Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th March will see the latest Gold operating weekend in Blackpool with 11 different trams due to see action during the two days including several trams making their first public appearances of the year. Sunday 26th March will also give a chance to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the last tram to run in Bolton with long-term Blackpool resident Bolton 66 due to operate.
Using the regular Winter Gold timetable six trams will be in operation each day with each diagram including a trip through to Fleetwood Ferry. The planned allocations are as follows:
Saturday 25th March: A – Balloon 711, B – Boat 600, C – Balloon 717, D – Western Train 733+734, E – Box 40, F – Balloon 701
Sunday 26th March: A – Balloon 723, B – Centenary 648, C – Bolton 66, D – Western Train 733+734, E – Railcoach 680, F – Balloon 715
The Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours shop will on board the Western Train both days.
These allocations – subject to the usual availability and weather caveats – will see the season public debut of Balloons 701 and 711 (which have both now had their snowploughs removed) alongside Boat 600 and Centenary 648 and provide a good varied selection of trams which will hopefully cater for all tastes.
Also included will be Bolton 66, on Sunday 26th March, with this tram set to operate to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the last tram to run in Bolton on 29th March 1947. It is planned that 66 will operate throughout the day with appropriate Bolton destinations set including from the very last route in the town – “T” to Tonge Moor. 66 will be on duty C which includes a trip from Pleasure Beach to Fleetwood Ferry at 1415 (returning at 1510).
Heritage day tickets are available at £11 for adults, £8.50 for concessions and £6 for children and can be purchased on board any Blackpool Transport bus or tram (the concessionary fare is only available on board the heritage trams).
* Heritage Trams Tours will continue throughout the year with regular Gold weekends throughout the year. With 2017 marking the 80th anniversary of the introduction of the Brush Railcoach it is intended that this will be marked with the Gold event over Tram Sunday weekend (15th/16th July) and the Anniversary Spectacular (23rd/24th September) being the centrepiece of celebrations.
A fantastic selection of Trams. well done! The weather was great and it was a really enjoyable weekend, Heritage just gets better and better.
66 unfortunately suffered a controller fault on its way back from Fleetwood, but the crew dealt with it quickly and we were treated to a ride onto Bispham Centre track from the opposite end! I saw it going back to depot later so hopefully nothing major.