Please note there have been changes to the plan since this was originally published. The below article has now been updated with the new details (we did see subject to the usual caveats, its just we didn’t expect them to be come into effect quite so soon!)
How does 12 different heritage trams over the three day August Bank Holiday weekend sound? (13 probably sounds better!) If its sounds good then Blackpool is the place for you with the return of the standard six tram hop-on, hop-off timetable as part of the latest Vintage Weekend. Trams will include two Boats, one Brush, two Centenary Cars, four Balloon/Rebuilt Balloons, two illuminated trams and an interloper from Bolton!
The following trams (subject to all the usual caveats) due to run are as follows:
Saturday 27th August
A – Boat 227
B – Centenary 648
C – Frigate
D – Boat 600
E – Balloon 715
F – Balloon 700
Sunday 28th August
A – Boat 600
B – Brush 631
C – Western Train
D – Railcoach 680
E – Boat 227
F – Balloon 717
Monday 29th August
A – Boat 227
B – Rebuilt Balloon 707
C – Balloon 723
D – Boat 600
E – Brush 621
F – Centenary 648
As well as the hop-on, hop-off tours the weekend will see depot tours, a Real Ale Tour, evening tours, bus tours, Ghost Tram and there remains some pre-bookable tours for those who like to plan ahead.
Please note different hop-on, hop-off timetables will be in operation on Saturday 27th August and Sunday 28th/Monday 29th August. Details of these timetables are available on Facebook.
A day ticket for unlimited travel on the heritage trams (plus modern trams and Blackpool Transport buses) costs £18 for adults (£9 for children) and a three day pass is also available for £50 (including 3 day passes, a depot tour, bus tour, evening tour and either a Real Ale Tour or the Ghost Tram).
- Full details of the plans for the weekends can be seen at https://blackpoolheritage.com/tours/vintage-weekend/
Its all changed again since you published this!
It seems most fitting that 66 should feature every day of the weekend following its recent long service ceremony and tour. Hope it continues to bring pleasure to enthusiasts in particular and the public in general for very many years to come. It is after all the only passenger tram in Blackpool to represent the Edwardian era, the next oldest currently operational being over two decades ‘newer’ (147).
Unfortunately 66 won’t be appearing at all now! BHTT have now posted an updated list and it will be replaced by 715 (Sat), 680 (Sun) and 621 (Mon). 642 is also still unavailable meaning that 648 will run on Monday instead.
Bolton 66 broke down near Cabin last week and had to be towed in, seemingly it was a fairly serious fault as its already been ruled out of running this weekend. I personally feel its been very overworked this year, as most days this summer there have been ‘Double Deck Vintage Tram’ tours available to book in advance. With 147 out of service and 143 still absent, that means 66! Its not good to rely on one tram so much, particularly one as old and valuable as Bolton 66. Its so frustrating that its been out lightly loaded so often, and will now miss one of the busiest weekends of the whole year!
Which is precicely why the pre advertised tours need to end. They are hardly ever full (or even half full) and relying on one vehicle is ridiculous. Put the prom tours back to what they were, where the people are for goodness sake. So many days they would rake it in with open trams on the pattern they had pre covid but no they are keeping this stupid prebook tours no one wants. To expensive and no one wants to go on a sweatbox to Fleetwood!
Very disappointing indeed, but maybe not surprising given the overreliance on this tram so far this year. Hopefully the matter can soon be resolved and that it won’t go the way of trams such as 660 and 272/T2. At least 715 is quite a good choice, being a classic 70s condition Balloon and the other two not bad options – pity the third Boat is still awaiting attention given the decent weather outlook. Good to see that they plan to operate the other two. Seems to me that there is all to be gained from returning 704 to service as this will add another interesting variation to the Heritage fleet and maybe reduce the burden on the currently operational rolling stock.
I fail to see what 704 will add to the fleet… 143, 147, 706, the Hovertram and any Coronation car would be FAR more valuable. The advertised tours with Balloon cars are already well covered with 700, 717 and 723 to choose from whereas the vintage tours only have 66.
