Author Archives: Andrew Waddington

Incredible events for Blackpool 130th anniversary announced

Posted on Sunday 16 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Outline plans have now been revealed for the highly anticipated weekend event celebrating 130 years of the Blackpool tramway in September, and this looks set to be the most ambitious and impressive event in the modern era so far by … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 12 Comments

The tram that can’t be moved

Posted on Friday 14 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The task of transferring Blackpool Brush Railcoach 290 from its current location to storage at Rigby Road sounds a simple one on paper, but unfortunately it has turned out to be anything but. It will be recalled that this tram … Continue reading →

Posted in Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 4 Comments

Book Review: ‘The Tower to Bispham – the Blackpool Tramway since 1960’

Posted on Thursday 13 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Last year, well-known Blackpool tramway historian Brian Turner released the first of a trilogy of books taking a detailed look at the changing face of this much-loved system in the period since 1960, focussing on the section from Starr Gate … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Comments Off on Book Review: ‘The Tower to Bispham – the Blackpool Tramway since 1960’

In Pictures: Middleton Road Paint Shop!

Posted on Thursday 13 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The original tram depot at the Heaton Park Tramway is currently resembling a Paint Shop, with two trams currently occupying the building which are being transformed in appearance. The long-running project, Hull 96, has recently been joined by Blackpool 280 … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Middleton Road Paint Shop!

Trams & Chips

Posted on Thursday 13 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Heritage Tram Tours are offering a unique new experience on Wednesday 30th September, by teaming up with the world-famous fish & chip shop Harry Ramsdens for an illuminations tour with a difference! This brand is of course no stranger … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

‘HMS Blackpool’ on driver training

Posted on Tuesday 11 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The sight of heritage and ‘B Fleet’ trams on driver training duties in Blackpool has become an increasingly common one of late, presumably as efforts intensify to increase the number of staff trained on these trams in time for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Trams & Planes

Posted on Tuesday 11 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The recent week-long 1940s event at Crich Tramway Village featured a special appearance by an unusual visitor: a Spitfire aircraft, which was prominently displayed at Town End for the whole week. Co-incidentally while this event was in full swing, another … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Crich Tramway Village | 3 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Conduit car 4

Posted on Tuesday 11 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

For today’s ‘Picture in Time’ image we head once again to Manchester, however rather than the familiar Heaton Park Tramway or the Metrolink system, our destination this time is the Manchester Museum of Science & Industry. For a number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Picture in Time | 1 Comment

Blackpool rocks Heaton Park!

Posted on Monday 10 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On the weekend of 8th & 9th August, a number of heritage organisations in Manchester hosted a joint event celebrating the city’s love affair with the seaside resort of Blackpool. Naturally, such an event provided the perfect opportunity for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

Balloon cars prepare for weekend events

Posted on Wednesday 5 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Two of the less-seen of Blackpool’s Balloon class in preservation, cars 702 and 721, have recently received a bit of TLC ahead of events this weekend being held by their respective owners, the Manchester Transport Museum Society and the North … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Blackpool Boat 233 inaugurates the E Line

Posted on Wednesday 5 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Boat car 233 has finally started its operating career in the USA, almost two years after departing its country of origin. The tram has been undergoing some modifications since arriving in America and has also repainted in its original … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Blackpool Boat 233 inaugurates the E Line

Bolton 66 meets the mayors

Posted on Monday 3 August 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On Friday 31st July, the two heritage trams in service in Blackpool on the regular blue timetable were joined by Bolton 66 which was used to convey a private party, including two Mayors. The tram initially ran from Rigby Road … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Heaton Park Tramway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Progress on Hull 96

Posted on Monday 27 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

It has been a while since we provided an update on progress with the restoration work being undertaken on Hull 96 at Manchester’s Heaton Park Tramway, so to rectify this here are a few images showing some of the recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Progress on Hull 96

In Pictures: Blackpool’s B Fleet in service

Posted on Wednesday 22 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Monday 20th & Tuesday 21st July saw the modified ‘B Fleet’ Balloon cars in use on the Blackpool tramway. Whilst these cars have made occasional guest appearances on heritage tour duties, this time they were being used as they were … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on In Pictures: Blackpool’s B Fleet in service

Heritage trams prove a hit with Fleetwood festival crowds

Posted on Monday 20 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The annual Fleetwood Festival of Transport, held on Sunday 19th July 2015, provided the incentive for the most extensive service operated by traditional trams to Fleetwood – albeit turning short at Fisherman’s Walk – since the Blackpool tramway upgrade. Six … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Battle Bus visits Crich

Posted on Friday 17 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On Wednesday 15th July, an unusual visitor arrived at Crich in the form of London omnibus B2723 – better known as the ‘Battle Bus’ from London’s Transport Museum. The bus in its distinctive khaki livery was one of the star … Continue reading →

Posted in Crich Tramway Village | 4 Comments

Stockport 5 returns to Lakeside Depot

Posted on Thursday 16 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On Tuesday 14th July, Stockport 5 was transferred from the original Middleton Road depot on the Heaton Park Tramway, to the new depot near to the boating lake. The car has been undergoing some remedial bodywork attention following the discovery … Continue reading →

Posted in Heaton Park Tramway | Comments Off on Stockport 5 returns to Lakeside Depot

Beamish goes Downton for the day

Posted on Wednesday 15 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On Monday 13th July, a high-profile filming assignment for the final series of the TV drama series Downton Abbey took place at Beamish Museum. The period setting of the museum’s town area was the perfect venue for some scenes for … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway | Comments Off on Beamish goes Downton for the day

Operating plan for Fleetwood ‘Tram Sunday’ announced

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

After much speculation a plan of action has now been revealed for the operation of heritage trams to and from the annual Fleetwood Festival of Transport, better known by many as Tram Sunday and happening this year on Sunday 19th … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 6 Comments

More volunteer drivers for Blackpool

Posted on Tuesday 14 July 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool tramway’s heritage team continue to make positive progress of late, with two more volunteers being issued their tram driving licences this week. This will obviously provide a very welcome boost to the available pool of trained drivers for … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | Comments Off on More volunteer drivers for Blackpool