The latest special event – Totally Models – takes place in Blackpool on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June with the usual gold heritage tram timetable augmented by stalls and layouts at Rigby Road Depot along with the chance to see behind the scenes at the depot and heritage buses in use as well.
Seven trams will be in service on each day with the usual six trams in action between Pleasure Beach and Fleetwood plus one tram on the depot shuttle service whcih will run along Lytham Road before terminating on Hopton Road. An additional heritage tram stop will also be sited on the Prom at Foxhall Square to allow passengers to easily get to Rigby Road for the added extras over the weekend. The depot service will run hourly with some of the journeys being extended to Cabin or Bispham.
Subject to availability and weather the following trams are scheduled to be running:
Saturday 23rd June
A – Railcoach 680, B – Box 40, C – Balloon 701, D – Boat 600, E – Centenary 648, F – Bolton 66, Depot – Balloon 713
Sunday 24th June
A – Balloon 723, B – Brush 621, C – Balloon 718, D – Boat 600, E – Balloon 700, F – Standard 147, Depot – Balloon 715
In Rigby Road Depot there will be model tramway layouts and stalls with an admission price of £5 (adults) and £4 (children/concessions). There will also be the chance for depot tours and for this event there is no pre-booking required you just have to turn up and subject to space pay your £5 to see behind the scenes at Rigby Road Depot (first come, first served!)
And if buses are your thing there will also be a free heritage bus service using Blackpool Transport buses on the Saturday (Swift 554 and Atlantean 362) and two buses from the Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust on the Sunday (PD3 1775 and open top VR 1995).
If you can’t make it on either day – or even if you can and want to see what’s happening as it does! – then we will be bringing you Live coverage on Facebook on both days.
* Full details of the timetables in use over the weekend can be found on the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours Facebook page.
I’m sure this will be another brilliant event, but is it just me who thinks that the tram output lets it down a bit? 713 hasn’t been out for a few months, and is a tram that appeals mainly to the hardcore enthusiasts who generally want a longer ride – so using it on depot shuttles seems like a waste. I would have used 701 on the short runs instead, as it stinks in warm weather and can be very unpleasant going to Fleetwood!
I think poor old 701 heard you and decided it didn’t want to run after all and 713 joined in with the protest considering neither made it into service today!