After most of the first four weeks of the installation of overhead on the Blackpool Tramway extension seemed to be pretty slow progress it suddenly seems to be all systems go now! After yesterday’s update where we saw the first actual overhead wire – as opposed to span wire – in place it has now been joined by a second wire with this on the south curve inbound line.
The second wire was installed overnight on 29th/30th July – all this work is due to take place at night to minimise disruption during the busy summer holiday period – and now means that the standard wire is in place into Talbout Square on both tracks from the south. But as pointed out in the comments section of the last article this is just the plain wire with no sign of frogs or crossovers as yet.
Of course the work isn’t all about the overhead installation and there is another hive of activity at the old Wilko’s site where tramway concentration remains on preparing the track for the concrete pour. After the appearance of one tent for welding yesterday another has now also gone up.
- Keeping with the overhead wires on the Blackpool Tramway theme, tram services to Fleetwood Ferry were unable to run all the way at the start of service on Thursday 29th July after a tree blocked the overhead lines. The first two trams of the day from Starr Gate were turned at Fisherman’s Walk (Ash Street in old money) to allow the tree to be removed with a normal service then able to resume.
014 runs along the Prom line and passes the junction where you can see the overhead wires are now installed.
The view from Talbot Square towards the Prom clearly showing the two overhead lines now in place.
A close-up of the new overhead.
Up at the other end of the line and work continues on the track installation. (All Photographs by Tony Armitage, 30th July 2021)