They are doing the best they can, with some very old vehicles, and limited finances. High maintenance vehichles doining quite high mileages.
Surely the solution then is to reduce the mileages? Many of the tours are poorly patronised, so focus on running them when the demand is highest. If this is the best they can do I’d hate to see the worst!
704 will add nothing for the general public. Ridiculous uncomfortable seats if, as is to be believed, its getting the thin upholstered ones, and just another balloon in a different version of Green. 706 is needed far more. At least then the silly guaranteed balloon tours might actually get some passengers! And there woud be a lovely open top double deck for illuminations. Though i note the open boat tours are now a thing of the past. Even a twin would add a bit of variety but it and the other boat seem to be having the longest rewires in history.
I expect that 704 will prove highly photogenic in the 1960s livery and overall appearance. Given passengers are happy to ride on cars such as 66, the boat cars and 147 (upstairs), I doubt harder seats will prove to be an issue. I do agree that it’s high time that 706 was put through the works and returned to service as it’s a really special tram and always popular with the public. I suppose all the delays are down to a combination of the pandemic coupled with the dire state of the economy, as I suspect the necessary donations to help fund these projects will have all but dried up.
Maybe it would be a worthwhile experiment next season for the service to concentrate on the Bispham to Pleasure Beach section where most potential customers are to be found, with maybe only a couple of trips to Fleetwood – morning and afternoon. The Fleetwood trip should ideally make use of a traditional Balloon, as this will provide the rare opportunity to ride upstairs all the way, not of course an option on the Flexities. Then on fine days, the boats could run Cabin to Pleasure Beach, serving the busier promenade, with some other cars such as 147 venturing to Little Bispham. Pity there’s not a stop at Norbreck given the potential number of riders who could be attracted from the adjacent large hotel.
If 706 is such a popular tram, and obviously a major source of revenue, why does it have to be paid for by donations from enthusiasts when it is owned by BTS. Surely as an asset of the operating company, there should be some return investment in its overhaul and restoration?
Kevin 1 have you seen the finances? There is no money to do it!
Don’t think anyone has seen the BHTT finances given it simply sits within BTS Ltd which given the core operation has its own issues is part of the problem.
I don’t think anyone (even within the company) can stomach actually adding up the losses accrued since 2012. I just don’t think they are going to be able to control rising costs against the backdrop of income that has obviously fallen significantly.
There is a legitimate (all be it difficult) question in terms of viability. You cant expect volunteers/donations to constantly meet costs year on year.
The operation has no interest in serving the public or making money, that much is clear given the abandonment of the lucrative promenade runs.
It’s difficult to disagree. I can’t help but notice even there biggest supporters struggle to defend or indeed explain rationale behind seemingly throwing away huge income source. Given they seemingly had to stop “Real Drive Experiences” which was another lucrative income stream you can see why rumours persist of mounting losses.
I think you’re overcomplicating things. Pre-pandemic, the heritage service was mainly Pleasure Beach to North Pier/Tower, with longer trips offered on special events and peak days. It worked! I’ve heard crews claim to have taken £1000 or more on a Boat car in a single day, just by running up and down the core section. I doubt they make half that amount in a day now, as the operating pattern they have makes it all but impossible, and the few trips that do run are so expensive that most people will probably be put off.
I think that the heritage operation needs to go back to basics if it is to survive. Most tourists don’t want to pay £8 or whatever for a 2 hour tour, they want a ride to the Pleasure Beach on something fun and unusual as part of a day by the seaside. Enthusiasts can be catered for with special events and premium tours to add interest. The Blackpool tramway and its heritage fleet should be a goldmine and seeing what is happening to it makes me want to scream!
As for 704, it has the potential to be lovely, but I doubt that many people will be that interested in it – to Joe Public it will just be another green and cream Balloon, something that is already well covered with 700, 717 & 723. What the operation desperately needs is trams that stand out and might tempt people to take a ride who aren’t persuaded by the current operational fleet. 143, 147, 304, 706 and the Hovertram all spring to mind.
I wonder what the cost of running empty Trams up and down is given the high electricity costs looming……….