A sure sign that summer is almost over is the switching on of the illuminations in Blackpool and for trams that also means their busiest period of the year – especially for the heritage trams with illumination tours now underway. As has now become the norm no standard illumination tours are able to run on switch-on night with the first tours this year being Saturday 31st August – when no fewer than six trams were allocated to tour duty, including both operational Boats!
The first tour of 2019 was in the capable wheels of Boat 227 with the Western Train, Boat 600, Frigate 736, Bolton 66 and Balloon 717 also rostered for the evening. Balloon Cars 718 and 723 were then used as part of the offering on the second night of tours meaning eight different trams were used for tours on the first weekend of 2019.
Whilst there were no full illumination tours on switch-on night there were some heritage tram tours running either side of the blockade for the switch-on concert at Tower Headland. Bolton 66, Boat 227 and Balloon 717 ran between North Pier and Bispham until 2300 with Boat 600 also out running between Foxhall Square and Pleasure Beach. So, the blockading of the tramway isn’t enough to stop the heritage trams from running!
Tours will continue every night until 3rd November with the more “exotic” trams likely to see use at weekends – and during the October half term – when a higher number of trams are required to cater for the queues. All illumination tours start off from Pleasure Beach loop with boarding only possible here although it is possible to alight on the way back at Bispham, Cabin and North Pier/Tower. Tickets cost £6 for adults and £3 for children (heritage travelcards are also valid for travel).
Boat 600 comes out for tour duty seen here heading down to Pleasure Beach as it passes Manchester Square.
Taken from on board Boat 227 another of the first night's tour cars is seen here in the shape of Bolton 66.
And speaking of Boat 227 here is the tram standing on Pleasure Beach loop between tour duties.
It is the illuninations so we better show you an illuminated tram as well! The very familiar sight of the Western Train as it heads away from Pleasure Beach passing the Venus Reborn tableau which seems to have been located here for nearly as long as the train as been operational! (All Photographs by Rob Bray, 31st August 2019)