Further to previous reports, we are delighted to announce that British Trams Online will be hosting a very special tram tour in Blackpool on Wednesday 7th November. This will primarily be to showcase Birkenhead 20 – a tram we have sponsored for its visit to Blackpool – but will also feature, subject to availability, a full system trip with the illuminated Trawler 737.
As part of our sponsorship arrangement, which saw British Trams Online finance the transportation of Birkenhead 20 to Blackpool for a loan period which commenced last year, we have been allowed to operate a private tour with the tram – and we are inviting readers of this website to attend too. However, as car 20 is restricted to running between Pleasure Beach and Bispham only, we will also be using a second car for a longer ride, with the Trawler being requested for this.
On Wednesday 7th November, our tour will start at 1200 noon at Rigby Road depot, with Birkenhead 20. This tram should perform two round trips between Pleasure Beach and Bispham, before heading back to the depot to be swapped for Trawler 737 which will then perform a system tour, including journeys to both Fleetwood and Starr Gate. Although extensively used during the autumn, the Trawler rarely visits the two extremities of the tramway and so this should be a rare opportunity to ride on it over the entire system.
We will be charging £10 to ride on the tour (this covers rides on both 20 and 737) with all proceeds being donated to the ‘Princess Alice’ 706 restoration fund being run by the Fylde Tramway Society – so as well as getting a great day out you will also be helping to support the return to service of an iconic Blackpool tram!
If anyone reading this would like to join us for this tour, please contact Andrew Waddington by emailing AndrewVulpes@aol.com to reserve a seat. Payment will be taken on the day. Participants will need to meet at Hopton Road, outside the tram depot, by 1150 on the day. Anyone who wishes to join us later on in the tour may be able to do so, but please let us know in advance if possible.
Apologies for the short notice with this tour, which is due to the fact that we were only advised of 20‘s confirmed availability a few days ago. Likewise the tour is operating on a weekday as there were only limited dates on offer to us, presumably due to high staffing requirements during the illuminations season. We hope that a few of you will be able to attend what will hopefully be an enjoyable occasion, and as this is likely to be 20‘s last use in Blackpool before it returns home, it should also be an historic tour too.