Category Archives: Blackpool Tramway

Operating seasons end across the British Isles

Posted on Saturday 11 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

As has become traditional the first weekend in November usually brings an end to heritage tramway operating seasons and 2017 has been no different. We have already seen what happened at the end of the season at both Crich and … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool OMO 5

Posted on Thursday 9 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

The year is 1987 for today’s edition of Picture in Time as we feature a photo of a tram from the class of trams which arguably saved the Blackpool Tramway in the 1970s. The tram in question is OMO 5.

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Funding appeal success in Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 5 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

Its always pleasing to be able to report some good news and there is double good news from Blackpool where not one but two recent funding appeals have reached their targets meaning work can start in earnest on a restoration … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 706

Posted on Thursday 2 November 2017 by Gareth Prior

One of the most popular trams in Blackpool when operational is Princess Alice, or Open Top Balloon 706 if you want to include its number. And that is the very tram which features in today’s Picture in Time although it … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Speed restrictions in Blackpool

Posted on Sunday 29 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Coming less than a week after the previous storm, Brian made its presence felt over the weekend of 21st/22nd October although the damage caused and disruption to tramways was nowhere as near severe as that caused by Ophelia. In Blackpool … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 623

Posted on Thursday 26 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

In their 80th anniversary year we are featuring another of Blackpool’s Brush Railcoaches in Picture in Time today. This time around the tram in question is 623 – which has been enjoying a holiday back home in 2017 but we … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Enhanced heritage service on 22nd October

Posted on Wednesday 25 October 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool’s heritage trams have been kept even busier than usual, with an increased vehicle output to coincide with the school half-term holidays. A daily heritage promenade service has been operating in afternoons, with extra trams being used at weekends – … Continue reading →

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More Blackpool trams receive ‘heritage’ destination blinds

Posted on Wednesday 25 October 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Peter Watts has been busy again, providing a set of brand new, traditional-styled destination blinds for two further trams in Blackpool’s operational heritage fleet. The latest beneficiaries of his blinds are Fleetwood Box 40 and Balloon 717.

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Preparation work for Blackpool North extension will start in 2017

Posted on Friday 20 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

It has now been confirmed that works on the Blackpool Tramway extension up Talbot Road to Blackpool North railway station will start in 2017 although little progress will be tangible this year with the works only set to be preparation … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloons

Posted on Thursday 19 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

Having gone 30 years into the past last week, this week we go even further back in time as we have an image taken 50 years ago in the summer of 1967.

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Centenary 643

Posted on Thursday 12 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

In today’s edition of Picture in Time we take our regular peek into the past of the Blackpool Tramway with this image of Centenary 643 dating from 30 years ago in 1987.

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Sisk awarded Blackpool tramway extension contract

Posted on Thursday 12 October 2017 by Andrew Waddington

John Sisk has been awarded the lucrative contract to construct the greatly anticipated extension of the Blackpool tramway up Talbot Road to serve North Station. This is the latest positive news to suggest that this development is very much a … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 3 Comments

North Station extension works to commence this year?

Posted on Wednesday 11 October 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Very little has been heard about the planned extension of the Blackpool tramway off the promenade to North Station up Talbot Road of late – but it appears that this may be about to change. An announcement made by Blackpool … Continue reading →

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B Fleet appear in service – but not much!

Posted on Wednesday 11 October 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Compared to last year, Blackpool’s ‘B Fleet’ Balloon cars have not seen a great deal of use so far during the 2017 illuminations. Whereas 2016 saw the trams kept busy with a mix of stage carriage work and illumination tour … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 621

Posted on Thursday 5 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

In this Blackpool edition of Picture in Time we feature the original Brush Railcoach – 621 as we know it today or 284 as originally numbered.

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Daytime heritage service cut back in Blackpool

Posted on Wednesday 4 October 2017 by Andrew Waddington

Since the end of the summer school holidays, Blackpool’s daytime heritage service has only been operating at weekends. With effect from 30th September, this has been cut again, with a reduction in the number of hours that the heritage tours … Continue reading →

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This week on British Trams Online

Posted on Sunday 1 October 2017 by Gareth Prior

We have just the one Photo Gallery added for you to enjoy this week but we hope you agree that it is well worth it!

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Picture in Time: Coronation 660 & Frigate 736

Posted on Thursday 28 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Another look inside Rigby Road Depot for this instalment of Picture in Time with two trams the focus of our attention.

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Event Review: Blackpool Anniversary Spectacular – Sunday 24th September

Posted on Thursday 28 September 2017 by Andrew Waddington

The second day of Blackpool’s now annual anniversary event followed a similar pattern to the first, with an intensive heritage tram service operating over the full length of the tramway, as well as heritage bus tours, workshop visits and non-operational … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Event Reviews | 8 Comments

Event Review: Blackpool Anniversary Spectacular – Saturday 23rd September

Posted on Wednesday 27 September 2017 by Gareth Prior

Having quickly established itself as one of the premier tram events in the British Isles the Blackpool Tramway Anniversary Spectacular took place over the weekend of 23rd and 24th September (plus an afternoon of Brush Car action during the previous … Continue reading →

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