The provisional output of heritage trams in Blackpool for the four day Easter Bank Holiday weekend has now been revealed, and we are pleased to reproduce this below. A total of twelve different historic trams are scheduled to see use over the long weekend, of which six will be operating in passenger service for the first time this year, offering plenty of variety and interest to all.
Although the heritage trams have been out and about for the last six days, this will be the first opportunity to ride on them outside of the Pleasure Beach to North Pier section, and Sunday and Monday will see a number of timetabled journeys to Fleetwood provided. The planned service for the weekend is as follows:
Good Friday 3rd April – Brush 631, Centenary 648 and Balloons 700 & 717 on the Green service, running up to every 20 minutes between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham.
Easter Saturday 4th April – Bolton 66, Centenary 642 and Balloons 701 & 719 on the Green service, running up to every 20 minutes between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham.
Easter Sunday 5th April – Box 40, Centenary cars 642 & 648, ‘Princess Alice’ 706, Balloon 711 plus one other tram on the Gold service, running approximately every 20 minutes between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham. In addition, timetabled tours to Fleetwood will depart from Pleasure Beach at 1000, 1100, 1200, 1400, 1500 and 1600.
Easter Monday 6th April – Box 40, Bolton 66, Brush 631, ‘Princess Alice’ 706, a Boat car plus one other tram n the Gold service, running approximately every 20 minutes between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham. In addition, timetabled tours to Fleetwood will depart from Pleasure Beach at 1000, 1100, 1200, 1400, 1500 and 1600.
Highlights of the weekend should include the first use of modified Balloon car 711 since its return from Crich, the return to service of the ever popular veterans Box 40 and Bolton 66, and a rare appearance from two Centenary cars simultaneously on Easter Sunday.
As always, all efforts will be made to run as advertised but changes to the trams and times listed above may occur due to unavoidable circumstances. Readers may also wish to know that Balloon 701 was run in after a short stint on heritage tour duty on Thursday 2nd April; it is believed that the tram is suffering from a recurring compressor fault which may affect its planned appearance on Saturday 4th April.
Hopefully the weekend ahead will be a great success for the heritage tours, with the weather finally showing signs of improvement and word beginning to spread that the trams are back on the prom! Unfortunately due to other commitments and terrible public transport, neither of the British Trams Online team will be in Blackpool but we hope that any readers who attend enjoy themselves!
Two of the trams expected to operate over the Easter weekend on the enhanced heritage tram service at Blackpool; Balloon 719 and Centenary car 648 are seen taking a breather at Pleasure Beach on 1st April. (Photo by Bradley Jones)
Did 701 actually make it out in the end?
Also, if 642 is part of the heritage fleet now, what livery will it carry? It would take a lot of work to return to it’s 1986 guise, so perhaps it could carry a re-created all over advert? Or even the original OMO livery? I’ve seen a Photoshop of this tram carrying plum and yellow, it looked quite attractive.
No 701 – weather was nice so 230 & 706 were used along with 642 & Bolton 66 on Saturday.