Category Archives: Blackpool Tramway

The Brush cars are back with a vengence!

Posted on Wednesday 11 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The task of returning the numerous Lancastrian Transport Trust trams to Blackpool Transport’s premises for inclusion in the company’s expanded heritage tram collection took another giant leap forwards on Tuesday 10th December, when two more old friends were transported back … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 1 Comment

Blackpool Balloon 715 goes home

Posted on Monday 9 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Mere hours after Blackpool Coronation car 663 returned to the safety of Rigby Road depot, another much-loved Blackpool tramcar was brought back home to join the town’s heritage tram fleet. Unlike 663, Balloon 715 is a tram that most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 5 Comments

Blackpool Coronation cars reunited at Rigby Road

Posted on Monday 9 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On Monday 9th December, all three surviving Blackpool ‘Coronation’ cars were reunited at the town’s Rigby Road tram depot for the first time since 1975. On this day, cars 304 and 660 were joined by 663, which had made the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 7 Comments

Time running out for Blackpool Balloon 716

Posted on Saturday 7 December 2013 by Gareth Prior

When the Blackpool Tramway fleet started to be sold around the country one of the most surprising purchases saw Blackpool Balloon 716 head north to Perth in Scotland where it was planned to be used as an office by Ptarmigan … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 17 Comments

Blackpool tramway affected by severe storms

Posted on Thursday 5 December 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Much of the country has been severely affected by adverse weather conditions on Thursday 5th December, and the Fylde coast was no exception. Despite the multi-million pound investment in a new sea wall for Blackpool’s promenade over the past decade, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

‘Box’ 40 set for brief return to Crich

Posted on Friday 29 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The Tramway Museum Society have announced that Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Box’ 40 will be returning to Crich for a major special event in 2014, celebrating 50 years of electric tramcar operation at the museum. The car – which remains owned by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, National Tramway Museum | 4 Comments

Night boat to Fleetwood

Posted on Saturday 23 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

During the 2013 season, every operational member of the Blackpool heritage tram fleet had visited the tramway’s northern terminus at Fleetwood, with just one exception. ‘HMS Blackpool’, the illuminated Frigate 736 stuck rigidly to the Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

LTT trams to be re-homed

Posted on Wednesday 20 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A representative of the Lancastrian Transport Trust has recently confirmed that this organisation is planning to cease its tram-related activities completely in the near future, in order to focus its resources on their remaining historic bus collection. The expected transfer of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 12 Comments

Blackpool’s heritage trams commence winter hibernation

Posted on Monday 11 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

A highly successful season of operation for Blackpool Transport’s heritage tram fleet has now come to an end, co-inciding with the final night of the 2013 illuminations on Sunday 10th November. That evening saw just two trams operate on illumination … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

Tiger tram 622 escapes threat of extinction!

Posted on Thursday 7 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

In a shock development, Blackpool Brush Railcoach 622 was transported back to Rigby Road depot on Thursday 7th November, having been forced out of its former home at the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s base at Brinwell Road. Although 622 is not … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 42 Comments

Confusion over new Blackpool winter timetable

Posted on Wednesday 6 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

As the Blackpool tramway prepares for the onslaught of winter, Blackpool Transport have already released information regarding the new timetables which will be introduced on Monday 11th November; after the final night of the 2013 illuminations season. This will see … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

A Twin car treat for half term week

Posted on Monday 4 November 2013 by Andrew Waddington

For tram enthusiasts in Blackpool, the highlight of the recent school half-term holiday was probably the use of Twin set 272+T2 on illumination tours. The beautifully painted cream Twin car had not carried passengers since May, but emerged on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

Balloon cars prepare for winter weather

Posted on Sunday 27 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Two Blackpool Balloon cars in different locations have been undergoing preparations for the worsening weather expected as winter approaches, with contrasting jobs being carried out on cars 701 and 721 within the past week. This is a slightly depressing reminder … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust | 2 Comments

The Balloons are back!

Posted on Saturday 26 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The school half-term holidays at the end of October traditionally mark the busiest period of the year for the Blackpool tramway, as many families flock to the seaside to see the illuminations. Last year, this was reflected by Blackpool Transport’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

Meerkats descend on Blackpool promenade!

Posted on Tuesday 22 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The presence of meerkats in Blackpool was, once upon a time, confined to those residing at Blackpool Zoo. In recent times, children (and some adults) clutching soft toy meerkats riding on trams has become increasingly common, no doubt boosted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Corrie’s Croppers ride an open topper

Posted on Thursday 17 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool took centre stage in a special hour-long episode of ITV’s Coronation Street on Wednesday 16th October, and as expected this included an appearance by ‘Princess Alice’ 706. Determined to make the most of their remaining time together, popular character … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Trams on TV

Posted on Saturday 12 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

On Wednesday 9th October, the Wirral heritage tramway’s Liverpool 762 made a star guest appearance on the third episode of BBC4 series, ‘A Very British Murder’, which had been filmed in May. Not to be outdone however, one of Blackpool’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Birkenhead Heritage Tramway, Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Blackpool Standard 143 and Railcoach 279 go home

Posted on Monday 7 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Monday 7th October turned out to be another exciting day for Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet, with the return of two more tramcars previously acquired for preservation by the Lancastrian Transport Trust to Blackpool Transport’s own premises at Rigby Road. Following … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 3 Comments

First tram to North Station

Posted on Sunday 6 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

Following the recent exciting news regarding the offer of a substantial amount of the funding required to extend the Blackpool tramway to serve North Station, there has been no shortage of speculation regarding this ambitious project. Naturally the main aim … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Opinion | 9 Comments

Progress replaces history on Blundell Street

Posted on Thursday 3 October 2013 by Andrew Waddington

The site of Britain’s oldest surviving section of street tramway along Blundell Street and Princess Street in Blackpool has undergone further changes recently, following the removal of further overhead wires along this historic section of tramway. This is part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment