It was an event that for a long-time looked as if it wouldn’t take place at all and although it won’t the spectacle we have become used to in recent years the weekend of Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September will see (barring any last minute governmental policy changes!) the Blackpool Tramway celebrating 135 years of operation.
What’s Happening?
It won’t be the usual intensive service but a good selection of Promenade and Coastal Tours will be running over both days of the weekend. All tours must be pre-booked (details on how to do so later in this article) and with the exception of the Sunday Procession tours will start at North Pier and Tower. They will not be hop-on hop-off tours but you will be able to get off at usual heritage stops (similarly to illumination tours) but once you do that will be that.
Promenade Tours run from North Pier and Tower to Little Bispham then back to Pleasure Beach before terminating at North Pier and Tower.
Coastal Tours run North Pier and Tower-Fleetwood-Pleasure Beach-North Pier and Tower.
The Procession on Sunday will run Pleasure Beach-Little Bispham-Pleasure Beach and will include a slow run-past between Central Pier and North Pier.
The Illuminated Frigate, HMS Blackpool, will return to service on Saturday 26th September and will run some daytime tours to mark the occasion.
When are the tours running?
The following timetable has been released including type of tram due to run but the usual caveats apply.
Saturday 26th September
1030 – Promenade Tour using a Balloon Car
1045 – Coastal Tour using a Single Decker (possibly a Boat Car if weather permits)
1100 – Promenade Tour using a Vintage Car
1230 – Promenade Tour using a Vintage Car
1300 – Coastal Tour using a Balloon Car
1400 – Coastal Tour using the Frigate
1400 – Promenade Tour using a Single Decker (possibly a Boat Car if weather permits)
1500 – Coastal Tour using a Vintage Car
1515 – Promenade Tour using a Balloon Car
1530 – Promenade Tour using a Single Decker (possibly a Boat Car if weather permits)
1615 – Promenade Tour using the Frigate
Sunday 27th September
1050 – Procession of Trams through the Ages using 6 trams. This will depart from Pleasure Beach
1230 – Promenade Tour using a Vintage Car
1245 – Coastal Tour using a Single Decker (Boat Car if weather permits)
1300 – Promenade Tour using a Balloon Car
1315 – Promenade Tour using a Single Decker
1345 – Promenade Tour using a Centenary Car
1400 – Coastal Tour using a Modified Balloon
1430 – Promenade Tour using a Single Decker (possibly a Boat Car if weather permits)
1445 – Coastal Tour using a Vintage Car
1500 – Promenade Tour using a Centenary Car
1515 – Coastal Tour using a Balloon Car
1600 – Promenade Tour using a Single Decker (possibly a Boat Car if weather permits)
In addition, for anyone arriving in Blackpool early there will a Balloon Car on a Coastal Tour on Friday 25th September. This will depart North Pier and Tower at 1500.
There are also Illumination Tours every night but at the time of writing these are all sold out for the weekend.
What trams are due to run?
Although trams to tours have not been announced a list of planned trams has and you should be able to match these to the above timetable!
Saturday 26th September
Bolton 66 (vintage)
Boat 600 (Single Decker/Boat)
Balloon 715 (Balloon)
Frigate 736 (Frigate)
Sunday 27th September
Standard 147 (vintage)
Boat 227 (Single Decker/Boat)
Brush 621 (Single Decker)
Centenary 648 (Centenary)
Balloon 701 (Balloon)
Balloon 707 (Modified Balloon)
All trams will be subject to availability and may be substituted for alternatives.
How do I book tickets?
Pre-booking of tickets for all tours can be made through the Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours website at https://blackpoolheritage.com/135th-anniversary-weekend/. Just follow the links on that page for your preferred tour (including upper or lower deck on double deckers) to book your place.
British Trams Online coverage
We should be providing some live updates on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BritishTramsOnline over the weekend and we will then have photos of the weekend in a future update.
All information is provided in good faith and is correct at the time of publication. Please keep an eye on Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours social media accounts for any updates including Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BlackpoolHeritageTramTours.