Following on from the success of the recent launch tour of Blackpool Balloon 723 as a warm-up to the most recent ‘gold’ operating weekend, Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have announced another exciting evening event to start the next Bank Holiday weekend in fine style. This will feature the Western Train 733+734, offering an unusually early chance to ride on this Blackpool icon this year.
On Friday 27th May, the illuminated Western Train will operate a very rare full system tour of the tramway to kick start another weekend of tram-related excitement in Blackpool. Starting at Hopton Road (outside the old tram depot) at 1730, the Train will first head to Foxhall before reversing and heading to Starr Gate – backwards! To ride on it with the carriage leading is extremely unusual, and a trip to the far southern end of the line is also a rarity in modern times. Once at Starr Gate the Train is scheduled to depart at 1810 before heading for Fleetwood, with passengers able to board and alight at all of the special heritage stops en route. Departure from Fleetwood is timed for 1913 and then a run to Pleasure Beach follows, before the tram sets off at 2015 bound for Fleetwood again; giving a rare chance to see the Train at this location as darkness descends. The tour will then conclude with the final southbound working of the evening, arriving back at Rigby Road for approximately 2200.
A ticket to ride on 733+734 will cost £10 and this permits customers to ride on the tram as much as they wish for the duration of the tour. As the tour takes place the evening before the Spring Bank Holiday weekend activities get underway, with three days of the intensive ‘gold’ heritage tram service to enjoy, hopefully this extra event will be well supported. Once again the heritage team have come up with an innovative event, offering some very unusual riding and photographic opportunities which should appeal to many enthusiasts – and hopefully the Western Train’s huge appeal will also attract other members of the public to ride on it!