Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours kicked off 2018 in splendid style on the weekend of 27th & 28th January, with a special ‘Gold’ weekend featuring a regular service to Starr Gate and a larger than usual number of heritage tours operating to Fleetwood as well. Six trams ran on both days, and what follows is a brief summary of the action from that weekend.
Saturday 27th January saw the year’s heritage service get underway with an output comprising entirely of green and cream trams, most of which were enclosed single deckers: Brush cars 630 & 631, Centenary 648, Railcoach 680, Millennium 718 and Balloon 723. In addition, Balloon 700 was used as a static gift shop and unusually it spent the day parked up on the loop at Pleasure Beach to allow the spare track at North Pier (where the shop tram is normally positioned) to be occupied for a time by the illuminated Western Train 733+734, which was being used for a private charter. It was noted that a few potential customers were attempting to board both 700 and the Western Train for a ride – maybe they fancied something a bit more colourful!
Sunday 28th February was a better day weather-wise, with Brush cars 621 & 623, Balloons 701, 713 & 715 and Millennium 718 in action, whilst Balloon 700 was on shop duties again, this time stabled at North Pier. Prior to entering service, Centenary car 648 was found to be defective and so its place was taken by 715, whilst 713 failed at North Pier with a controller fault and was subsequently replaced by sister car 723. A potential issue was avoided; with the demic 713 occupying the centre track near North Pier and 700 stabled on the sea-side, northbound trams would have been unable to proceed, but some quick thinking saw 700 head south as part of a shunt move until 713 could be driven empty back to Rigby Road from its ‘good end’.
In all, a very good weekend – and one that is set to be repeated soon, with a further ‘Gold’ weekend on 24th & 25th February, when an identical service will operate including journeys to Starr Gate and Fleetwood.
718 ran on both days of the January 'Gold' event, and is shown at Starr Gate on the Saturday afternoon.
Another view from Saturday 27th January, with 648 at Pleasure Beach heading south.
Two modified Balloon cars pass at North Pier on Sunday 28th January. 700 is seen arriving to be parked up as the shop tram as 713 heads towards Starr Gate on what turned out to be its only southbound working of the day.
701 was used as a snowplough car for several winters making its appearance in passenger service in January all the more novel. The tram was captured at North Pier heading back to the depot at the end of the weekend. (All photos by Rob Bray)