Category Archives: Blackpool Tramway

Finishing touches for Balloon 701

Posted on Friday 5 September 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The second stage of Blackpool Balloon car 701‘s repaint back into its fondly remembered red and white ‘Routemaster’ style livery is now almost complete. Following its debut in an incomplete version of the paint scheme it previously carried in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 11 Comments

Let there be light!

Posted on Sunday 31 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

On Saturday 30th August, tours of the Blackpool illuminations by traditional tramcar resumed for the 2014 season with three different trams in operation for this role. Although the illuminations were actually switched on the previous night, part of the promenade … Continue reading →

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Blackpool prepares for the illuminations

Posted on Friday 29 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Friday 29th August will see the Blackpool illuminations switched on for another season by comedian Peter Kay. As has become the norm in recent years, the actual switch-on night itself will not be a good one for the tramway with … Continue reading →

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167 bids goodbye to Blackpool

Posted on Friday 29 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The hugely successful visit of Blackpool ‘Pantograph’ car 167 to the Blackpool tramway for summer 2014 finally came to an end on Friday 29th August, when the tram was loaded up onto a lorry on Blundell Street for the long … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, National Tramway Museum | 1 Comment

A bumper Bank Holiday for Blackpool’s heritage trams

Posted on Tuesday 26 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool’s heritage tram fleet enjoyed their final spell of daytime operation during 2014 over the August Bank Holiday weekend, with a very credible total of eleven different historic trams appearing in traffic over the three action-packed days. This included the year … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Return of the Routemaster Balloon car

Posted on Monday 25 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The August Bank Holiday weekend saw the welcome return to service in Blackpool of Balloon 701, fresh from the Paint Shop following a complete repaint. Gone was the faded and unflattering plain yellow coat of paint it carried when it … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

A Coronation to Fleetwood

Posted on Thursday 21 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Just one day after making a historic test run along Blackpool promenade, Blackpool Coronation car 304 hit the headlines again on Thursday 21st August, when it completed its first run to Fleetwood since 2009! Following the success of the testing … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

In Pictures: Brush car 290 meets an old friend

Posted on Wednesday 20 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Our latest look at the transformation of the Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust’s Blackpool Brush car 290 shows the tram in the latter stages of its repaint into a traditional green and cream livery. The gloss coat has now been applied … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Fleetwood Heritage Leisure Trust | 2 Comments

Blackpool Coronation 304 runs on test

Posted on Wednesday 20 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Another small piece of tramway history occured on Wednesday 20th August 2014, when a VAMBAC equipped tramcar operated on the upgraded Blackpool system for the first time. The honour of performing this historic duty went to Coronation car 304 which … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 7 Comments

Event Preview: Blackpool heritage tram operation, 23rd – 25th August

Posted on Monday 18 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The final stint of daytime operation for the Blackpool tramway’s heritage fleet occurs over the three-day August Bank Holiday weekend, with an action packed schedule planned as usual to entertain enthusiasts and other passengers alike. With many of the English … Continue reading →

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Blackpool trams see red for August event

Posted on Thursday 14 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Provisional details of the heritage tram output in Blackpool planned for the August Bank Holiday weekend have now been announced, confirming that two red liveried streamliners are set to steal the limelight for the final stint of daytime heritage tram tours … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 15 Comments

The Blackpool Heritage Trust – what does it mean?

Posted on Wednesday 13 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The formation of the Blackpool Heritage Trust to help secure the long-term future of a heritage tram fleet in Blackpool, has been greeted with much celebration from the vast majority of enthusiasts. However, the creation of the new Trust has … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, Feature Articles | 13 Comments

A landmark day for Blackpool’s heritage trams

Posted on Tuesday 12 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Tuesday 12th August 2014 will go down in history as a milestone date for Blackpool’s traditional tram fleet, as it was on this date that the new organisation set up to look after these trams went ‘live’, with a public … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 43 Comments

Return of the red Boat

Posted on Wednesday 6 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Although the heritage tram tours in Blackpool so far in 2014 have been a resounding success, one tram has been noticeably absent from the promenade so far this year. Following a repaint in a stunning red and cream livery which … Continue reading →

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Heritage trams spice up Fleetwood Tram Sunday

Posted on Wednesday 6 August 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The annual Fleetwood Festival of Transport, more commonly known as ‘Tram Sunday’, took place on Sunday 20th July 2014 with the usual mix of vintage transport displays, trade stalls and family entertainment filling the streets of Fleetwood, which were closed … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 37 Comments

A Box delivered to Crich

Posted on Wednesday 23 July 2014 by Andrew Waddington

Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Box’ 40 has enjoyed a few very hectic days during July 2014, following the completion of recent work on its trucks and body. The tram re-entered service in Blackpool on Sunday 20th July, but was then hastily … Continue reading →

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Blackpool Transport renew safety warnings after teen hit by tram

Posted on Friday 18 July 2014 by Gareth Prior

Blackpool Transport have reiterated the need to be careful in the vicinity of the tramway following an incident which saw a 15 year old boy taken to hospital. The incident took place on Saturday 12th July at Harrow Place tramstop … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway | 4 Comments

Box 40 is back on the prom!

Posted on Thursday 10 July 2014 by Andrew Waddington

After an absence of almost a year, Blackpool & Fleetwood ‘Box’ car 40 was back in action on the Blackpool tramway on Wednesday 9th July, when the tram was taken for a test run along the promenade. Representatives of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Blackpool Tramway, National Tramway Museum | 7 Comments

Blackpool event preview: Fleetwood ‘Tram Sunday’, 20th July

Posted on Tuesday 8 July 2014 by Andrew Waddington

The popular annual Fleetwood Festival of Transport will be held on Sunday 20th July and this will once again feature the heritage trams in a prominent role, with seven different cars due to feature at this event! Following the success … Continue reading →

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In Pictures: Rocket rescue mission completed successfully!

Posted on Wednesday 25 June 2014 by Andrew Waddington

On Tuesday 24th June, the last of the Lancastrian Transport Trust’s collection of historic Blackpool trams to be reclaimed by Blackpool Transport arrived safely back at Rigby Road – and arguably, the best one of the lot has been saved … Continue reading →

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