The much anticipated temporary return of heritage trams to operation in Blackpool moved a further step forward in late September when the chosen pair of trams for Illumination Tours during the Lightpool Festival this October took place. Both Balloon 717 and Frigate 736 were moved as part of further testing and can now be found residing at Starr Gate Depot.
Many reading this probably don’t need much reminding as to what has been going on with Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours but to give a summary in a quick paragraph. December 2024 saw the decision made to suspend all heritage tram operations, with a number of reasons given including safety and complex operational reasons. Since then work has been going on in the background to see how the heritage trams could be returned to the Prom once more and then earlier in the summer it was confirmed that two trams would be prepared for use during Lightpool.
An independent expert was called in to assess the trams and it was decided that 717 and the Frigate would be the trams used. They have spent time in what is now the Tramtown Exhibition at Rigby Road where they were assessed and after this they were moved onto the depot fan for further inspection.
Then on Thursday 25th September it was time for the first movement of a heritage tram onto the Prom for many months with Balloon 717 making the move. It travelled on the section of tramway between Foxhall and Starr Gate, with several runs to allow full tests to take place. After these were completed it then went to Starr Gate Depot and was housed in the building there.
Two days later on Saturday 27th September and it was the turn of the Frigate to do the same. Leaving Rigby Road around 1300 it was also tested on the tramway and finally entered Starr Gate Depot around 1500 where it joined 717 as well as 18 Flexity2 trams.
It remains the plan that the trams will be used on tours during the Lightpool Festival which takes place from 15th October to 1st November 2025. Details of tickets for these tours (which are likely to be popular) have yet to be announced.
The Frigate leaves Rigby Road Depot.
A move the tram has undertaken many, many times during its life but it probably hasn’t been quite this anticipated for some time! Entering Pleasure Beach loop.
New South Promenade with another test run.
And sitting in the headshunt outside of Starr Gate Depot. (All Photographs by Oliver Shenton, 27th September 2025)