holiday a year, usually September for the 'Lights', I think that being from Lancashire we had the advantage of many visits over the years and no visit was complete without the tramride.

However, in these days, as time takes its toll, i have found that on recent visits to the resort, both my wife and myself have been unable to negotiate the high steps, so we are looking forward to 0nce again being able to board a tram for the ride to Fleetwood market.

Burnleytramman

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Not wishing to hijack the thread (magical pics btw), but I feel I just have to upload this one I took on the last night 6/11, as the Western Train left Rigby Road for the Illuminations Tour.

Is this a contender for a Rail Replacement Bus, but in reverse, I wonder......?

 

Stewart

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  • 2 weeks later...

Time for a catch-up on what has been happening since the tramway closed on the 6th of November…

The score for November is 4 out, 1 in; plus one temporary arrival and relocation of a previously departed car.

 

The first move was the strangest of all when on Monday 7th 1905 build Cardiff rail grinder no 131 arrived from Crich for experimental use on the 2 year old but so far unused track between Starr Gate and Pleasure Beach. It has so far had a couple of runs but the success or otherwise and the length of its seaside holiday are unknown.

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Despite some doubts being raised about whether it would join the National Collection, Jubilee 762 became the first car to leave Blackpool after the closure of the tramway in its present form. Having operated until the end of service on Saturday 5th November (photo above with 761 proved to be it’s last journey), it was notably absent on the Sunday. It was in fact already in the electrical compound being prepared for transport and was collected on Tuesday 8th, arriving at Crich the following day.

 

Connected to this, it has now been confirmed that Crich will not take Twin car 672+682 nor Centenary 648 at this stage due to lack of space however both are apparently now reserved for privately funded purchase by individuals connected to Crich (presumably with a view to them operating at Crich in the future if/when space becomes available)

 

The next two departures were on Thursday 17th November. First Jubilee car 761 was moved from Rigby Road to Storage in Fleetwood, then the transporter returned to Rigby Road and moved Balloon 726 to the same location. As yet it is not completely clear whether 726 has been bought by the 'Friends of Fleetwood Trams' organisation (it hadn’t previously been associated with the group) or an individual. It is only known that it hasn’t been bought by the person who originally reserved it.

 

These moves meant the first class of tram to be eliminated from the Blackpool Fleet is the Jubilee with both safely preserved.

 

The same day witnessed the arrival of the second of the new Flexity Cars, though oddly it is number 004. It is understood but not officially confirmed that of 002 and 003 one is undergoing prolonged testing at the Bombardier facility in Bautzen, and some (or all) of the other one is rumoured to have been delivered in sections to Bombardier’s Derby works...

 

On Monday 28th November Balloon 708, destined eventually for Heaton Park, was collected from Rigby Road and moved to storage in the Greater Manchester area. The following day the same low-loader was used to move another MTMS car, Brush Railcoach 623 from its temporary home for the last 18 months at Trafford Park to the tramway for preparation for it to be the service car over the coming winter.

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Hi

710, 761,726 are all stored in the open in fleetwood able to be viewed from amounderness way but not very well, if you search for trams today on facebook there is a picture or two on there. They look quite sad without pantographs etc!

Flexity 2 (001) has made a couple or runs to ash street fleetwood I saw it approaching rossall school and also at bispham a day later and I saw it yesterday in the tram testing area (star gate to pleasure beach). Adele one of the instructors who supervised my tram day was driving so it looks like they have moved on to driver training from initial testing. Not seen 004 run yet but I don't go on a daily basis to look or anything.

They have created a worksite at the track at pleasure beach ie fenced it off like they are going to be doing some work but I have no idea what! Maybe some problem with tracklaying or putting in a crossover but this may stop the new trams running further than this point for some time, I,m not sure if they can avoid this area by running round pleasure beach loop.

mark

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Dear all,

762 safely inside the workshop at Crich being cleaned and our resident electrical experts going through the wiring diagrams to understand the system. 630 coming in the near future (date to be confirmed) and the boat 607 next year (again date to be confirmed). Attached are a few photos of 131 at outside Starr Gate and one from the back platform heading south on the north bound track whilst undergoing track scrubbing duties. Not known if 131 will be doing more work, that's to be confirmed next year so in the mean time it's safe and secure in the new depot

 

Andy

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  • 1 month later...

Sunday 22nd January marked a significant day for dispersal of the Blackpool fleet when 623 at Heaton Park became the first Brush Railcoach to carry passengers away from the resort and the first streamliner to enter regular service on a preserved tramway.

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After a launch speech from Blackpool Transport Operations Manager Bryan Lindop, in which he also talked positively about the future use of the retained heritage cars in Blackpool (which are now his direct responsibility) 623 made a trip for Invited guests and special ticket holders before entering service alongside Manchester 765 and Stockport 5. Despite the Typical January weather, there were plenty of passengers to keep all three cars busy.

Interestingly all three of these cars have operated in Blackpool but never all at the same time...

 

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Bryan Lindop launches the car into service

 

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623 With another escapee from Blackpool, Stockport 5

 

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The complete current Heaton Park passenger fleet posed at the new Lakeside terminus

 

623 will now enter regular service in the park and will generally be the first choice 'Winter Car'

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Sunday 22nd January marked a significant day for dispersal of the Blackpool fleet when 623 at Heaton Park became the first Brush Railcoach to carry passengers away from the resort and the first streamliner to enter regular service on a preserved tramway.

post-491-0-81679700-1327499674_thumb.jpg

 

After a launch speech from Blackpool Transport Operations Manager Bryan Lindop, in which he also talked positively about the future use of the retained heritage cars in Blackpool (which are now his direct responsibility) 623 made a trip for Invited guests and special ticket holders before entering service alongside Manchester 765 and Stockport 5. Despite the Typical January weather, there were plenty of passengers to keep all three cars busy.

Interestingly all three of these cars have operated in Blackpool but never all at the same time...

 

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Bryan Lindop launches the car into service

 

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623 With another escapee from Blackpool, Stockport 5

 

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The complete current Heaton Park passenger fleet posed at the new Lakeside terminus

 

623 will now enter regular service in the park and will generally be the first choice 'Winter Car'

 

Nice to see that 4 ex Blackpool trams will remain operationalin the Heaton Park. I think Blackpool will live to regret getting rid of these trams as the new trams lack character. People visit Blackpool to see the old trams - I think the new trams might well become a white elephant in the not to distant future.

 

XF

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Back in Blackpool, Scotts Haulage have been kept busy over the last couple of months, with 14 trams of 5 types being moved out of Rigby Road Depot.

 

Firstly the Friends of Fleetwood Trams Group have moved all their trams. Some have these have gone to the storage yard in Fleetwood where Balloon 710 and Jubilee 761 are stored, while others have gone to Kirkham Open Prison where some work will be undertaken as part of an offender Training/Rehabilitation scheme.

These are:

English Electric Railcoach 678 (to Fleetwood on 14/12/2011)

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Brush 621 (to Kirkham on 15/12/2011)

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Brush 627 (to Kirkham on 16/12/2011)

Centenary 641 (to Fleetwood on 11/01/2012)

Centenary 646 (to a Blackpool Industrial Estate on 18/01/2012)

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They were joined by Twin Set 673+683 privately purchsed as expected but to be displayed with the FoFT trams in Fleetwood (673 moving to Kirkham 16/01/2012 and 683 to Fleetwood on 17/01/2012)

 

Some cars purchased by Mersey Travel and ultimately destined for the Birkenhead tramway have been moved to an industrial park in the Liverpool area. It isn't certain if this is all of Mersey Travel's purchases or if there are more to follow.

These were:

Brush 625 (on 20/12/2011)

Twin Car Set 671+681 (in two trips on 19 and 20/01/2012)

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On 21st December Brush 630 departed for Crich, eliminating the Brush Car from Blackpool except for 631 (retained by BT for now) and the LTTs three examples.

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On 10th January 644 became the first Centenary to Depart when it was moved to the premeses of its most recent advertiser (and long time known purchaser) 'Farmer Parrs'

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Finally the latest two departures were both unexpected. Centenary cars 643 on 13 January and 645 on 19 January were moved to the Broadwater Caravan Park near Fleetwood and Windy Harbour Holiday Park at Singleton respectively. Not really preserved as such, both are intended to be used as gift shops and cafes. This means that in just 8 days over half of the Centenary class, once thought to have the least certain future has been secured.

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Meanwhile, two more Flexities arrived in December, nos 005 on the 9th and 002 on the 16th; and Driver Training has commenced on the new cars, with two reported out most days.

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Photos in this post are all © Alan Robson used with kind permission. More of Alan's photos including more of these movements can be seen at http://blackpooltrams.com

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Whatever one's views about the design of the Flexity trams, I cannot help thinking that the livery simply isn't Blackpool. After a few Flexities are decorated in gaudy all-over advertising, I suspect Blackpool Transport will decide to adopt a bold but simply livery - perhaps green and cream..... :scratchhead:

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  • RMweb Gold

Green and cream 21st centuraty trams. Now that sounds like a good idea. Modern equipoment with a thought for the tradition in the livery.

 

Edit:

PS is there any connection between the numbering of the new trams and the original fleet?

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