Category Archives: Blackpool Tramway

In Pictures: Track welding in Blackpool

Posted on Saturday 19 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

Monday 14th September saw some general track maintenance taking place on the Blackpool Tramway with the points at North Pier being attended to by the track crew. Some welding took place on the points leading to the loop here in … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Wilko’s demolition underway

Posted on Tuesday 15 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

It was due to start this month and work has now begun on the demolition of Wilkinson’s in Blackpool – one of the last major obstacles to overcome before trams can start running on the extension of the tramway to … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 710

Posted on Monday 14 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

For the next few weeks of archive Blackpool tram images we are a bit more up-to-date as we take a look at the Metro Coastlines years.

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Frigate relaunch and tram procession to feature in scaled back Blackpool Tramway 135th Anniversary

Posted on Friday 11 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

The return to service of Blackpool’s popular Illuminated feature car The Frigate, HMS Blackpool, plus a tram procession are to be the main events over the traditional September Spectacular weekend on 26th and 27th September. A weekend which was meant … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 634

Posted on Monday 7 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this latest edition of “Picture in Time” we are again heading to Blackpool, well, Fleetwood actually but you get the idea, for an archive image showing the tramway as it once was.

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Wilkinson’s demolition set to start

Posted on Sunday 6 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

Since work on the Blackpool North Railway Station tramway extension resumed at the start of June there hasn’t been a large amount of obvious progress as a great deal of preparation has been needed first. But as from Monday 7th … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Heritage trams return to the rails in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 3 September 2020 by Gareth Prior

As planned the August Bank Holiday weekend saw the return of Blackpool’s heritage trams to the tracks with three days of special tours taking place using three different trams each day. A combination of “Promenade Tours” and “Coastal Tours” ran … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Engineering Car 753

Posted on Monday 31 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

The year is 1986, the month October as we head down to Rigby Road Depot for a view of Engineering Car 753 in today’s edition of “Picture in Time”.

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 3 Comments

A tale of two Coronations

Posted on Saturday 29 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

There is no denying that Blackpool’s Coronation Cars remain popular with enthusiasts even though (or maybe because!) there hasn’t been an operational example on the Promenade tramway for several years. The road to return for two of the three survivors … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 5 Comments

Covid-19 service update – operating systems

Posted on Wednesday 26 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

It’s been around two months since we last brought you a summary of the service being run on the tram and light rail systems of the British Isles – so its about time we gave a handy update all in … Continue reading →

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Yet another increase in services on the Blackpool Tramway

Posted on Tuesday 25 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

A new timetable will be introduced on the Blackpool Tramway from Sunday 30th August to allow more trams to run during illumination evenings with services running up to every 10 minutes. Blackpool Transport will also be introducing “Tram Full” messages … Continue reading →

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Covid-19 update – heritage systems and museums

Posted on Tuesday 25 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

Its been a while since we last had a summary of which heritage lines are operating following the continued easing of lockdown restrictions so here we go again! This summary only gives details of those museums/heritage lines which have reopened. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beamish Tramway, Blackpool Tramway, Burton & Ashby 14, East Anglia Transport Museum, Manx Electric Railway, National Tramway Museum, North Eastern Electrical Transport Trust, Seaton Tramway, Summerlee Museum Tramway, Volk's Electric Railway | Comments Off on Covid-19 update – heritage systems and museums

Picture in Time: New South Wales Steam Locomotive – “John Bull”

Posted on Monday 24 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

Of the trams which took part in the 1985 Blackpool Tramway Centenary without doubt the most unusual visitor was the former New South Wales locomotive, known as “John Bull”, and that is what features in this edition of “Picture in … Continue reading →

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Whatever Happened To? Blackpool Trawler 737

Posted on Thursday 20 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

And so we reach the end of this series as we take a look at the last of the trams which ran in passenger service over the final weekend of the traditional Blackpool Tramway. That tram is the illuminated Trawler.

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Work continues on returning Blackpool trams to the rails

Posted on Wednesday 19 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

While engineering staff are now back at Rigby Road in Blackpool preparing the trams for a return to the tracks at the August Bank Holiday weekend as well as continuing the work on the overhauls of the illuminated feature cars … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fylde Transport Trust | 4 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Dreadnought 59 & Manchester 765

Posted on Monday 17 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

Today we have another image from the 1985 Blackpool Tramway Centenary showing two very special trams – including one which, incredibly, we haven’t previously featured in the Blackpool edition of “Picture in Time”.

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September Illumination Tours booking open

Posted on Thursday 13 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

You can now book for an Illumination Tour in Blackpool during September, with confirmation that throughout the month all tours will be in the hands of Balloon Cars with the Illuminated feature cars set not to be ready until later … Continue reading →

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Whatever Happened To? Blackpool Frigate 736

Posted on Thursday 13 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

In this penultimate instalment of this edition of “Whatever Happened To?” we take at the second of the illuminated feature cars to run during the final weekend of traditional tram operation, the illuminated Frigate.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Engineering Car 753

Posted on Monday 10 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

We move forward to Centenary year on the Blackpool Tramway for this week’s Blackpool “Picture in Time” image as we take a look at Engineering Car 753.

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More funding confirmed for light rail in England

Posted on Saturday 8 August 2020 by Gareth Prior

Five tram and light rail systems in England outside of London (both the Docklands Light Railway and London Tramlink are covered by the Transport for London funding package) are to receive funding of up to £37.4 million over the next … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, Tyne and Wear Metro, West Midlands Metro | Comments Off on More funding confirmed for light rail in England