The good news just keeps on coming from Blackpool, with the announcement that the already greatly anticipated Gold running days for the heritage tram fleet will now offer an even more exciting programme of events than expected! It was originally announced that these days would feature a very credible total of four trips to Fleetwood; however it has now been confirmed that this has been increased to an incredible SIX Fleetwood trips!
The Gold timetable will operate for the first time on Easter Sunday 5th April and Bank Holiday Monday 6th April, before running on a number of selected dates across the season. This will primarily see heritage trams shuttling between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham, with departures from the Pleasure Beach at 00, 20 and 40 minutes past the hour from 1000, and the last car due to run in at around 1800. However, the biggest attraction of all will be the tours to Fleetwood, of which six will run on these days. These will depart from Pleasure Beach at 1000, 1100, 1200, 1400, 1500 and 1600. All of these should be full circular tours to and from the Pleasure Beach loop, with the exception of the 1400 tour which will terminate at North Pier on the return leg allowing the tram to then return to the depot. With six different heritage cars due to operate on these special ‘Gold’ days, presumably each of them will be able to stretch their wheels with a run through to the northern terminus, giving plenty of choice for enthusiasts, whilst those preferring a shorter ride will also be well catered for.
Meanwhile, the first day of the new Green service was Good Friday 3rd April and this also managed to produce a few surprises. It was widely believed that all journeys performed by the heritage fleet on Green running days would operate between Pleasure Beach and Little Bispham, but in fact there were a few short workings as well with trams terminating at North Pier, Cabin and Bispham. However the undisputed highlight of the whole day occured late in the afternoon, when Balloon 700 made an unexpected but very welcome run to Fleetwood! Although the use of the ‘B Fleet’ Balloons as heritage trams has been questioned, the chance to ride on one of these cars to Fleetwood was greatly appreciated and this was also the first public run to the Ferry by a traditional tramcar this year. Thus, despite some truly horrible weather, the Easter weekend has started in fine form for the Blackpool tramway, and it looks like the best is yet to come!
Balloon 700 stands in the gloomy weather alongside the Fleetwood Ferry lighthouse before heading back to Blackpool, having just performed the first heritage tour to Fleetwood of 2015. (Photo by Rob Bray)
But once again, why not run the B-fleet properly and pick up / set down at all stops to make a bit of extra cash? What’s the point of running a tour somewhere that you haven’t advertised? If it was a service car that would be different.
For FUN Frankie FUN… … …
(See http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/fun?q=FUN )
@ Franklyn. Just out if interest, how many times have you supported the heritage operation this year so far? And how many times in 2014? Just curious where all this negativity comes from, and how much support comes from your side.
Great start to the year. Maybe one day we can have a Blackpool Restaurant car like Melbourne and Christchurch!