Across the UK over the long Bank Holiday weekend (Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th June) there were a number of events taking place to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. From concerts to street parties, Blackpool’s main offering was a Tram Parade running Pleasure Beach-Little Bispham-North Pier (for no other reason than why not!) on Thursday 2nd June featuring a total of 13 trams (we had been promised at least a dozen and ended up with a baker’s dozen!).
With the weather being relatively kind (although the full on sunshine from the morning had been replaced by more hazy and cloudy conditions) Blackpool Prom was lined with interested spectators to see the heritage trams travel along the Prom, including a pause at Tower for photo opportunities. The Parade departed from Pleasure Beach at 1430 led by Boat 227 and slowly made its way north, not reaching north of the Metropole until just after 1500. Tickets to travel on board the Parade were made available through a free ballot and those on board were treated to a goody bag including Queen’s Platinum Jubilee flags, gifts from various Blackpool attractions and sweets.
Tramcar wise highlights of the Parade included the debut of Balloon 723 in a new coat of 1990s Green and Cream livery which had been applied in the Paint Shop over the past few weeks, replacing the Magical Express Tour advertising vinyls it had received last November. Also in the Parade was Ex-Towing Railcoach 680 (also coincidentally in 1990s fleet livery) which had not been used since early 2020 before the pandemic hit.
The full list of trams which ran in the Parade:
- Boat 227
- Boat 600
- Brush 631
- Railcoach 680
- Centenary 648
- Western Train 733+734
- Trawler 737
- Frigate 736
- Bolton 66
- Balloon 717
- Balloon 723
- Balloon 700
- Rebuilt Balloon 707
Once trams arrived back at North Pier, a short period of hop-on, hop-off tours started. Utilising four trams this ran between 1600 and 1900 between Pleasure Beach and Bispham/Little Bispham. This included temporary stops located at Manchester Square (fairly standard), South Pier (a little bit random) and Imperial Hotel (very left field!). Boat Cars 227 and 600, Bolton 66 and Balloon 717 were originally the four trams out but after 600 developed a fault at Bispham it was replaced by 723 for the rest of the early evening period.
Balloon Cars on the depot fan as preparations for the Parade take place. On the left is new look 723 with the more familiar looking 717 and 715 on the right. Whilst 723 and 717 featured in the Parade 715 didn’t. (Photograph by blackpool_trams)
Bolton 66 sits on the inner loop at Pleasure Beach waiting for the Parade to set-off.
The Trawler on the loop.
Railcoach 680 was a welcome returnee during the Parade. Complete with Jubilee bunting in the saloon it too is seen waiting on the loop at Pleasure Beach. (Photographs x3 by Michael Morton)
Boat 227 leads the Parade off from Pleasure Beach with sister car 600 in hot pursuit. The crowds seen here were replicated along most of the length of the Prom to North Pier with more further north too.
Centenary 648 gently moves north passing the entrance to Pleasure Beach loop. Railcoach 680 and Brush 631 can be seen ahead.
The Western Train was the first illuminated tram in the Parade and was followed immediately by the other operational feature cars. (Photographs x3 by blackpool_trams)
As the Parade returned to North Pier to terminate there was a bit of a tram jam as passengers from the trams had to alight. This is the very rear of the Parade with Rebuilt Balloon 707 and Balloon 707 awaiting their turn to move forward.
After the Parade a few trams entered service on a special hop-on, hop-off heritage service. That included Bolton 66 which is seen here coming around the Metropole Hotel heading north.
At North Pier with Boat 600 now in heritage service as 707, 700, 723 and 717 all wait their turn to dispose of their passengers and return to depot. (Photographs by Peter Dockerty)
Was indeed a brilliant parade of trams, but I couldn’t help but notice (on a YouTube video of the parade) the dishevelled look of 717 with what I assume is pantograph grease running down and over the first set of windows on the upper deck at both ends. If you go to ANY heritage railway you will never ever see a steam or diesel engine other than in pristine condition. It’s about time BHTTs took pride in the fleet and put their energies in to ensuring the trams are presented in the best way possible.
It is indeed a pity that such a magnificent tram should be turned out for what marked a very significant Royal occasion in less than excellent condition. At least there were two trams appropriate for a Royal celebration included in the line-up. Obviously 600 with its Royal title and 631, which first entered service at the time of the Coronation of King George VI. I often wonder why the Brush Cars weren’t named Coronation Cars as was the case with the Glasgow trams entering service around the same time. Being the most luxurious of railcoaches and reasonably reliable in service, they most likely would have proven far more worthy of such a name than those that were subsequently to carry the title in connection with the 1953 Coronation and which proved far less than an asset to the tramway.