The May Day Bank Holiday weekend (29th April to 1st May) saw the second Enhanced Weekend of 2023 for Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours, this one coinciding with the Fylde Tramway Society’s annual convention. With a revised timetable in operation over the weekend – using just five trams instead of six and on the Saturday and Sunday including trips to Starr Gate to help connect visitors to a Tramway Model Exhibition at the Solaris Centre – it was the usual set of trams which were out, including some swaps and changes, particularly with the weather on the Sunday being inclement. These photos come from Stuart Cooke.
The tram output over the weekend was as follows:
Saturday 29th April: Bolton 66, Boat 227 (replaced by Boat 600), Brush 621, Rebuilt Balloon 707, Balloon 717. Evening Tour: Frigate
Sunday 30th April: Brush 631, Railcoach 680, Balloon 700, Rebuilt Balloon 707 (replaced by Balloon 723 which was then replaced by 707 again), Balloon 717
Monday 1st May: Bolton 66, Boat 227, Railcoach 680, , Balloon 700, Balloon 717. Evening Tour: Boat 227
The day before the events of the weekend got underway, the Fylde Tramway Society hired Balloon 713 for a trip after a tour of Rigby Road Depot. This is 713 with the Pharos Lighthouse in Fleetwood for company.
29th April and sunshine shines on Boat 600 as it stops at North Pier.
Looking through the windscreen of Rebuilt Balloon 707 we see Balloon 700 heading in the opposite direction.
Balloon 717 is captured at Bispham when working northbound to Little Bispham.
Also at Bispham, this time we see 700 again as it runs a Coastal Tour north to Fleetwood. (All Photographs by Stuart Cooke)