Category Archives: Blackpool Tramway

Volunteers keep heritage tram tours running

Posted on Wednesday 1 April 2015 by Andrew Waddington

“Staff shortage” – probably the two most dreaded words to impact upon the Blackpool tramway in the last couple of years. Understandably, whenever these two words rear their collective ugly head, the heritage tours have often suffered as Blackpool Transport … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 15 Comments

Passengers remain satisfied with the UK’s tramways

Posted on Wednesday 1 April 2015 by Gareth Prior

Transport Focus – formerly Passenger Focus – carried out the second annual Tram Passenger Survey in Autumn 2015 and the results have recently been released showing that 90% of those questioned remain satisfied with the overall tram service with passengers … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Edinburgh Trams, Manchester Metrolink, Nottingham Express Transit, South Yorkshire Supertram, West Midlands Metro | 4 Comments

More early season debuts in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 30 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The second day of Blackpool’s heritage tram service for 2015, Sunday 29th March, saw two more trams making their public debuts for the year. For the second day running the weather was extremely poor for much of the day, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

Brush cars start off the season at Blackpool and Crich

Posted on Saturday 28 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Saturday 28th March saw the 2015 season get underway for arguably the two main operators of traditional British trams – Blackpool and Crich. Appropriately, two consecutively numbered Brush Railcoaches were selected for service at the two locations on this day, … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, National Tramway Museum | 2 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloon 707

Posted on Saturday 28 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

On the day that heritage tram operations return to Blackpool for another season we head to the north west coast for our latest edition of “Picture in Time”. This time the date is 31st August 1993 and we feature Blackpool … Continue reading →

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Totally Transport cancelled

Posted on Monday 23 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

On the evening of 23rd March, it was announced that the annual Totally Transport event in Blackpool would not be taking place in 2015. The New South Promenade based transport event has been a popular part of the Fylde events … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 8 Comments

Centenary car 648 goes back in time

Posted on Monday 23 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The latest member of the Blackpool heritage fleet to be fitted with replica period-style destination blinds is Centenary car 648. During yet another visit to Blackpool over the weekend of 21st & 22nd March, Peter Watts – who is supplying … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 1 Comment

In Pictures: Conductor training in Blackpool

Posted on Monday 23 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The process of recruiting volunteer conductors to work on Blackpool’s heritage trams during the 2015 season culminated in a training exercise on Sunday 22nd March, when eleven successful candidates were taken out for a day of intensive training on ‘Princess … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Balloons at Tower

Posted on Saturday 21 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

It’s back to Blackpool again for the latest photo in our Picture in Time series but this time we feature not one, not two but three Balloon Cars as we travel back until 1969.

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 4 Comments

Riding and dining in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 19 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool Transport’s latest venture from its highly succesful Heritage Tram Tours commenced operation on Wednesday 18th March, when the first ever ‘Ride & Dine Wednesday’ event took place, featuring restored Balloon car 717. This also marked the beginning of the … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Brush 621

Posted on Friday 13 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

With Blackpool Brush 621 enjoying a rare weekend in the spotlight last weekend as part of the Beamish’s Power from the Past event what better tram to feature in tonight’s Picture in Time feature? We head back over 20 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 8 Comments

More chances to support the Blackpool Heritage Trust

Posted on Tuesday 10 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

Fans of Blackpool’s heritage trams are being offered the chance to purchase a unique souvenir and by doing so, help to raise vital funds to help with the preservation and restoration of these vehicles. A strictly limited edition framed ‘destination … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 2 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Boat 600

Posted on Saturday 7 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

It’s time to head to the northwest coast once again for our latest installment from the “Picture in Time” feature and this time we are in 1981 for a view of Blackpool Boat 600.

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 2 Comments

Details of Blackpool’s first ‘Ride & Dine’ event announced

Posted on Tuesday 3 March 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The Blackpool Heritage Trust have confirmed details of the first of their new monthly ‘Dine & Ride’ ventures, featuring a circular tour aboard one of the heritage trams followed by a meal at a town centre restaurant. The new event … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 18 Comments

In Pictures: Blackpool Heritage Driver Training

Posted on Sunday 1 March 2015 by Gareth Prior

As we reported a couple of days ago the last week has seen driver training on the heritage trams in Blackpool as preparations continue ahead of the 2015 operating season, which is due to commence on Saturday 28th March. On … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 5 Comments

Heritage tram driver training steps up in Blackpool

Posted on Friday 27 February 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The last week of February 2015 was an interesting one in Blackpool, thanks to the appearance of several members of the retained traditional tram fleet being noted out and about on the tramway. This was part of a concerted effort … Continue reading →

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Picture in Time: Blackpool Standard 147

Posted on Saturday 21 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

Today we have two “Pictures in Time” as we take a look at Blackpool’s Standard 147 in 1962 and 2009 – of course for a large period of time between these two years the tram was in the USA but … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 2 Comments

In Pictures: More destinations from the past appear in Blackpool

Posted on Thursday 19 February 2015 by Andrew Waddington

The dedication of French tram enthusiast Peter Watts continues to bear fruit, with three members of the Blackpool Heritage Trust’s collection of trams now sporting brand new period-style destination blinds which he has kindly made at no cost to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 16 Comments

A Valentines Day surprise from Blackpool Transport

Posted on Monday 16 February 2015 by Andrew Waddington

To the amazement of many people, two of Blackpool Transport’s modified ‘B Fleet’ Balloon cars were used in ordinary passenger service on Valentines Day, Saturday 14th February. The two chosen cars were 700 and 719, both of which spent the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 9 Comments

Picture in Time: Blackpool Coronation 642

Posted on Friday 13 February 2015 by Gareth Prior

We head back to Blackpool for our latest “Picture in Time” image and this time our time machine ends up in August 1968 with a view of one of the immensely popular Coronation Cars – no. 642.

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Picture in Time | 3 Comments