Provisional details of the heritage tram output in Blackpool planned for the August Bank Holiday weekend have now been announced, confirming that two red liveried streamliners are set to steal the limelight for the final stint of daytime heritage tram tours this year. Boat 227, now fully repaired following electrical repairs earlier this year, is set to return to active duties along with Balloon 701 which is currently being repainted in its popular red and white ‘Routemaster’ livery.
The event organisers are putting a lot of faith in the weather on Saturday 23rd August, when all three Boat cars remaining in Blackpool are scheduled to operate alongside open top Balloon ‘Princess Alice’ 706 for the first time this year. Crews will swap between the four trams so that all of them can be used despite only three crews being available, and it is hoped that the efforts being made to make the best possible use of the resources available will be appreciated by all present. 227 is set to be joined by sister car 230 for the morning Fleetwood run with the unique prototype Boat car 600 also due to run that day.
On Sunday 24th August, the newly repainted Balloon 701 will be the star of the show and is expected to run to Fleetwood twice over the course of the day, which should also feature three other operational Balloon cars 700, 706 and 717 in service. This tram is currently being returned to its well-remembered 1991 red and white livery, based on the colours worn by the small fleet of ex-London Routemaster buses which operated on the promenade route at this time, and this will also be its first passenger use since May 2013, meaning that it should be in high demand all day. The Bank Holiday Monday, 25th August, should then see the two red trams running together as well as a few other surprises!
There will be plenty more tram action over the three day weekend, including a special premium price farewell tour on Pantograph car 167 on the evening of Saturday 23rd August, which will be the last chance to ride on this tram before it returns to Crich. The event looks sure to be another very enjoyable one, and will hopefully be well supported to help give the newly formed Blackpool Heritage Trust a welcome early boost!
Full details of the planned tramcar output for the weekend can be viewed on the official Facebook page of the heritage tram tours – https://www.facebook.com/BlackpoolHeritageTramTours – and a full event preview will also be posted on British Trams Online in due course.
What a way to celebrate the launch of the Trust. Excellent overall event package. Sounds like they have plenty of surprises up their sleeves as well. Looks set to be a wonderful event. Id have hoped 167 might have featured as part of the day time format but cant have it all. Will be their and will be happy to pay for the premium ticket on top. Expect tickets will be like gold dust though. Missed out on 167 Fleetwood run at Totally Transport.
Perhaps 167 Could be placed on static display as part of one of the day time operations. Would love to photograph it one more time in the day time at Blackpool. 167 & The Western Train outside the depot certainly would be very popular. Dont want to come across as ungrateful though. Very Very pleased with what is already on offer.
Whilst it is very pleasing to learn that there will be two red trams running (boat 227 and Balloon 701) as well as favourites 167, 706 and 717, notable absences are either of the two Coronation cars. These have stood idle now for almost five years; last noted in service for the enthusiast events in September 2010. My apologies for raising this and dampening (only slightly, I hope) the brilliant news re the ouput on the August Bank Holiday weekend, but the longer 304 doesn’t turn a wheel, the worse its condition will become – with flats on the wheels and rubber sandwich inserts to name but two potential problems. Most enthusiasts are aware of 660’s poor condition as regards its bogies and we realise that money needs to be spent, hence its lengthy and continuing period of storage. But it would be good to see 304 however briefly, assuming it still is in operating condition. This class of tram seems to be continually absent on the heritage scene. I hope that we may look forward to a change in this policy soon.
304 is believed to have been receiving some attention in the workshops this year, although whether this is with a view to getting it operational or it has simply been ‘looked at’ is not confirmed. The tram did endure a period of outside storage but is thought to have survived unscathed so is probably a candidate for a relatively easy return to use. The main stumbling block here is the VAMBAC equipment which will require drivers to be specially trained on it, as I believe only one remaining member of staff has ever driven it before and even they will understandably need a refresher. The equipment itself is also notoriously temperamental so there may well be other factors delaying its return. Hopefully 304 will run again soon, I’m pretty confident that it will!
As an aside, dare I say that the glaring omission from the output for me personally is the Centenary cars which have only done one day of service so far in 2014. I guess the sad fact is that they don’t appeal to the punters as much as Boats and Balloons, but it would be nice to see 648 in particular out again following the superb repaint it received last year.
Just to add an afterthought, these trams aren’t fitted with transponders – another reason for their non-appearance.
Maybe 304 might be one of the “surprises ” planned for the weekend. There was a photo published somewhere in the last couple of weeks of 304 receiving work in the fitting shop. Perhaps it was being prepared for service…
Possible, but equally it may have just been in for checking over to see what needs doing. Twin set 675+685 spent several weeks in the works last year and hasn’t run yet, so let’s not get too excited!
The big surprise is another visiting tram. I know because a guard at the tramway it’s coming from said. I won’t say where as that might give it away what it is.
Chris
My gut feeling is that someone’s having you on, but I will wait and see with interest! If it really is a visiting tram I doubt it will stay a secret for long as its not often a low loader makes it into Blackpool undetected! Bearing in mind the need to fit transponders etc. though I’ll be very surprised if this is true.
My thoughts exactly! But even if it’s not, I’m sure we won’t be disappointed!
I mean about 304!
Nice to see the folks at Blackpool throw some unpredictability in to the mix! My bet is for Coronation 304, given the recent maintenance carried out on it, but this talk of visiting trams has me intrigued. Toastrack 166, Boat 236 or Marton Box 31, perhaps?
I’ve heard from a mate that there has been quite a lot of talk within the TMS of 59 returning to Blackpool. Perhaps this is happening as the surprise tram?
Again, not impossible but extremely unlikely as 59 is currently one of the least accessible trams at Clay Cross. Extracting it would be a huge task – for a start OMO 5 is blocking it in – and with preparations for the ‘Electric 50’ event at Crich to consider, I very much doubt the Crich workshop time will have the time to get 59 out. In any case, that wouldn’t explain why the tram operating the Monday evening Fleetwood tour is not confirmed yet as 59 is clearly in no fit state to run!
I doubt it’s a visiting tram. Who would fund transport for such a tram and then have it run for only one day? My bet is 304 or set 5 (continuing with the theme of red)
First of all id like to make it clear the post from “Chris” was not me.
Secondly. Never been one to try and pre empt a gift. Lets just sit back and enjoy the ride (quite literally). No harm in harmless speculation though. Could be any number of things. Bryan is a magician when it comes to surprises.
Thirdly. People are quite correct that Coronation 304 has been until very recently inside the compound. But as was reported at the time by Trams Today. Was an assessment and no final decision had been made about whether it could be reactivated easily.
Its a fantastic offering with or without any added surprises. Am just happy to be their. In some ways I hope “Chris” isnt right. As would a great shame to have spoilt the surprise factor of a visiting tram. Just sit back and enjoy it unfold. Harmless speculation is fine. But revealing any inside knowledge publicly not cricket frankly.