Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Easter debut for Marton 31

Posted on Wednesday 16 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

It has been revealed that Marton Box 31 will make its first passenger-carrying appearance since returning to Blackpool on Easter Sunday, 27th March. The tram will operate a special premium-price ‘inaugural run’ during the morning, and is then scheduled to … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

Fishing for funds to help the Trawler

Posted on Sunday 13 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

As has been reported previously, Blackpool’s illuminated Trawler 737 is currently under overhaul within the Rigby Road workshops having missed the 2015 season completely due to its rather shabby condition. The majority of the current work is generously being funded … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

The decapitation of LCC 1

Posted on Sunday 13 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 11th March, a notable and unusual activity took place at Crich Tramway Village involving the ongoing process of stripping London County Council 1. Having spent the past eighteen months in the museum’s workshop, the tram has been reduced … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 9 Comments

Blackpool’s blue timetable returns

Posted on Saturday 12 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

To mark Tourism Week in Blackpool, the town’s heritage trams have been enjoying a bumper period of activity with a period of daily operation on heritage tour duties commencing on Saturday 5th March. Normally the traditional fleet would still have … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

723: from scruffy to shiny!

Posted on Monday 7 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Welcome news from the Blackpool Heritage Trust is that Blackpool Balloon 723 has recently been admitted to the Paint Shop for a full repaint. The tram was re-activated as an extra attraction for last year’s 130th anniversary weekend, following the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Good Friday gets even better in Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 6 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

When the 2016 operating dates for Blackpool’s heritage tram service were first announced, Good Friday was a surprising omission. However, this has now changed for the better as an amended ‘blue’ timetable will now run on this day. The amendment … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 8 Comments

In Pictures: Blackpool 147 enters service at Beamish

Posted on Sunday 6 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 5th March saw Blackpool Standard 147 make its debut in passenger service at Beamish Museum, just seven days after it last operated in Blackpool. In between the two the tram has endured a rather prolonged and eventful road journey … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Trailer 681 leaves Fleetwood

Posted on Thursday 3 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Last week we reported the exciting news that Blackpool Trailer 681 had been moved from the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust’s storage compound to undercover storage at Rigby Road, having been repatriated by the Blackpool Heritage Trust to be reunited with … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 11 Comments

Standard 147 runs at Beamish

Posted on Thursday 3 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

After finally arriving at Beamish Museum on 2nd March following a long and eventful road journey from its home town, no time has been wasted in preparing Blackpool Standard car 147 in its temporary new home. The following day, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | 4 Comments

An epic journey concludes for Standard 147

Posted on Wednesday 2 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The road journey from Blackpool to Beamish by Standard 147 finally reached its conclusion on the morning of Wednesday 2nd March, when the tram finally arrived at the North East museum. Once unloaded, Marton 31 was then placed on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

Gone four seven!

Posted on Tuesday 1 March 2016 by Andrew Waddington

On Monday 29th February, Blackpool Standard car 147 bid a temporary farewell to its seaside home, departing for a loan period at Beamish Museum. This marked the first time that 147 had left Blackpool since its return home in 2000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

Update on the Trawler

Posted on Sunday 28 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The overhaul work on Blackpool’s illuminated Trawler 737 is continuing to make good progress. The tram has been residing in the Paint Shop for the last few weeks, and its repaint is now virtually complete with the car now looking … Continue reading →

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Boating in February!

Posted on Sunday 28 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The second ‘Winter Gold’ heritage tram running weekend in Blackpool took place over the weekend of 27th & 28th February, once again putting a fine selection of historic trams to work on the tramway. For many, the highlight – and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

Blackpool’s award winning heritage trams!

Posted on Sunday 28 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours were presented with a special trophy at the Blackpool Civic Trust Awards, held on the evening of Friday 26th February in the Paradise Room at the Pleasure Beach. This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the incredible … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Two more old friends return to Blackpool

Posted on Friday 26 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 26th February, Blackpool Brush car 634 made its much anticipated return home to Rigby Road. The tram, which has been donated to the Blackpool Heritage Trust after being privately preserved in 2009, is now back in Blackpool as … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

A fitting farewell for 147

Posted on Monday 22 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Standard car 147 is set to travel to Beamish Museum shortly for a loan period which is expected to last for much of 2016, but before it departs the tram will enjoy one final outing on its native tracks. … Continue reading →

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Crich Tramway Village gets a ten from Len!

Posted on Saturday 13 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Crich Tramway Village has featured in a recent episode of the BBC1 daytime television series, Len Goodman’s Holiday of a Lifetime. The series shows the Strictly Come Dancing judge accompany minor celebrities as they re-live fond memories of times spent … Continue reading →

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Wheel woes for Wallasey 78

Posted on Saturday 13 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Since the launch of Liverpool 245 into passenger service last September, members of the Merseyside Tramway Preservation Society have turned their attentions to Wallasey 78 which has been lifted from its truck for an overhaul. Unfortunately, this has revealed a … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway | 1 Comment

Pensioners go free in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 12 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

The debate of whether local senior citizens in possession of a NOW card should be entitled to free travel on the Blackpool tramway has often appeared on this website since the tramway’s modernisation, but it now looks like the topic … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 13 Comments

Marton 31 & Standard 147 swap places for 2016!

Posted on Friday 12 February 2016 by Andrew Waddington

Beamish Museum and Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours have joined forces to announce a very exciting arrangement which will be of mutual benefit, involving a temporary swap between two of their most popular trams. Beamish resident Marton Box 31 is set … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments