As we’ve previously covered Illumination Tours resumed operation in Blackpool on Wednesday 15th October 2025 with all heritage trams having been confined to depot since December 2024 following a decision to suspend operations for a review. We know its just a very brief return (Wednesdays-Sundays with last tours for 2025 being 1st November) but for the next few weeks the tracks of Blackpool Promenade will once again see some historic trams in operation.
Two trams have been commissioned for service and we previously saw the Frigate used on the first night of tours. Day two saw the second of the trams, Balloon 717, in action and they will continue to be used on alternate nights throughout the operating period. That means Wednesday, Friday and Sunday for the Frigate and Thursday and Saturday for 717 with three tours scheduled on each evening.
Night one and the Frigate is seen departing Pleasure Beach with its first tour of the night, which departs just after 1800.
Darkness has now fallen and the Frigate is surrounded by a typical autumnal scene in Blackpool as the lights shine and there’s chance to get some fish and chips too!
Onto the second evening – 16th October 2025 – and it was the turn of Balloon 717 to be used. We see it first here sitting on Pleasure Beach loop with a queue of passengers waiting to board.
717 passes South Pier as it approaches journeys end with its first tour of the night.
And then another view of it as it heads away from the camera on Central Prom going north. (All Photographs by Ryan Hartley)