The upcoming episode of the popular BBC2 television series ‘Great British Railway Journeys’, hosted by Michael Portillo, to be shown on Monday 9th January at 6:30pm, will see the presenter travel between Blackpool and Manchester. This programme is expected to feature scenes that were filmed in spring 2016, showing Portillo travelling aboard Blackpool & Fleetwood Box car 40 of 1914.
Although there is no mention of trams in any of the promotion for this episode, Fleetwood is referenced, indicating that hopefully there will be some footage of the tramway that connects the shipping town with Blackpool.
For anyone unable to watch on the night, the programme will also be available to watch online through the BBC website.
Edinburgh Trams also appeared on Friday 6th January episode
Perhaps the producers don’t consider the old Blackpool and Fleetwood Tramroad to be a tramway because of its railway-type tracks over a long section – an ‘interurban railway’ USA style. Hence a ‘railway journey’.
The ‘railway journey’ does not refer to the Tram, in the same way that every other Tram Mr Portillo went on doesn’t. They are showing what’s of interest in the towns etc.
A very interesting episode in many ways.