The sight of heritage and ‘B Fleet’ trams on driver training duties in Blackpool has become an increasingly common one of late, presumably as efforts intensify to increase the number of staff trained on these trams in time for the illuminations season. One working of particular note was the use of the illuminated Warship 736 ‘HMS Blackpool’ on Monday 10th August.
This represented 736‘s first outing since last December when it was used for a birthday celebration, and follows a spell in the Fitting Shop where it has been undergoing commissioning work. The tram was spotted heading south near Gynn Square and later seen again using the turning circle at Pleasure Beach. Recently trams on driver training duties have received small ‘L’ images in their cabs and the Frigate was no exception to this rule.
736 is now the 20th traditional tram to operate on the Blackpool system this year, 17 of which have been used on heritage tours. The others are Engineering car 754 and Western Train 733+734 which has been used for a number of private hires. The Train and Frigate will, of course, soon be used much more frequently when they operate illumination tours starting early next month. These two may be the only feature cars to see use during 2015 as it is expected that the Trawler 737 will be stored this year. This car has been pencilled in for a makeover for a while now and seems unlikely to be used until it can be accomodated in the Rigby Road workshops, hopefully in time to allow it to return to use looking brighter than ever in 2016.
The switch-on night itself, on 4th September, sees the return of the dreaded split service due to the actual ceremony being held at the Tower Festival Headland once again, with tours presumably starting the following night. This also means that no heritage tours will operate on that day but for the rest of the busy illuminations season it will be possible to enjoy a vintage tram ride along the promenade every weekend, with illumination tours also running in the evenings, offering plenty of interest for tram enthusiasts and the general public alike.
An unusual view of Frigate 736 seen heading north from Pleasure Beach from the vantage point of open top Balloon car 706's top deck on August 10th. (Photo by Rob Bray)
I am glad to hear that training of drivers is underway. On Sunday 9th after the airshow finished we waited an hour to board a car at North Pier to get to Bispham, whilst at one point five Flexities went south to Starr Gate in twelve minutes.
The inspectors on duty were like rabbits caught in the headlights and one must ask – why when peak events like this are known well in advance – can call off arrangements, and even the availability of the B Fleet not be set up to deal with these well anticipated loadings. No-one in real terms needs a full service south of Beach, and a Bispham – Beach shuttle would have been a valuable load shifter for a couple of hours at the peak.
I know that the personnel orientated argument will be put to the fore, but as has now been proved. You can have drivers trained up without them being a permanent drain on your payroll.
Nothing frustrates the general public more than standing on a cold and windy prom watching three bells workings sailing by and getting no real information as to when a tram will be made available for them. We know what it’s about. They don’t.
Some of the problem was due to the tracks being over run by the crowds and the trams could not physically pass through. Additional crews etc would not solve this problem!