For the next few weeks we will be running a series of photos showing trams old and new in more or less the same location on the Blackpool Tramway. We start off at Bispham.
The Old is represented in this image by Ex-Towing Railcoach 679 which is taking a break on the centre track at Bispham. This was during its farewell tour on 29th November 2008 – a foggy and misty day which saw the tram (recently acquired by the then Lancastrian Transport Trust) run along with fellow LTT tram Coronation 304 along the length of the tramway. The luminous writing on the destination blind helps to brighten up the scene with the tram’s 1980s green and cream fleet livery seen through the gloom. The tram remains at Rigby Road Depot with it part-way through a restoration back to its original English Electric Railcoach condition.
The revised layout at Bispham still retains a centre track, although its not used nearly as much as it once was. Indeed the standard timetable doesn’t see any trams due to turn there, with most of its use being when trams are on driver training. But on 26th May 2024 it was being used by Flexity2 014 which was in passenger service when taking a break. (Both Photographs by Gareth Prior)
All those years have passed, and still neither car is available for use in spite of all the promises and requests for money. Will things ever improve again in Blackpool, or will we just remain begrudged of such a precious facet of our lives?
The restoration of 279 has faltered because of depot access, no fault of its owners!
Likewise further work or testing on 304 cannot take place.
I was there both occasions!
That farewell day with 679 has to be one of the most memorable ever. So atmospheric in the Fog. IIRC the LTT as it was then originally set a wildly ambitious target to have 279 ready for the 2010 125th Aniversary so delayed restorations are nothing new.
The 2024 photo if my notes are correct, 14 was on North Station driver familiarisation rather than in Service. 631 arrived and was due to terminate, but 14 was blocking access to the centre road. Driver was the much missed “PLD” always one of the best Heritage drivers. Unlike some who would get flustered at that, being Paul he parked up 631 at the Heritage Stop and went to have a word with the trainer on 14 as can be seen in the photo and got them to move up to the other end of the loop!