Despite the fact that it will be some time before trams will be using the extension of the Blackpool Tramway up Talbot Road to Blackpool North Railway Station work is still pressing ahead with the parts of the project which can be developed. The past week has seen the start of overhead pole installation whilst progress is also starting on the single platform stop in Talbot Square itself.
With the tracks now connected between the extension and the Promenade tramway attention is turning away from trackwork towards other aspects of the infrastructure. Of course a major component of this will need to the overhead and to this end poles are starting to be put in place up Talbot Road to allow the wires to be strung at some point in the future. With no trams expected to run on this line for some time it remains to be seen whether the overhead is put in place at this point or if they wait until the full line is in place.
The extension will also see a single platform stop constructed in Talbot Square. This will be just for trams heading towards the railway station providing better access for the town centre.
I presume that they are not re-using the original OHLE poles that remain in situ: one of them can be seen in the right background. This seems rather a pity, but perhaps they don’t conform to 21st century standards. Anyway, it will be good to see this line open, once the Wilko monstrosity is finally gone.
Given that the last tram to run up Talbot Road was in October 1936 I would be very surprised if those poles were original and if they were there is no way that anyone would rely on them to support overhead wiring now. I think they are simply extremely robust lighting columns probably from the same stock as they use for the illuminations along the promenade. Looking on Google Street view they have twin access doors for the cabling associated with the lights.